Flying High

I am not a regular flyer. I started flying at an early age though. Growing up in New York, my family traveled quite a bit on vacation to visit relatives mostly in Florida and California, but also throughout New England and elsewhere. I became accustomed to flying at an age younger than my memory permits me to recall. I rarely give much thought to flying beyond cost or convenience. In fact, as an adult most of my flying time has been spent attending to my son when he was little, or my husband who has anxiety about flying. But last week, I was on my own. My sister is getting married, and we had a shower for her in North Carolina. For the first time in several years, I got on a plane by myself and took to the air. In a way I felt like I was flying for the first time.

The evening flight from Florida to North Carolina was no big deal. About a half an hour late due to silly airline nonsense, it got dark during the flight and I listened to music and graded papers. The flight home was a different story. I flew out late morning and traveled into the afternoon. I boarded the final leg of my flight in Atlanta and much to my dismay, I was seated by the window despite my request for an aisle seat. Sitting by the window does not bother me so much as the fact that I am trapped three people in with minimal leg space, and two laps to crawl across if I need to use the lavatory. As upset as I was about the window seat, I was pleasantly surprised when the "full flight" yielded one empty seat- the one between me and the kind older gentleman who got my aisle seat.

I had been listening to my iPad on a lower-than-usual volume, awaiting the announcement to stow all electronics and prepare for departure. I always wait as long as I possibly can to turn off my music, and still do not understand how my listening to music can interfere with the operation of the airplane. But, they insisted anything with a battery or an on-and-off switch was to be turned off and put away until we reached cruising altitude, and I obliged. Last thing I need is a scandalous headline in tomorrow's newspaper reading, "Flight Delayed by Lee County Teacher with Suspect Electronics." I continued my gaze out the window, watching all of the workers involved in preparing aircraft for flight and landing. Luggage carts, catering trucks, maintenance trucks, and other vehicles zip in and around the runways like all of the pieces of a young child's Fischer Price airplane set. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and it appeared to be a good day for flight.

                         

I watched the entire departure through the window. Planes were speeding down the runways and heading off to their destinations. Others were making their way back into Atlanta, which from what I understand is the hub for Delta Airlines. I didn't catch the other planes on camera because just moments before we taxied down the runway, the stow electronics announcement interrupted me. But it really was an amazing sight. One after the other, like graduates being released to the stage at commencement, the jets took off with what seemed like fewer than 60 seconds between them. As one flew into the clouds, another came out, landing in the opposite direction. I never noticed such heavy air traffic while flying, but it probably wasn't unusual for the hub airtport on a holiday weekend.

Our turn came and I decided to watch the entire event through the window, something I probably hadn't done since I was a child fascinated enough by flight to want the window seat. The leisurely taxi to the front of the line gradually turned into a speedy running start. The crew got quiet, the engines got loud, and we darted down the runway and lifted into the air. It was quite exhilarating. The city beneath us shrunk and the clouds felt expansive and majestic. I anxiously awaited the all clear so I could take my iPad back out and snap some photos. My seat was right on the wing, so I enjoyed the view of its long angle jutting out, and the cannon-like barrel of the right jet engine. I realize some people, like my mom and my husband, might find the sight of the engine and the wing disturbing, but I was awed by the enormity of them. Then, I heard the bong accompanied by the announcement that we had reached cruising altitude and we could now use our portable electronics.

I restarted my itunes, and as if right on cue, Kid Rock and Zac Brown's Flyin High began playing. I switched over to my camera, and here are some of the shots I captured on this magnificent flight. 

       

       

                      

        

I took almost 30 photos. Every time I closed the camera and sat back to watch through the window, I couldn't help but open it back up. I don't remember enjoying the flying experience so much. Perhaps its because I'm older and more appreciative. Maybe it's because I now consider myself to be a writer and I try to observe more of what goes on around me. But look at these photos... isn't the sky amazing? Isn't it incredible that human beings have accomplished flight? Rarely do I take time in my busy life to stop and appreciate my everyday experiences, and this just caught me off guard. I wish I could come up with some profound words that eloquently describe the experience, but I think there may be a poem or two in the future. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I am. Here are a few more.