Relentlessly pursuing what connects us.
One person, one moment at a time.

Tag: Travel

  • I Went Back to Ibiza

    I Went Back to Ibiza

    Approaching Ibiza on Val Gal (aka Valiant Lady), the warmth of the sun and the sea breeze. Spanning the horizon to take in the architecture, geography and where our adventure was about to take us to. The sun’s rays, the calm as fellow passengers disappeared to get ready for their night in Ibiza. An adventure is unforgettable when we can close our eyes and morph back to the moments, immersed in the sensation of the sight, sound, touch and smell. 

    Nick and I made the journey with this particular port having the greatest hesitations that we would enjoy our time. The thought of loud clubs, drinking, crowds, all things that we knew were not our scene and we’d not want to go back for. Disembarking the Val gal that evening we could feel the calm of Ibiza consume us. The vibrancy at night, the pockets of streets, lookouts of the water, the planes landing overhead and the buzz of people enjoying the most cherished time together building moments over a sangria, tapas, or a late night coffee. That first night we accepted how mistaken our perception of Ibiza was and how we were glad to be present in a jewel in the Mediterranean. 

    Three consecutive years continuing our Virgin Voyages with the overnight of Ibiza before that sobering feeling of returning back to Barcelona for the ultimate reminder of eagerly awaiting our return. Each trip brought forth new friendship, unforgettable memories and while many were passenger theory moments (Post: The Miles Shared), they carry on in our hearts becoming part of our DNA. Our first arrival into Ibiza was when the ship paused earlier in her arrival for a moment of silence to the late Queen Elizabeth II, how VV paid respect through the lights on the ship. Our second was unforgettable new connections, new shows, and stepping outside of our comfort zones. That year the Instagram post wasn’t about the destinations rather the unforgettable people that crossed our paths that year. Our final journey was most unforgettable, when my sister said yes to a gifted birthday trip to join Nick and I. Having taken her to London and Paris in 2014, showing her the world meant more to me than any trip I had taken for myself. That trip carried a heavy moment, a FaceTime call with a friend and colleague in hospice, 2 hours talking life, taking in the sunset, more to come from that thread when the time is right. Every summer, Ibiza kept calling us back.  

    Valiant Lady in the harbor, Ibiza — September 2022
    Bodega Can Maymo, Ibiza — 2024

    The hit song “I took a Pill in Ibiza”, the soundtrack for the journeys when we would open our suite door and take in the waves and sunset vibes. The new version redefining Posner released in March of this year as “I went back to Ibiza”. Twelve years later, Avicii’s gone, ten years sober and walking across the country with a focus back on love songs. The simplicity of the new version, how it evoked feeling deep inside me while being so calm. I shared the updated version with my sister a few weeks back and she was reminded of it when it randomly played while driving, she loved it and then remembered I had sent it over.


    “You know i just wanna live my life

    now i really wanna shine my light”

    Listen: YouTube | Spotify

    In 2025 we returned to the Mediterranean. Ibiza wasn’t on the itinerary — not by my choice. I longed for it. My last journey returning to Spain, I didn’t realize the weight of things back home that I had brought with me. In the moments of calm at sea, or the God Moments of a sunset, the weight settles in when others seek to tear you down. When I reflect on that week, it’s so hard to see beyond how heavy the weight was on me but now in looking back, how much was in my control and ultimately, God’s plan. 

    Close your eyes, take the leap, fill your body with warmth, surround yourself with people that make you want to be a better person and release those that attempt to tear you down. 

  • The Miles Shared

    The Miles Shared

    Do you ever find yourself closing your eyes and yearning to go back to a moment, not to be in the moment but for how that moment made you feel? The people in our lives play such an influential role in our lives that all too often we don’t realize it until things change. My last post was June 2020, Six years, give or take.

    Where has the time gone? Did it pause? Did it fast forward? What has changed? Did anything stay the same? When I close my eyes and reflect on the people around me passing through the journey, I am often reminded of the passenger train theory. So much transition in life, so many pivots, so much change, and yet each day here we are. We think often that we are avoiding cheating ourself if we only focus on the end goal.

    Presence over purpose, instead of worrying we left per the plan, focus what we had while they were there, much like the travelers I saw in transit on the plane in my previous post where I pondered, what were they writing. (Pen to Paper, fingers to keyboard, what are they writing?). While I’m a massive aviation enthusiast, quite a shocker for those that know me, I can’t find it to relate at all to the travel of experience of point to point air travel. The plane is where we rush to wait, we embark to take off, land, and then continue to our destination and that serves as our shared moments and memories with people.

    When I think of my youth, my love of trains, it is much more realistic to embrace the passenger train theory. Albeit, it’s much more than the people sitting across from us, the individuals that pass us in the car, but it’s also the moments we pause to look out the window and take in the scenery. When I think of the Human Element, it’s recollecting the attendants that passed by, thinking hard to recall their name, their story. I think of the feeling of looking out at the scenery, taking it all in, but once going so fast, it simply is a blur, much like life is as we speed up. The train speeds up, making it harder to see the landscape beauty passing by, and yet we continue. While inside it’s quiet, we are connecting with others, or perhaps using the time to delve into music and reflect with a moment of nostalgia on the path we were once on.

    What incredible miles I have shared in my life to date, with many more on the horizon.

    We travel this earth seeking connection as the void from the digital connection expands exponentially, still recovering in a post covid world.

    My life has gone through immense change, all too many times I find myself lost in thought of recollecting particular moments and how they made me feel. Luckily as time passes, those that are painful tend to fade, and those of genuine connection fill my heart with love and compassion to persevere. In today’s age, I am not going to lie that I do miss sitting across from folks on the journey on a regular basis.

    The train keeps going and ultimately the miles shared rather than the empty seats behind are what matters.

    Be humble, be grateful, be true to you.

    Photo: Shinkansen, Japan — September 2024. En route to Kyoto.

  • Pen to Paper, fingers to keyboard, what are they writing?

    Pen to Paper, fingers to keyboard, what are they writing?

    Flying home from New York (JFK) to Atlanta I notice two people seated one before the other along the aisle. Each in deep focus, broad, yet one can see, a different approach.

    The woman in 25E, MacBook powered up, PowerPoint open, scrolling through presentations, spreadsheets, listening to her air buds, frequently pausing, raising her hand to her face, searching graphics, tapping backspace, edit and delete.

    The gentleman in 26E, leather-bound journal open, fine point ink pen, listening to Spotify on his AirPods. He often runs his hands through his hair, looking up, biting the end of his pen, flipping to the back of his journal, test the ink, and flipping back to continue where he left off. Many times, looking deep into the words written out before him in the journal, many times appearing to be lost in thought. He strikes through words deemed unnecessary, looking up something on his phone, in the underlit halogen lighting of the plane (764). A glance up, pause, the pen back to the paper, he continues letting his consciousness flow.

    What perplexed me? I gaze at them both before me, he with his head resting on the palm of his hand, looking deep in thought at each word scribed in his journal. She was adjusting the font size and placement of graphics in her PowerPoint. These two individuals are capturing ideas, yet in stark contrast. His deleting and edit is a scribble on paper, bleeding through to the back of the page. Her creativity is adding a graphic or icon to a template. One can presume, her diligence on this late night flight is to deliver a work power point while the gent is capturing some thoughts in his journal. Looking outside, one can never know.

    The art of handwritten notes, letters, lists and much more is losing its base in the world. An avid owner of custom stationery, fountain pens, and a typewriter, yes, a typewriter. Why? I wish I could, but I don’t really know other than I know how I feel when I receive something tangible, holding in my hand versus an email, text or Facebook post.

    Pen and Ink Photo Updted

    I will never know what 26E was scribing, but between the two seatmates, I’d prefer being lost in my own thoughts. That challenge of looking back with an attempt to decipher my words, the scribbles. At this point, this second, the ink has been placed on his page, it doesn’t change with a backspace, or delete. The ink dries. I ponder what 26E scribed, but alas, he continues to write, I remain in nostalgia.

    The takeaway;

    In life, each second that passes, the ink dries. We aren’t afforded a backspace, edit, delete, new document. We can look back on the journey, learn from the mistakes, the scribbled out moments. Perhaps a moment we attempt to scribble out, we know deep inside will always be a big impression in the paper. The instances in life where we can’t change the past instead of taking time to understand the learning. Each day is a new page, each hour a new line, each stroke, a new second. We afforded to determine what is written before us, too often we opt not to yield time to pause. The world is moving around us, yet, it’s not the world around us, it’s the world that is before us.

    Quote by the brilliant Anthony Bourdain;

    “It seems that the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realize the world to be. The more I become aware of, the more I realize how relatively little I know of it, how many places I have still to go, how much more there is to learn. Maybe that’s enlightenment enough – to know that there is no final resting place of the mind, no moment of smug clarity. Perhaps wisdom, at least for me, means realizing how small I am, and unwise, and how far I have yet to go.”

    I continue to walk the earth today on my relentless journey to define The Human Element.

    Be humble, be grateful, be true to you. 

  • Cinderella Moment, Important Bucket and Change in

    Cinderella Moment, Important Bucket and Change in

    (Composed; 2017-Dec-10 )

    Damn? I have no clue where to start. Where am I? Where have I been? At the moment I’m on a KLM flight from Helsinki to Amsterdam. I can finally manage to say, we have been to HELsinki. Passing through the aisle at the moment, the young female KLM flight attendant. I extended a genuine thank you and shared how her smile is nothing but infectious and she is beautiful. Of course, only made her smile more.

    A genuine compliment can go so far, a smile lasts, laughter can make things lighter in almost any situation. Wondering earth, exploring one take off at a time, isn’t it about creating a human connection to the world around us, not foregoing the opportunities to; connect, make an impact, even if small? I believe that it is not we should, rather we must, leverage each and every opportunity to do just that.

    Why haven’t I posted in a while, or over a year? I realize that I sacrificed my time to collect my thoughts for other things in life, reflecting back, some trivial in nature, others just a full distraction to what is in my ‘important bucket‘. Tasks for the HOA board, neighbors, and some work activities. I never stopped yearning to express my ramblings, even if zero people ever read these words. Accepting I had no time to read a book, yet a clear opportunity for mindful growth before me in a list of novels; placing so many other things in life before those of importance to me when shouldn’t I do something that expands my mind? Reward my efforts, help me find calm, learn myself better and share along the way?

    What has been going on in the past year. Travel has been a blessing, venturing into so many places around the globe. Connecting to people along the journeys, glued to the window like a child for each take off, the twinkle of stars in the darkness of night crossing the ocean, and that single moment where the jet touches down on the runway. Realizing, I’ve arrived. My weekend, a trip for 36 hours to Helsinki, exhausting, but wouldn’t change the trajectory. See as much, learn as much, share when I can. Sharing, I have transitioned my thoughts to what content I post on Instagram (Instagram: the.humanelement) . Compared to the monotony of Facebook. Scrolling through photos on Instagram, seeing the world, emotion, creating, rather yet, evoking feeling from others shared moments. Avoiding the endless selfie people, striking a pose, gym bunnies, torsos, the same pose, oversharing and using the platform to live life through likes. Moving away from Facebook has provided an opportunity to opt out of most of the political swirl, hurtful words, misunderstanding of reality and lack of depth which continues to grow within humanity around us. People accept word as truth, gospel, when all too often, it’s false. Easier to accept versus validate.

    Giving thought to moments, all too often people spend seconds trying to create the illusion of a moment in a photo, whereas the photo should be capturing only but a second of the moment. One could say sharing the photos of my travels is an some way a means to make others jealous, conversely, so many appreciate seeing the adventure, understanding the focus on connection in the captions of recent. Asking, answering, why did I capture the photo? What was the second in that moment.

    Change… the thought to my ramblings continues to reinforce my focus, The Human Element ( Post: A journey to define The Human Element (THE) ) Why? When I reflect on a journey, the greatest moments in life, good or sad, they all are underpinned by The Human Element. In life, we have a choice of which side of the bed to get up from. We have a choice in our career path, too often people share excuses of why they can’t change their own course. Key word, their course, no one can change it, not a right, rather a series of choices. Choices; my sister shared words of wisdom on a journey home. We are all three choices away from being homeless. Give thought to that? A small choice, a big choice. Should a choice limit consideration to exploring a different path? Should we avoid change in our lives which for so many have been entrenched in repetitive routines, bringing us minimal feeling of contribution and satisfaction, the mere drive for us to get out of bed? Should it make us feel in that small moment, I didn’t make it to the gym and feel guilty, I enjoyed time with friends over laundry – choices.

    Change, living, humanity, what is around us? Do we even see what is around us? What we have? What we need versus what we feel we need? Nick looked over at me a few minutes ago with concern during our take off from Helsinki. Why was I staring out the window? Why did I have tears in my eyes? Watching us accelerate along the runway, passing the lights below, the moment of rotation and our journey takes towards the sky. Two things, when we take flight we are closer to those in heaven, second, our life is like a takeoff, the plane needs the runway, has to accelerate, and the pilot has to make a decision to rotate. It requires a commitment. I am so fortunate to have explored the world one take off at a time. Candidly, my childhood was not easy, I made tough trade offs in life, my father played the role of two parents balancing out four children. Why tears? As a child, I never would have imagined I would be looking out the window in darkness, returning home from another trip to Europe this year with Nicholas by my side.

    I’ve been fortunate through means I often cannot comprehend. Over the past few months I connected to a person that relocated to the “ATL” from SF. Those coming from west coast or north east, yes… ‘the’ is required. While I have only been in this persons presence once in person, we manage to check-in throughout the week via text. At times, it allows me to check out, re-calibrate and reset. Over the short time, I have felt a genuine connection to someone that faced similar life obstacles and recognizes it’s the choices we make that can allow a different outcome, versus the outcome dictated by the cards that we use as an excuse, “being dealt”. I ask questions on leadership, philosophy on life, balancing, family, coping, celebrating; one takeaway – pick one thing that gives you personal satisfaction and pursue it. Thus, this post at 8am. Cliche, we say don’t judge someone by their shoes unless you have walked in them. For this individual, don’t judge someone by their shoes they wear today for you most likely cannot fathom the sacrifices they have made not only for themselves but others in their ‘important bucket‘. Cinderella went to the ball with a glass slipper, a shoe of envy, the audience around her showed no compassion prior to the ball, nor would they at 12 once she reverted back. She took a chance, she had, was has become, a Cinderella moment. For a few moments her life was surreal. Do people realize when they have one? Does it have to be of great magnitude?

    Illustration of an original glass slipper design fit for capturing a prince

    No, a simple connection to those around us, that can be a Cinderella moment not for me, rather for others. A true moment is genuine with no expectation of personal gain. You could say the satisfaction one gets is personal gain, perhaps, but as long as we continue to seek out ways to make one person’s day better, one moment better, one second better, the tide will reflect well on us, it always comes back ten fold.

    The Dalai Lama has an incredible philosophy on when we wake up. ( Post: How One Restless Night Changed My Life )

    Put the effort into making the world a little better, I assure you, it can be the most empowering feeling, calm, and connection.

    Be humble, be grateful, be true to you.

    – Douglas

    Photo: Zurich, 2017-11-26

  • Undercover Boss, Clergy and a Californian

    Undercover Boss, Clergy and a Californian

    My adventure to Europe with my sister is coming to an end, posting this from Delta 170, CDG-MSP. Heidi with Delta has been top notch, a great trip back to the US. Trump, that’s the Apprentice… am I the Undercover Boss… say what? Over the past week I had three interactions which made me reflect on my journey in life and give thought to pivotal moments that changed me. A quick search through my site, I found a post from July 2, 2011, Helping out a Stranger in the Armed Forces, Reflecting Back on my Day where I first openly shared my goal in life in quote I discovered in 2009.

    Each day when I awake I know I have one more day to make a difference in someone’s life.

    James Mann
    Author

    Time to circle back to this trip. My trip began with an overnight stay at the Holiday Inn Express SF Airport North. In the morning I met the breakfast attendant, an elderly woman named Jackie. In lieu of dashing to the airport to wait for my sister’s arrival I wanted to get to know Jackie.

    In sitting down, I thanked Jackie by name which she was perplexed, “you are the second person to do that today”. Jackie joined the hotel 12 years ago under a different brand but is a fan of the brand, and an ambassador. Jackie works two mornings shifts a week to allow her lunch money the other days . The more we talked, the more she was intrigued, who was this stranger listening to her. What appreciation I had for Jackie’s walk of life when she posed an interesting question.

    “Have you heard of Undercover Boss, are you from that?”  I frequently watch the show, more enlightening at it’s series start, I was stumped by the question. “You used my name, asked me about working here, not many people care that much, I am thinking to myself, you must be Undercover Boss”. A chuckle in my response, I confirmed I was not connected to the show, but was also an employee of IHG. I shared how much I appreciated her, a genuine thank you, and she wished me a wonderful day.

    Now that we are leaving reality TV behind us, let’s join the clergy?  Barbara was the flight leader on our Delta flight to Atlanta from San Francisco. In passing through the galley, Barbara asked if I was a member of the clergy. Clergy? Perplexed, had alcohol, traveling with my sister, unsure why she would think that. We talked for a bit, she explained she thought I was potentially in the church because I expressed a genuine interest in her, appreciated her, used her name and engaged with her directly. In passing, my sister explained that I was in the hospitality industry which for Barbara, that explained it.

    Now that we have walked away from Undercover Boss, opted to not pursue the clergy, let’s revisit California. A young french mother of two young kids was boarding the Eurostar to Paris. The steps were high, the bags were big, and her hands were full. I retrieved her bags from the platform and stowed them away. I brought her other items to her seat. as full, another rider of 3 had luggage, two young kids, and in need of settling. I thought nothing the more of it, mid travel she pardoned to interrupt us with a question, “Are you from California?”

    This being my third moment of inspiration in just the first 3 days, she explained, “I was in California last year, the people were so nice, you were so helpful, you must be from California. People in Europe don’t do that for others”. My sister and I briefly talked about chivalry and the world we are in. While being originally from California I don’t believe that’s the connection.

    It all comes back to – The Human Element. Read: A Journey to define The Human Element (THE) . Jackie, Barbara or the young french mother cost me nothing and made me richer in life.

    Each day YOU have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of other, if you miss that moment, it may not come around again. Pay it forward, use peoples name and never assume peoples walks of life, never discount them and appreciate everyone you come in contact with.

  • The frail Dove takes flight and how we can live to Infinity

    The frail Dove takes flight and how we can live to Infinity

    What the hell do I write about? I wish I could yell at the top of my lungs, give out hugs, call my family, say I love you to everyone.  My heart has ached all day,how I feel tonight in my heart. On May 15th, I wrote about Jane Mitchell and her daughter Gretchen – Blog Post : An unsung hero, daughter battling cancer, will you dance?

    At 12:26 am Gretchen’s soul took flight to the heavens above, leaving behind her husband, two baby girls, and her mother Jane. From the time it took me to write that sentence, I have stared at my laptop, from 46% to 5% still can’t articulate.

    I recall our many phone calls, the most gripping before today was when Jane texted me that Gretchen was ill again, I had to pull over as I became numb while driving home, staring aimlessly at my surroundings. Thinking of that moment still brings me to tears as I type this.  I began to type, Jane was… but Jane IS strong, optimistic, loving, and persistent. Jane held tight until the end that Gretchen would be okay even as optimism began to fade, I can still hear her southern charm accent talking about her baby’s girls.

    The news today brought back heart tendering moments in my life of the crushing feeling that loss brings. My mom took flight in 1993 when I was 13, I have tried to overcome my fear of abandonment and rejection but it’s a battle each day. My close friends understand how I look forward to things, the opportunities to build memories and when they end I solemnly reflect, even on the happiest of occasions, a vacation, Jet Drag, or company flying back home to Chicago. Everything ends, but it’s the journey we take that makes all the difference.

    My Tuesday Takeaway, our time on earth is finite yet everyday we must take advantage of every opportunity to make a positive lasting imprint on the world around us. For then our lives become infinite.

    While Gretchen is no longer with us this evening,  she soars above us free of pain and suffering. Part of Jane died today, I love you Jane, you are in my prayers, text from May.

    2015-05-16_10-22-55

    Celine Dion wrote a song called Fly about the loss of her niece Karine from Cystic Fibrosis. I saw her perform this haunting song live, it especially holds true for a parent who lost their child all too soon. Takes about 30 seconds for the story and her singing in this 1997 video.

    “Fly”

    Fly, fly little wing
    Fly beyond imagining
    The softest cloud, the whitest dove
    Upon the wind of heaven’s love
    Past the planets and the stars
    Leave this lonely world of ours
    Escape the sorrow and the pain
    And fly againFly, fly precious one
    Your endless journey has begun
    Take your gentle happiness
    Far too beautiful for this
    Cross over to the other shore
    There is peace forevermore
    But hold this mem’ry bittersweet
    Until we meetFly, fly do not fear
    Don’t waste a breath, don’t shed a tear
    Your heart is pure, your soul is free
    Be on your way, don’t wait for me
    Above the universe you’ll climb
    On beyond the hands of time
    The moon will rise, the sun will set
    But I won’t forgetFly, fly little wing
    Fly where only angels sing
    Fly away, the time is right
    Go now, find the light

    For those with Spotify –


    https://open.spotify.com/track/2IlZNGEdntVlKnIgKD436x
     

  • A Retrospective Look at 9/11, Eleven years later

    A Retrospective Look at 9/11, Eleven years later

    Enjoying Helen today and as it approaches to 1am, I have spent a few minutes of time reflecting on that day in history, 9/11. A day that for our generation will be paramount similar to where were you during Pearl Harbor or when JFK was shot. No doubt you remember where you were when you heard the news, but my story I often try not to think about as it all seems too surreal to fathom.

    My good friend is a flight attendant for United Airlines, at the time we had all plans to visit NYC, explore the city, and return home on 9/11. Through my connection with Hilton, I managed to secure a Junior Suite at the Hilton WTC (the narrow black building you see in many photos). The room was situated some 49 floors above the city, this would be my first trip to NYC. The excitement built. Flying on a buddy pass is not always easy, our odds were much better to travel through Newark.

    Where I spend some time pondering, we were to spend the night in NJ, and fly home from Newark on Flight 93. This all would have occurred had one thing that summer not change. Dr. Bhatia, my stats professor refused to let me take my final early. The professor was clear that taking any test early could potentially harm others knowing the questions being asked, and the validity of his tests.

    Looking back, who could possibly think that his eagerness to not let me depart for NYC as planned, would forever change my path. With the last minute change in plans, the hotels were changed to check into the WTC Hilton on 9/12. I awaited for my vacation to start, and spent the night prior in San Diego.

    Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) – Alan Jackson,  Written in memory of 9/11

    Where was I on 9/11? I awoke at the Hilton Mission Bay in San Diego to the sound of fighter jets flying over the hotel. It seemed so unusually loud and eerie. I turned the TV on, and the hotel information TV noted “Due to Presidential Order, all airports are closed”. I thought, this couldn’t be possible, why would they be closed. I called the Front Desk, in which the Front Desk agent in a very somber voice, said “yes, yes sir, they are closed”. I thought to myself, how strange and will this impact my vacation to NYC tomorrow (9/12).

    I walked to the desk in the room and turned on my cell. My phone quickly lit up, voicemail box was full. Several messages were marked urgent, the first I heard was from my father.

    “Hey Doug, it’s Dad, you may have not seen it yet, turn your TV on, there has been a terrorist attack on an airplane in NYC, I Love you”

    The messages after that from my dad was a blur. Messages were left from colleagues, unbeknownst I changed NYC dates, frantically asking where I was, if I was okay. I changed the channel on the TV, to see footage of the second tower to start falling. The TV came up, and I fell off the side of the bed and sat on the floor, weeping. I had no clue to understand, how could someone do that in the US. Imagining the people in the building, the jumpers, the planes igniting so quickly as they passed through the building. The families on the news, asking if they found their loved one, to please, please call. Pictures of brothers, firemen, employees, EMTs, etc.

    Here is a video you may not remember, from Budweiser Superbowl saluting 9/11.

    With my travel and love of aviation ever increasing through the years, 9/11 has continued to grow to be more of something I accept but at times, cannot imagine. Imagining those on the planes, altitude dropping so quickly, and the unforgettable flight 93. Looking back on that day that forever changed the world, I pause in a moment of reflection and appreciation of those that lost their lives for our freedom. I pass along the memory of that day, and my love and support to those who have left us as a result of these acts.

    Last month, during a work trip to NYC, we toured the 9/11 Tribute under construction. Besides the buildings being beautiful, the tribute site itself was moving. From the names of the flights, towers, pentagon and the previous attempt on WTC, to the lone tree that survived the collapse, and then survived the bad weather in the nursery. The church directly next to the WTC has some memorabilia that is most moving, and will make you heart cry for the families that posted the search papers and pictures.

    9/11, it may have passed but it will never be forgotten.

     

  • “31 Minutes to Take Off”, how Flying Evokes Emotion in me

    “31 Minutes to Take Off”, how Flying Evokes Emotion in me

    While preparing dinner last night, Slacker popped up the album 31 Minutes to Take Off by Mike Posner. The song of the cover is only 53 seconds but what grabbed me was the album cover. Sitting on a plane at sunset, no one next to you, seat in front of you, and bound for wherever the jet is going to touch down.

    Whenever it is close to take off, I still get the feeling of excitement. The plane pushing back from the gate, being cleared to taxi, and finally rolling down the runway. Looking out the small oval window at the wing flexing as we lift off, hearing the engines rev up more, and finally the sinking feeling as we gain altitude. Looking back and seeing the runway behind us, the world passing by so quickly. Sitting down yet going so fast, how life often passes you by if you rest, while the world we live in just keeps moving faster and feeling smaller. Sitting alone on the flight, feeling the solitude knowing that an adventure can start with a plane ride and also draw to a close.

    More than anything else the sensation is one of perfect peace mingled with an excitement that strains every nerve to the utmost, if you can conceive of such a combination.  ~Wilbur Wright

    Many times I’ve gone flying and people mention they forget that the cloud layer is only so high, and above it, sun is shining. Passing through those clouds, a bump or two, and soaring above them, the shadow of the plane on the clouds growing smaller as we ascend. Closing your eyes, and you can wake up half way around the world 15 hours later. Granted, I could never sleep for 15 solid hours on a plane.

    How strange is this combination of proximity and separation.  That ground – seconds away – thousands of miles away.  ~Charles A. Lindbergh

    The quiet time on a flight allows my mind to wander, I think of friends, the path of my future, challenges in life, and oddly, I associate flying with evoking emotion. Whether it is the excitement to get to the place, or the sadness of the conclusion or a farewell, or the stress knowing the heavy tasks at hand upon arrival.

    Photo: Narita. October 14, 2011. A Delta 777 at the gate.