Airline travel is not my favorite mode of transport. However, there are places I have to go and places I want to see so onto the plane I go. Today I flew and as we took off I distracted myself by reading but then I thought that there is something going on around me that I do not normally see. I put my book down and looked out the window and it was interesting how much more scared I was seeing the tarmac recede. And then we banked so sharply my seat belt did some work keeping me from slinding into the seat next to me. While flying, I like my seat belt to act as a precautionary measure that is never, ever needed. Ditto in a car. Same with health insurance, the tampon I carry in my purse and Gas-X. I have these things but I do not want to have to use them.
We flew over the big empty brown that separates Phoenix from Los Angeles. At one point there were black jagged upcroppings dusted with snow and winding water that looked bluer than it should considering how muted everything around it was. The sun shone the whole time and in the distance white clouds built up but never came any closer. It is a privledge and a joy to see the earth from high above.
It still scares the ever living hell out of me just thinking about it but I am glad I decided to have a look around. When I close my eyes I can still see the snow on those black crags under that low winter sun.
Merry Christmas