THOUGHTS FROM 35,000 FEET.

when we first took off i was astounded. the fact that such a huge chunk of metal can propel itself into thin air never ceases to amaze me. my surroundings shirnk slowly, though i can’t even imagine the speed at which we are traveling past them. i grin to myself as i trace a green-blue tributary to a larger muddy-brown one with spider-web fingers of the odd blue dye.

i smile as i trace the circles and lines that make up the interstate – it seems like a child’s playmat from this height.

the trees look purple – it must be because of the winter – and there are large patches of them with tiny breaks for swingsets and slides. these purple trees section off houses from their neighbors in seemingly straight lines and i wonder vaguely who could plant them in such linear-lined squares and rectangles.

for a moment, the fact that we haven’t yet broken the clouds worries me. shouldn’t we be ascending more? however, another glance out the window and i decide that watching the monopoly-like houses and bug-sized cars for the whole trip wouldn’t be to horrible after all.

and then, before i know what happened, we are surrounded by a light grey, impenetrable fog. before i can stare at it too long, however, we break the clouds again and it looks as though i’m gliding on top of the world. the white of the clouds that stretch on until they meet the baby blue of the sky is a surreal picture and for more than a few second, i can only stare in awe and thank god that i was lucky enough to snag a seat by the window.

my ears pop and the captain drawls on over the speaker saying we have reached 35,000 feet.

in the two seats to my left sit an engaged couple. when i sat down, i guessed they were together and little hints have assured me they are engaged. the man, sitting on the isle, is tall, freckled, and has boney, round knuckles. his fiancée sits next to me (why she’d voluntarily pick the middle seat, i haven’t a clue) and leaves through a wedding magazine (i never said these hints were subtle). she has brown-black hair, brown eyes, skinny fingers and overall reminds me of the girl who is set to marry the main character’s love right before she stealks him back in just about every chick flick.

maybe that’s where they’re heading – back to his hometown for a vacation that will end with this brown haired man ditching this raven-looking girl for his high school sweetheart. i do know how chick flicks come to life sometimes.

looking to my right again, i am struck with the beauty of the other side of the clouds. from the ground they look grey and sullen but now they are anything but. i am reminded of snow – a long and forever-stretching blanket of undisturbed snow.

i see why white stands for perfection and purity.

the plane rocks as we enter a patch of suffocating grey; we’ve started our descent. the attendants walk up and down as if they are more comfortable here than on the ground. i find myself strangely jealous.

i am struck with the urge to learn to fly a plane. to be able to escape the earth and its problems and disappear into the sky at will.

i’ll put it on my bucket list.

[2/12/10]