The "Hawaiian Pimple" Story

It was an ordinary day. As a matter of fact, it is July 4th and we are getting ready to take a helicopter ride over the island of Maui with our friends Barb and Harry. Not quite sure what to think about the trip on the S-76 Twin-Jet Sikorsky run by Hawaii Helicopters. My last experience on a helicopter wasn't the most pleasant (see "Township Movie"). We sit in on a pre-flight lecture about what to expect and what we will see during our hour long excursion. There are 6 passengers and the pilot on the flight. Joining Carol and I and Barb and Harry are a couple who are on their honeymoon. We are told that Hawaii Helicopters will be filming the entire procedure and we can purchase a VHS tape of the trip for a souvenir. Why not? No one would believe we did it unless we can prove to them with a souvenir tape. The tape starts to roll in the chopper as we exit the building. We head towards the chopper's side door and enter. Barb and Harry in the front with Carol and I and the newlyweds in the back. Seat belts on....check. I have my 35mm film camera with me for some fantastic shots. Head sets on....check. "What's the matter with your head set?" I ask Carol. Seems to be tangled. Well, we get that straightened out. The excitement builds as the pilot talks to us through our headsets. Then, the pimple I have developed in my nose starts to itch. Got to scratch it! OK. Not again. Scratch, scratch, scratch. Now we have to adjust the air flow to our seats. Not again. Yep, it is bothering me so I scratch it again. We haven't even taken off yet and they have me scratching my nose on our VHS souvenir tape (everyone else says I'm picking it, but NO I'M NOT). The trip goes well and we get to see the entire island by air. Fantastic views and great photos. After landing we purchase our souvenir tape and head back to the resort with Barb and Harry. A few weeks later our family is at the house in Lancaster for a cook-out. "Hey, LDub, let's see the helicopter video," someone says. Into the VCR goes the tape. Well, a few minutes later the entire family is laughing hysterically. Not at our trip, but at the scratching I was doing. Seems we had to rewind over and over and over again to get some more laughs. We never got to see Hawaii. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS. See for yourself. Just a short clip is shown, since it goes on for many more minutes while we wait for lift-off. It really was a pimple!!