“When I received a medal for acting, she said, ‘You’ve been doing this for an
awfully long time.’  I said, ‘Well, not as long as you.’  I got a royal smile for that,
but then she said, ‘Does anyone still actually go to the theater?’  That’s bloody
rude when you’re giving someone a medal for acting.”   
– Ian McKellen on meeting Queen Elizabeth II.

I’m sure you all know I’m easygoing.  However, it is possible to rile me up.  Last week, I flew on Spirit – an airline I chose because my flight from Boston to Fort Lauderdale cost $32.  Naturally, I didn’t select a seat – because when you’re paying $32 for a flight, you ain’t gonna pay $25 for a seat!  While en route to the airport, I tried to check in, but the airline’s app was down.  I got to the airport and went to the kiosk to check in.  It said I had to go to an agent.  I went to the agent, who told me I missed the 45-minute cutoff to check in.  That cutoff typically applies when you are checking luggage.  Having no luggage and with TSA PreCheck, I had plenty of time to get to the gate.  But they said since I didn’t have a seat, it was impossible to check in.  However, if I paid $25 for a seat, then they could override it.  Ah, the ol’ shakedown.  We went back and forth, until I finally took out my credit card.  “So, you are willing to pay the $25?” the agent asked.  “No, I’m willing for you to charge me.  I will then dispute the charge, complain to the airline, and share my story all over the Internet.”  And you know what happened next?  She miraculously checked me in for free and sent me on my way.  Impossible, my ass.

Last week, we also had an inordinate amount of romantic stories.  We have one more to add to that list.  Over Labor Day Weekend, two Evan Hansens tied the knot.  Ben Platt and Noah Galvin are now married.  It was a multi-day affair – interrupted briefly by Shabbat for members of Ben’s family who are observant Jews.  Coverage called the event “very gay” and “very Jewish”.  Ben said, “For our Shabbat rehearsal dinner, I wanted to be a bride so I wore a skirt”.  For the ceremony itself, both men wore white suits.  It even included a duet sung by the grooms’ mothers.  If they sang “Sunrise, Sunset”, it would have been both gay and Jewish!  We wish the couple many years of happiness.  No, really, I’m not being sarcastic.