Flying West
12:42AM on April 01, 2009
I love flying. Always have. Like a little kid, I want to sit by the window and watch the ground grow more and more distant. From the moment we began to taxi down the runway, I felt the excitement grow in my heart. The sensation extended down to my belly as the plane began to pull away from the ground. I find myself grinning like a fool as memories of my first roller coaster ride flooded my mind. A few deep breaths and we were cutting through the clouds.
I could see the fear and the discomfort in some of the faces around me. I wish I could have comforted them. The flight attendant remained graceful as she attempted to not fall while showing us the emergency exits. She was friendly, helpful and cute. There was definitely some light weight flirting going on... and you know how I luv to flirt! As the plane leveled out, snacks were passed out. I snickered at the thought of a mini pack of pretzels lasting for 5 hours but accepted them, graciously.
The land beneath us changed formation. Plains, fields, hills and valleys were spotted with trees. Trucks were moving specks and communities were but little clusters. The theme song from the Showtime Series, "Weeds", played in my mind. Eventually, there was nothing but cloud cover and I started to day dream into a light sleep. I thought about would it would feel like to fall freely through those clouds. I wonder just how quiet it would be. How would the wind feel after the parachute snatches me back and eases me down, slowly?
Forty-five minutes must have passed before I reopened my eyes. The clouds were still thick and into the distance. I flipped through the Vogue.I lusted over the latest Yves Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta and Marc Jacobs. I fantasized of an occasion to slip into a Badgley Mischka and rock a venetian mask. I thought of how easy it would be to carry on my mystique, hiding behind a pair of David Yurman shades.
Before I knew it, the clouds began to thin. My breath was stolen by the beauty of the white peaks of the Rocky Mountains. My eyes were wide open and I didn't want to blink, afraid that I would miss something important. They went off, into the horizon. It made me feel so, very small. My heart felt overwheled and my eyes began to mist. It was lovely and I felt fortuanate. The older woman seated next to me could feel my joy and joined me. It was her first trip to Vegas, too! We ooooohed and ahhhhhhhed as the plane flew over the dessert. She spotted the Hover Dam. We giggled and she said that my energy made her feel young. I hugged her as we descended. It calmed her. She held my hand firmly as the plane began to touch the earth. It was smooth and I could see the chest sink, as she exhaled. We exchanged smiles and best wishes and both ventured off the plane. Yay!! Vegas!!
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