Yesterday my one-hour 7am flight to K-town landed promptly at 5 pm. But that’s nothing unusual. If you've read some of my previous posts, you know that flying in this country doesn't exactly agree with me. After a very long wait outside in yet another late-summer dust storm, the check-in process began. The good news was that things always move fairly quickly when that happens and before I knew it, I was 25,000 ft. above sea level. Unfortunately, even from that distance, the earth appeared as one unremitting haze of brown with the only hint of color coming from the light blue of the distant horizon.
Yet still. In spite of all its challenges and seeming frustrations, there’s just something about traveling that I love.
Take, for instance, the people.
You never know whom you are going to encounter when traveling. Depending on your mode of transportation or your geographical location; traveling could lead you to a chatty pilot, a hillbilly gas station attendant, an impatient businessman, a gentle elderly lady, a crazy sports fan, an expectant mother, etc. The possibilities are endless. Whether or not you feel like finding out each of these characters’ life story is beside the point. There's always something to be learned.
Yesterday there was the “Jolly Green Giant”--a very tall national man who, oddly enough, actually showed respect to women (me included). Then there was the lady in the wheelchair who couldn’t communicate with words, but I'm pretty sure we had a complete conversation with our eyes. And then there were the US military or security-like men who were flying back to the capital.
Perhaps it was the last of these that most piqued my curiosity.
At this point in my post I’m going to ramble (as if I haven’t already) and make some broad generalizations and assumptions that may or may not be accurate and may or may not make some of you reading this mad. The following were just my random thoughts, but I’m going to share them anyway…
Yesterday they served us a ‘hamburger’ and soda on our flight. I must say that I was quite excited to see the change because for the last 10 months or so, they’ve served nothing but a packet of cookies and this strangely interesting pulp-filled juice. (I know this is way more than we get on a domestic hour-long flight in the States, so I’m not complaining.) But I digress. I wasn’t even that hungry, but I wanted to try it out.
At one point I looked across the aisle to see the 2 American guys looking over at me. Granted, I have no idea why they were looking at me. I can think of plenty of reasons. 1. Because they were probably wondering what in the world I was doing there. 2. Because they might have been thinking I was nuts for eating that food. Either way, I don’t really know. I did, however, notice that they had nothing before them. No ‘hamburger’ or even Pepsi. And for a brief second a bit of pride rushed over me as I thought about how I’ll eat almost anything. Then I thought about how they might have been told not to. “Don’t eat the food. You’re bound to get sick.” I imagined someone warning.
Then a bit of sadness came over me. I know that some of these men and women who come over here in the military are never even allowed to leave the base. I thought about their lives and how they can say that they have lived here, but did they?
And then the larger question was posed: Do I?
Living involves a lot of risks. Some will get you sick. (Even in all my pride, I am once again on medication for my recurring stomach issues.) Some might make you look stupid. And some might even take your life. (Yes, I know that if this is my definition for ‘living’ then these people can say that they have.)
But I guess, really, I share all of this because I was reminded of something yesterday on that plane. A reminder to live. To truly live. To risk. To eat the food. To make a fool of myself. To love. To give. To make the most of every day.
Maybe this is why I love to travel? Simple truths fleshed out amidst the chaos...the crowds...the movement. New perspectives in new locations.
That and the fact that I had real bacon for breakfast and spent the afternoon at the swimming pool.
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4 comments:
I'm not sure what would generalizations you made that may upset people. I agree with what you had to say...especially the part about making a fool of yourself. I think you've exceeded all expectations in that department.
Come to think of it, maybe that's why the two guys on the airplane were staring at you.
Good deep thoughts from a bacon feed, swimming strawberry blonde! :)
This is reminding me to really live! To get out there and take life by the horns! :)
The Bearded--Thanks for your encouragement. You're right. I should add that reason to the list of 'why they were looking at me.'
Noel--Thanks. And as Nike reminds us, "Just do it!"
Life is in the little, lived greatly and unashamed.
Choosing the insane, trusting it is worth the risk.
I have discovered that traveling with a large group of unexperienced students is not nearly as much fun.
Barista N
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