Can you remember how you felt when you flew for the first time? If you ever did I believe you will be responding “wonderful”, “fantastic” “exciting” etc. My first experience was unforgettable because I was old enough to understand the risk involved. And because it was post 9/11, in fact just a few weeks after that awful event that shook the world to its foundation, these risks were very real. I prayed silently to God when approaching the craft.
When I saw the airplane for the first time at close range, I was awed by the fact that such a huge thing could fly so high over such great distances without coming down in a great tumble. Then as I approached it with other passengers, I could not just imagine such a great number of people in that thing with me up in the sky. My fears increased. Then came the time to board! At this stage I felt I was boarding a bus about embark on a long journey, something I'm so used to that all my previous fears melted away.
Time to take off. The plane moved first slowly on the ground as we were taken through the safety procedures on board: seat belts, gas masks, live jackets, etc. It was like the bus moving slowly out of the station. Then the flight captain announced that we were about to take off. I could feel the speed below, and before I could imagine we were tilted up in the sky. I looked through the window and saw below, the ocean with objects that I believe were boats. For the next couple of minutes, I could not say what happened. When I came to, we were several feet above. Looking down, I could still see houses look like boxes, and roads look like lines.
Then came the time to move through the clouds. I should say that looking at the clouds from the airplane makes them appear as mountains in a different world. I felt like getting down for a walk on them. I imagine how spacewalk would be very interesting. But the rumbling noise that woke me up felt like we were on a bad road. I turned to the one sitting by me and said: “Potholes in the air”. He was surprised but agreed to it, since he shared the same background of travelling on very bad roads with me. All along I was praying that we land as soon as possible as the thought of 9/11 came up. But other passengers apparently used to this were not perturbed. I could see some sleep. What amazed me most was the confidence and ease with which the flight attendants walked around. It was a great relief when we touched ground.
If you ever travelled by air, how was your first experience? If you have not yet, then imagine how your first experience will be and get prepared. But I guarantee; after the first, you will certainly cry for more.
