As I was retrieving documents from my terminally ill laptop, I came across a letter I'd sent to a friend several years ago.  It read:

"Greetings from Lubbock, Texas, 

My daughter used my laptop to watch a movie last night and drained the battery. She also forgot to pack her prescription medication, failed to finish efiling her tax return, (I’ll have to mail the hard copy to her when I get home) and misplaced the wall charger for my cell phone. (I found it behind her bed before we left).  In addition, she neglected to return the videos she borrowed from the library and we had to stop at her boyfriend’s house to return the money he’d emptied from his pockets on her nightstand after they came home from the movie and I had gone to bed. (Yes, I said on the nightstand).

We could have made it to the airport on time, except that she decided to buy a sandwich while I was putting gas in the car and we lost 20 minutes waiting for them to get to her order, which she thought would be ready by the time I finished filling the tank. I dropped her at the gate with our luggage, parked the car, did not have to wait for a shuttle, and since there was no line at check in or at security, we made it to the gate, where we learned the flight had been delayed.

About half an hour out of Dallas, the plane changed altitude rather rapidly.  As we were descending, the pilot explained they'd been unable to identify the source of the smoke in the forward galley, so they'd shut down the air and advised us to prepare for a rapid descent.  I’d noticed an odor when we got on the plane, but assumed it was outside.  Once on the ground, there were at least 8 firetrucks and a variety of emergency vehicles.  The firemen, attired in Nomex and an impressive array of emergency gear, greeted us as we deplaned.  I’m camped out on the floor of the airport, so I can plug into the wall outlet. 

The other passengers on the plane were, to a person, calm and patient.  I really hope we don’t have to spend the night, here.  It looks like our plane is the only one in the airport, so depending on what they find, it seems this is a distinct possibility, though they just announced they’re checking out alternative flights, in case our plane is grounded.

At least my daughter has undergone an attitude adjustment.  The guy in the seat next to me on the plane informs me they now have electronic cattle prods, which can be aimed from a distance of several feet, available for sale in New Mexico, if her evil twin re-emerges.  

Best,

Jane"