Well, this morning bright and early, I crawled on a Boeing 737-800 Jet and less than 2 hours later, I was landing in Dallas, Texas and Pueblo, Colorado was back in the rear view mirror. I have lived 76 years and never even been tempted to leave the ground, but here I am! When I got off the airplane, I still had no idea where I was and yet Sam found me before I could figure it out. And then he scooped my suitcase off the carousel and we were headed across Dallas to his house. 7 1/2 hours after I left the house, I have traveled what would have taken me 14 hours to drive, ate a granola bar, had a nap and am on my second glass of water.
So what I have dreaded for all of my life has turned out to be a really cool adventure. There is something about soaring way high above the earth that is very humbling. To just be able to look out the window and see the tiny little world down below, is an adventure that can not be told, but has to be experienced. Something about looking down on the clouds makes one feel infinitesimal. I had made up my mind that I would just do it and that is what I did. I had many people give me pointers on flying, but I knew it would have to be done to know for myself.
Oh, when the plane was taxing down the runway and it began to shudder a little and the guy in the seat next to me said, "No, that is not normal" I did know a little moment of panic, but then I remembered what Gayle's husband said about it being much like a car ride only way bigger and there would be some turbulence, I relaxed. I figured about the worst that could happen was a fiery crash, but hell, when you are my age something is going to get me and it might as well be a newsworthy event. But here I am. Sam had all the work of booking it, and paying for it, all I had to do was get on board and I am very glad I did. For that I thank him.
I have a book at home by a photographer named Wark that is all aerial photos and I now know what they look like in real time. There are many circles in Colorado and Oklahoma that I have no idea what they are. I saw dried up rivers and lakes and reservoirs that I never knew existed. Lot of farmland all green and growing. So tonight I shall go to bed in Texas and instead of visions of sugar plums, I shall have vistas of clouds and mountains. As for flying, I wish I had tried this back when I was young. I might have been a bird!
So what I have dreaded for all of my life has turned out to be a really cool adventure. There is something about soaring way high above the earth that is very humbling. To just be able to look out the window and see the tiny little world down below, is an adventure that can not be told, but has to be experienced. Something about looking down on the clouds makes one feel infinitesimal. I had made up my mind that I would just do it and that is what I did. I had many people give me pointers on flying, but I knew it would have to be done to know for myself.
Oh, when the plane was taxing down the runway and it began to shudder a little and the guy in the seat next to me said, "No, that is not normal" I did know a little moment of panic, but then I remembered what Gayle's husband said about it being much like a car ride only way bigger and there would be some turbulence, I relaxed. I figured about the worst that could happen was a fiery crash, but hell, when you are my age something is going to get me and it might as well be a newsworthy event. But here I am. Sam had all the work of booking it, and paying for it, all I had to do was get on board and I am very glad I did. For that I thank him.
I have a book at home by a photographer named Wark that is all aerial photos and I now know what they look like in real time. There are many circles in Colorado and Oklahoma that I have no idea what they are. I saw dried up rivers and lakes and reservoirs that I never knew existed. Lot of farmland all green and growing. So tonight I shall go to bed in Texas and instead of visions of sugar plums, I shall have vistas of clouds and mountains. As for flying, I wish I had tried this back when I was young. I might have been a bird!
2 comments:
Enjoy your trip, dear friend! I'm proud of you!
Ellen
I thought of you when that engine blew up on the Southwest jet recently, but knew it would not deter you. It was the first fatality on an American air carrier in about a decade, I think, and handled so well by that pilot. The chances of a tragedy on the highway are so much greater. You are off to a great start. I hope you have time for more musings on the blog in the days to come. Thank you for sharing your trip.
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