En Route to Vegas

(Written shortly after take-off, a few hours before food poisoning set in)
You know how a counselor will tell you that most irrational fears stem from a misinterpreted childhood memory? Like, for instance, my fear of flying. Charles asked me once if I remember possibly seeing a plane crash on TV when I was little, perhaps that could explain it. Yes, I probably did, but I don’t distinctively remember it. I do remember flying with my dad who was always delighted when the plane banked 90 degrees to our side and gave a “great” aerial view of the ground beneath us.
So as the plane was gaining speed on the runway and a child two rows up began to scream- I think that must be really terrifying for a child because they don’t understand why the plane is shaking and making noises and of course, as an adult I don’t have to be afraid (I tell myself) because I know what is going on- as the back wheel leaves the runway- why, of course, this large heavy piece of metal with my inside, is flying. Makes perfect sense, right?

Thunderstorm

Shortly after takeoff I noticed flashes outside of the window. We were just above the clouds and off to the right there was a heavy thunderstorm, with lightning flashing so often the woman next to me said it reminded her of flashes in a stadium at a football game. The top of the storm was a straight black cloud blanket and the flashes of light revealed a lower layer of rounded faster moving clouds. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen enhanced by the fact that it was also quite dangerous. Its like when I’m sitting on my longboard during a break between sets with my toes balancing on the tip of the board (so as not to appear to be dangling bate) and a dolphin surfaces 10 feet beyond me. Beautiful, and yet as “harmless” as dolphins have the reputation to be, I am in their domain, and want to admire them from a little more of a distance. Well, the thunderstorm gave us quite a show, but it also lived up to its reputation and gave us a good 30 minutes of turbulence and apparently reeked some havoc behind us in Atlanta that night.