Air travel can perplex the body a bit but I’m quite willing to contend with minor confusions. The wonder of buckling into my seat with a decent read and then landing hundreds or thousands of miles away within mere hours still thrills me. I suspect it always will.
I rode beside a first time flier a couple of weeks ago. She seemed slightly flustered and breathless upon boarding, but we were midway to Phoenix before I realized it was her very first time in the air. Her lifelong fear had tethered her close to home and confined her explorations to the paved spaces between the solid lines of a highway. Our shared flight was her personal launch toward untapped adventures, and I was as delighted for her as I am when one of my children crests a metaphorical mountain.
Our flight hit some bumps in the last hour but she held tough, chatting about her grandson, her husband seated two rows behind us and her upcoming adventure. The gentleman by the window expressed it best as we landed, telling her it was a privilege to share her first flight with her. And it was…
Charlene from Junction City, Ohio: I hope the Grand Canyon was but the first leg of lifelong travels. Congratulations on taking a step outside of “safe” and allowing yourself to be both surprised and amazed!
*The photo is from this past Thursday – a view of Half Dome from Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park. My recent ten days in California included Newport Beach and the Upper Bay area, La Jolla, San Francisco, Mammoth Mountain and Yosemite. Upcoming highlights include: sea critters of Crystal Cove, waterfall hikes in Yosemite, a 2700-year old sequoia, the colorful streets of Chinatown (and riding the BART) and mountain biking (my first time)!
I think its wonderful when you meet first time air travellers, no matter what age. You watch the anxiety slowly give way to enthusiasm and quiet accomplishment. Too bad all new air travellers aren’t like this. The annoying ones who play with the seat adjustments, trays and throw (yes) their shoes under their seat into your footspace need a special seating area of their own. Glad you had a good trip, am looking forward to your posts.
Hopefully it is the first of many journeys for Charlene. What a nice reflection of what must be a momentous occasion. Sadly for me, air travel has turned into a chore – a method of getting from A to B. However the world is still a great place and planes are how you get to the world…
Air travel still is an ordeal for me , but nothing like having a good companion sit beside you and all fears dissipate.
The picture looks just great Heather!
Take care.
Oh dear, I hope I don’t fall into one of the annoying first timer when I fly abroad this summer. It will be a first time I’ve flown since 1973 and now that I’m (cough, cough) ..rather mature… it’ll be like the first time I suppose… I can’t really remember much about the first episode only that I had a little red suitcase (which I’ve still got) and the air hostess asking if my nan wanted to buy some toliet water and me piping up “Ooo that must stink!” Hmm.. I think I was a bit of a joker even back then…
At the moment I’m just about scared of everything – flying, tsuanmis, volcanoes..blah, blah, blah. Not for me really – just for my boys.
One day I’d like to go to Egypt – all that history:)
Cate: The randomness of whom you might meet on an airplane virtually guarantees an interesting experience, doesn’t it? Amongst my personal memories, the conspiracy theorist returning from South America and the 9AM gin drinkers on their way to Vegas rank lowest and Charlene from Junction City hits a high note.
Mark: From reading your adventures, I know you’d rather be on a trail than in a plane. I’m just grateful to live in an era when so much of the world is accessible, albeit, with stamina and a good deal of effort!
Sadia: Fellow travelers are generally more entertaining than the in-flight movie!
Mrs. T: I SO look forward to reading about your upcoming trip. You will not be camping, I trust (Mrs. T writes a very entertaining BBC column “Mum’s the Word”)…
My first flight was when I was about 11. One of the things I remember most is a part of the flight being rough enough that some folks across the aisle need to use their air sickness bags.
My boys have all flown. The two oldest when they were infants, and then all of us to Disney last year.
i was thinking that photo reminded me of my trip to Yosemite – unusual angle so didn’t recognise the half-dome!
Greatings, http://www.heatherdugan.com to GoogleReader!
Saurooon