The persistent itch of his nicotine patch was almost worse than being cramped in coach.
Allen traveled light: one carry-on with toothbrush and underwear was sufficient. Inventions and ideas carried in his mind only needed cigarettes and coffee to bloom.
He had bought a one way ticket to the sun. The Valley has the perfect climate to make his dreams come true.
“I will return in private jet”, Allen glanced across the Tarmac, “it’s the only way to get a smoking seat nowadays”.
“Sand Hill Road”, he told the cab driver.
Sometimes big inventions grow from just a persistent itch.
The picture of the corporate jet brought back the story of an investor that I once knew, who had bought himself a jet for the purpose of being able to smoke on the flight. For those that has not heard it, Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park, CA has offices for many venture companies. Hope my story make sense.
Friday Fictioneers is a wonderful community of bloggers who write 100 words to the same picture every week under the supervision of Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Having written more or less every week for the past 3 years I feel right at home here, and I think my writing has improved in the company of all the excellent writers there. I try to read as many as possible every week, and also leaving a comment. I hope you do not hesitate to point out errors or suggestions on how to improve my story…
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January 6, 2015
Dear Björn,
I would have to pack a laptop at least for my inventing process. Clever until he charters a non smoking jet. 😉
Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Ha.. yes I think that’s unlikely to happen.. 🙂
Ha! That’s one reason to buy a jet. I’d do it just to avoid the handsy TSA agents… another persistent itch. 😉
A Jet can be something we all want… But I guess the price would not motivate it…
Some people will do anything for their fix. Nicely done.
Even selling their inventions to the vultures.
Yes it did Sand Hill road was perfect. I wanted more of this.
Ha… I would like to go there once..
If you ever make it to the Bay Area look me up!
That’s how dreams that start as a itch get to be true 🙂 Nice story- well written.
Ah.. just that minute itch… and dreams come true.. (at least for some)
I like where you took thhis, Bjorn. And, as otheres have said, wouldn’t we all like a private jet?
I think I can live with security checks a while longer.
Must be nice to have that kind of money, but I’d hate to have such a persistent habit as smoking.
Indeed … but maybe it’s the itch that make you turn ideas into gold.
There is always a hint of the truth in what we write, yes?
🙂
Damm that nicotine! It’s such a crutch.
A crutch and a a heavy backpack.
At least his artificial inspiration is legal. Nice.
Indeed.. i wonder if he could bring illegal substances on his jet.
Who would know if he did? Just not large amounts, then the feds might stop him…
Wow… the lengths people will go…
I thought it quite funny too… 🙂
Wow!! I can see that happening if I had had money in the days I smoked. Great story!
Ha… yes but I think I still want no-smoking flights.
Oh good Lord! Me too I can’t stand the smell of smoke!!!
Excellent as ever, Bjorn.
If I had to crit this, I’d suggest that his thoughts/words re the private jet are slightly stiff.
But they do not detract from the overall tale.
Thank you.. I agree … dialogue is not my strength 🙂
Nice characterization. I really dislike him, although I don’t have a concrete reason. Maybe cigarettes or the attitude…
Maybe both… I don’t think i like him either…
Beautifully written as always, but I can’t get my head around how wasteful this person is, not only smoking his own lungs, but the rest of the world with luxury flight exhaust. 🙂 C– Without the comment I wouldn’t have known what Sand Hill road is. At first I wondered, should I know about this Allen, and what did he invent?
Ah.. I worked in a start-up 15 years ago.. so I was aware of the attitudes.
Motivation comes from many sources!
Great idea – I’ll get myself a plane so I can smoke my pipe!
Visit Keith’s Ramblings!
Ha.. that’s the sole purpose of having a jet.
I put a beer label on my forehead once to see if it would help me get through a sobriety checkpoint. Someone should have told me, the patch only works if you take a cab.
Ha! Your story made me laugh. I bet having your own jet is the only way to smoke on a fight. He’ll need to get his restaurant too and his own bar!
It’s on his bucket list… or he can fly to a place where it’s not yet prohibited…
That’s true. That might be a better option for him! Less paperwork and such.
Makes sense to me. Living at one time in Silicon Valley I based my story in Palo Alto.
DJ
i guess when you’re rich, the sky’s the limit. 🙂
Interesting that the guy’s addiction to smoking requires a patch while flying — as in…perhaps a chain smoker which in turn would create run-on sentences? 🙂 I can just see his nicotine stained fingers holding a leaking black pen, scribbling away in a notebook in a haze of smoke. The creative process, as different as there are creative people! Nice take.
Love the backstory that inspired this. To think someone would buy a private jet just to smoke!
C…”a one way ticket to the sun”, as in Sun Micro? I enjoyed your light-hearted look at a “persistent itch”.
Ω
Ha.. Sun became a one way ticket if I remember right.
Coffee and cigarettes – that’s where his big ideas come from! Maybe that’s where I’m going wrong. Great story, Bjorn.
Very energetic post, I loved that bit. Will there be a part 2?
Well, it all starts with an itch, no matter where you start. Faked me out, and gave us a good and motivating story as well.
There is wonderful depth and dimension to this story, Björn; I really enjoyed it! Note: 3rd comment from the bottom should have the word “a”: I will return in A private jet” 😉 Wonderful!
Love it. Re the missing “a” – perhaps he is an immigrant yet to master the language?
I had to google for the relevance of the street address – learn something new each week.
Nice blog design.
You gave a good explanation of your story, Bjorn, so I understood. I wondered what kind of plane that was. Now I know. It’s really fantastic to buy a place just to be able to smoke on a flight. Good and interesting story. Well done. 🙂 — Suzanne