Flying

I have many memories from when I was little of dropping off and picking up my Dad from the airport.

Back then, before security checkpoints and the rule about only ticketed passengers going to the gates, we used to walk my Dad up to his gate and wait for his boarding time with him. Then we would stand at the window until his plane pulled away from the gate. When we went to wait for his plane to land, Mom would take us there early so we could go to the observation deck and watch planes take off and land. Karl and I were absolutely fascinated with it. Then when Dad's plane landed, we would be waiting at the gate for him and when he walked out of the jetway we would run up to meet him.

I remember being so intrigued by the security to get into the airport...going through the metal detectors and watching Mom put her purse through the machine.  I remember thinking the moving walkways were the absolute COOLEST thing ever. And I remember loving seeing when planes would touch down and seeing the puff of smoke when the wheels hit signifying they had safely touched down.

It was just so cool to watch.

Obviously now, the only way to really witness these things is to purchase tickets and get on a flight yourself. Due to my long-distance relationship, I have now been able to fly on my own over the past few months. Things are different than when I was little, but at the same time, still the same. Security is different, and once I go through security I'm on my own. No one gets to walk me to my gate and say farewell to me.

But the wonder of watching planes take off and land...that still exists.

Now, I hate flying as a passenger. Take-offs and landings stress me out. They're nerve-wrecking and FAST....not something I ever really contemplated or understood as that 5-year-old child watching in wonder as the planes took off and landed.

But as an observer...I still love it. I still love watching planes. I'm lucky now that my way back to campus from home has an option to go past the airport. As I drive by I sometimes see flights taking off or landing as they go over the road. As flights take off I silently wish them Godspeed, and as flights land I silently welcome them back safely.

Flying is a fascinating concept. In it, we defy the laws of physics and conquer something almost unfathomable. We fly. We travel.

And at the end, we hope someone is there to welcome us home.