Air Travel

Many of the trips I’ve taken involved going by plane. From my very first plane ride to my most recent plane trip there has been a uniqueness to each individual journey. Sure some of the broad details are the same. The terminals of Sky Harbor airport never change, I can count on that sameness in knowing what to expect each time I travel. The wait to board the plane is always the same (once you get to the gate that is). The uncomfortable knowledge that the person who is annoying the hell out of you on the ground, may very well be your seat mate on the plane. There’s always the gorgeous man, totally drool worthy but you keep your eyes off him as much as you can because inevitably, there will be an equally gorgeous woman who joins him, either for the flight or at the other end of the flight. Then the know-it-all, the one who tells everyone else in the group what to do, all the information anyone will ever need to know about anything, this one seems to know.

 Of course, there are the smattering of other groups, the hopelessly clueless older generation, the I’ve-got-it-together travel smart ones, the hot mess couples with kids barely in control and stuff barely strapped together (you know these guys, one funny look at one of their bags and sproinngg!! their bags will pop open and stuff flies everywhere.), then there’s the youth, slumped in their chairs, hair tied up in messy buns, yoga pants and tank tops, perhaps a small carry on but the rest is checked in.  I must admit, I’m not immune to any of these groups, I myself have ranged from the hot mess (minus the children) to the careless youth in yoga pants, and I’ve even moonlighted on occasion as the “I’ve-got-it-together” group.

Once the wait is over, that long (even though it might just be a half-hour) interminable wait to finally, finally board the plane. The announcements begin. Special boarding privilege folks get called, along with those who need extra time and assistance. Priority boarders all slowly make their ways down the jet way to the plane. Then general boarding begins, the cattle call. It used to be the time when my stomach would begin to jump, jitters taking over my body as I wait to board the plane, terrified that somehow I’ll still miss getting on my flight. After all, I’m still not on the thing that will be leaving. Now that has changed, the jitters no longer take control and instead I fight the urge to loudly moo at everyone cramming together to get in line. Instead of jamming into the rest, I’ve begun chilling in my seat waiting until it’s absolutely necessary to get in line with my assigned area group. I figure the longer I wait to board, the less time I’m sitting board in my seat.

When finally, we get settled into our seats, thankfully head unbashed by someone who’s carry-on really should have been checked, we wait until they began to departing process. The announcements and safety instructions begin. The plane begins to move, I’m counting the minutes until the wheels will lift from the runway in the exciting but stomach dropping lift from the ground. I’m waiting until I get to see the ground from way up high, the unique perspective of cloud formations. I’m looking forward to hours of uninterrupted reading and writing time (my personal little bit of heaven).  I’ve found that I like being in the air. Once I’ve overcome the stress of making my way through security, finding my gate, and getting onto my flight concerns drop away with the ground below the plane. I turn my attention to the present, and think a little about my upcoming destination. I wonder about what my journey at the other end of the flight holds for me but really, it doesn’t hold my attention all that much. I’m mostly in the moment. I’m heading on a destination to a new location, the annoyances of my fellow travelers has disappeared. I’m in my own cocoon of space, an introvert’s paradise. A window to my left, a book in front of me, and a combination of plane noise and music from my headphones have all but blocked out the rest of the passengers.  This right here, is what the journey comes to, the trip instead of the destination.

Once the wheels touch down, the concerns will return, worry about finding my connection, or finding the rental car company, the hotel, just finding my way in general. Now, right now, in the air, I’m free. Nothing I have to do, nothing to worry about, no responsibility. I can’t wait until I can fly again.