Boston Delight #1: In-Flight Entertainment Now Includes SkyMall Shopping.

Howdy from Boston. First, let me confess that I didn’t know. I didn’t remember this afternoon that if there is a need, no matter how bizarre or obscure, some inventor will fill it. Answer the call of the weird. Create an instant family heirloom. See, a rare page-through of the SkyMall Shopping magazine revealed the Hanukkah Tree Topper unto me:


Here's the perfect way for interfaith families to celebrate both holidays. The menorahment design of the Hanukkah Tree Topper makes a great gift for Hanukkah or Christmas traditions. Available in Silver metallic-coated, textured plastic, with a steel coil for easy, sturdy mounting.


Product development must have been exciting. The fact it’s patented almost made me order it on the spot (right in the middle of Delta Flight #2100 and the unseasonable Northeast snowstorm we were flying in.) The neologistic “menorament” is a good touch too.


Back in 2005, privately held SkyMall was said to be reaching 650 million air passengers every year, with print catalogs on 14 US airlines. It was then America's largest in-flight shopping magazine. It has only gotten bigger. Apparently, its success is due to items like this one…and a lot of undoubted hard work perfecting an excellent “online store.”


In the end Barbara and I couldn’t agree with the snipe across the ad: A must-have for interfaith marriages! We’ve managed without one for 30+ years, with the blessing. We nominated it as a portent of our Fall Boston adventure, though – “Unique, spiritual, beautiful…” according to one product reviewer on the SkyMall Shopping website. Everyone else on Row 15 wondered why we were laughing.


See the kind of marketing stuff you miss by not flying to Boston? Happy Halloween to you and happy Trip-to-Beantown to us. More to come…