Air Art

I admit it.  I am afraid to fly. Since I had always felt this way, I was a grown woman with a 10-year-old child before I ever got on a plane.  I realized that my fear of flying was pretty irrational and to face my fear I booked a three-hour flight to visit a friend several states away. 

I have to say my first experience was not the pleasant trip I had hoped it would be.  The plane shook like a maraca.   By the time we landed I was a frazzled mess.  My daughter, cool, calm and collected just laughed. When the time came to leave I seriously considered renting a car and driving back and just forgetting about my round trip ticket.  Considering it would be three days drive, I relented, and did get back on. If I am honest I have to admit the second flight was not as bad, still I was never getting on a plane again.  The years went by with no traveling further than that which would consume a tank of gas.

Then fate smiled, no she laughed right in my face.  I met my future husband and what do you think was his chosen career?  Avionics, in fact he worked for a major airline.  How is that for irony?  What’s even more ironic is the fact that if you work for an airline, then you and your immediate family can fly seats available absolutely free!

The years have passed and I am a frequent albeit sometimes uncomfortable flyer.  I have learned that when a plane shakes it does not mean that I need to get on my knees and start to pray.  I have learned that a thousand mile trip takes two hours by plane, which is the best of enticements.  And I have also learned that it is very comforting to have an aircraft mechanic sitting in the seat opposite you at all times.  No you can’t borrow him, but you can borrow my sage advice.  Relax.

Finally we come to what this post is really getting at, art.  You can find art in places that you would never imagine would contain art.  You just need to know where to look. 

Look out the window from thousands of feet off the ground.  Observe how the earth appears symmetrical and asymmetrical all at the same time.  Did man really do this, did he really build that, and could that little line be a river?   The earth toned colors of the ground rise and fall.  The pure white floating clouds hover just above.  Oh yes, look at the clouds.  In this place lives inspiration.  Here are sights you will never see from the front seat of that old Toyota.   So live, love, laugh and fly…

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!  WISHING YOU THE BEST IN THE COMING YEAR ;-)