It had been some time since I had ridden a prop plane and I laughed as I saw the flight before me leaving in one. I thought to myself, "suckers." It takes enough faith to believe in the science of jet engines to keep you lifted in the air, but to subject yourself to the mercy of a few propellers just whirlin' away for all they got to get from point A to point B, to me it just tempting fate.
As they called for boarding to my Philly connection, I glanced out the window only to find that I too would be that "sucker" tempting fate. Buffalo to Philly in a prop plane seemed like quite the jaunt for such a wee machine, but I was seated across from a pilot in transit and felt mildy comforted by his presence. I gave him a weak smile and fastened my seat belt to a snugger than usual fit.
The flight lasted a little over an hour without much to write home about. However, I am sure that if planes could pant, ours did once it shuttered to the ground...
What was worth writing home about I guess, was my observation of the pilot-passenger, seated at the window. He was like a kid taking off from the jetway for the first time. His face was glued to the window pane and it remained there for much of the duration of the flight. His eyes constantly to the skies and ground made me quietly laugh at his boyish enthusiasm. This is a man who flies daily for a living! I began to admire this grown-up in his uniform with his pilot's cap resting in his lap, relishing those seemingly mundane moments that we frequent flyers often take for granted. I felt a stinging conviction to remember to live my life that way. A nose pressed against the glass kinda way...
Sometimes I like to think I'm too old when I'm not, and I choose Aisle over Window in life. But thankfully, my little toy plane arrived safely, which gives me another opportunity to make a seat arrangement for this flight and the next....
rlr
As they called for boarding to my Philly connection, I glanced out the window only to find that I too would be that "sucker" tempting fate. Buffalo to Philly in a prop plane seemed like quite the jaunt for such a wee machine, but I was seated across from a pilot in transit and felt mildy comforted by his presence. I gave him a weak smile and fastened my seat belt to a snugger than usual fit.
The flight lasted a little over an hour without much to write home about. However, I am sure that if planes could pant, ours did once it shuttered to the ground...
What was worth writing home about I guess, was my observation of the pilot-passenger, seated at the window. He was like a kid taking off from the jetway for the first time. His face was glued to the window pane and it remained there for much of the duration of the flight. His eyes constantly to the skies and ground made me quietly laugh at his boyish enthusiasm. This is a man who flies daily for a living! I began to admire this grown-up in his uniform with his pilot's cap resting in his lap, relishing those seemingly mundane moments that we frequent flyers often take for granted. I felt a stinging conviction to remember to live my life that way. A nose pressed against the glass kinda way...
Sometimes I like to think I'm too old when I'm not, and I choose Aisle over Window in life. But thankfully, my little toy plane arrived safely, which gives me another opportunity to make a seat arrangement for this flight and the next....
rlr