The Winter Count

The chief joy of travelling comes from getting from where you were to where you choose to be, on time. A close second would be finding that your luggage has almost matched your trip and can be found on arrival.

Unexpectedly high on the list of pleasures, though, are chance encounters. Seemingly dealt by fate at random, your seatmates may leave lasting impressions. They may quietly change your life.

A “bucket list” is a list of experiences or achievements that a person writes down, when you...