Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Flight Nostalgia


I’m finally on my way home, glad I went to my brother’s wedding and was able to be a part of his special day, but I’m gritty-eyed weary. Flights were delayed, canceled and rescheduled. My sister and I—my travelling partner this trip—spent the night, or more accurately four hours, at a hotel chain, The Red Roof Inn. In its day, it was considered a respectable, clean, family place to stay. But, trust me, that era is long gone, a fact they easily share with flying these days as well. (You can tell when someone is old and waxing nostalgic when the expression “these days” is bandied about.)

When I was young, my father once took our family to the Pittsburgh airport to eat lunch. It was a rare treat, one that required a little bit of driving and planning. But the payoff was a mediocre meal by a big window, watching planes take off and land to the delight of us kids and my aviation enthusiastic dad. 

Walking through the concourse to get to the restaurant was also a unique people-watching opportunity. Young men and women draped in robes or Indian style clothing were stationed throughout the airport handing out brochures for their religion or seeking financial contributions, a fact that might elicit a “damn hippies” from my dad or hushed conversations between my parents about so-and-so’s cousin’s son that was brain washed. It’s hard now to even imagine such open and casual proselytizing ever existed. Thankfully, the opportunity to observe the quirky personalities of humanity is still plentiful.

The flight attendant just came by and offered me a beverage. I could have purchased a Fresh Meal for $8 or a CafePlus for $6 or even a Cafesnack for $4.50. But I declined and opted for just my “complimentary” Diet Coke. Back in my day (there it is again), a hot breakfast would have been served. Perhaps two discs of rubbery pancakes with a drizzle of fake maple syrup, a potato cake or plastic-like scrambled eggs and chunks of tasteless fruit. But the food wasn’t the point. There was something about peeling back the foil on the tray and digging in that felt like a treat and welcomed diversion—like a TV dinner in the air.

I even kind of miss stewardesses, although I fully appreciate the overt sexism blindly accepted as the norm, back in th’ day. Okay, maybe a few things have changed for the better.


It’s easy to feel a sense of mourning for the days of flying that are no more and will never be again. I grumble at the excessive government intrusion at the airports. I miss the casual ease and fun of flying. And the reality of what bad people can too easily do, puts an edge on travel I never used to realize I should feel. Fortunately, I don’t fly often and at least this trip, the purpose was worth it. I got to spend time with my sister, dance with my sweet nieces, meet my brother’s delightful wife and have a piece of wedding cake for all my efforts.

But just to prove I can buck the system a bit, I exercised a little rebellion. You know those safety information cards in the pocket of the seat in front of you that you’re not supposed to remove? Let’s just say, I’ll be able to really study the proper protocol for securing my seat cushion and hugging it closely in front of me in the case of a water landing. 

Now, don’t even get me started on modern euphemisms like water “landing”…


18 comments:

  1. LOL! I love it! Way to buck the system. I used to live in Colorado, too! I miss it so much. I think that the mountains make the cold weather much more bearable. Hope your got your pipes working! YIKES!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Lana. Yup yup, I have a bit of the ol' rebel in me. My Flight Safety card is now tucked in my desk drawer where I can mock their instructions. Let's face it. Rarely do planes "land" in water, and I doubt I would ever remember which way to turn the handle of the emergency exit, let alone have the presence of mind to follow the emergency track lighting. I'm still questioning the wisdom of any airport employing the word "terminal" to any part of its building. ;)

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  2. "Fly me" OMG. Awesome! :) I loved the story about your dad taking you guys to the airport for a meal--so cool! Keep writing! I'm loving these.

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    1. Thanks Ashley-- appreciate you stopping by and lending your critical eye. Again, if you have ideas/suggestions drop me a note. :)

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  3. The older I get, the less attractive traveling becomes. Unfortunately, I'm doing a lot of it these days (with a bad knee to double my misery). However, I still like airports (after I get through security). There's no better place for a writer to people-watch and eavesdrop.

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    1. Patricia-- Thank you for stopping by. Yes, it is great for people watching. Unfortunately this trip, since I wasn't traveling alone, I wasn't as astute as I sometimes am. I have yet another flying opportunity the end of this month and will be alone. Look out fellow fliers, the Eavesdropper is on her way!

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  4. The last time I flew - or more correctly, didn't fly - was on 9/11. Yes, THE 9/11 day of airline and national hell. I was supposed to fly out of DC that day...was staying with friends on Capitol Hill and heard the crash at the Pentagon. Things quickly became a mad house, with politicians running like rats abandoning a sinking ship.

    I think that was a Tuesday. On Friday, I finally had to be taken to Richmond (we heard that flights had resumed out of there). Flew from RIC to CLT and got stranded. Nothing flying out of CLT.

    Many of us traded our plane tickets for a charter bus, which hit every airport down the east coast to drop people off. Of course the bus was searched each time. I finally made it to my semi-final destination (air-wise) of JAX. Then, the three hour drive to home. The whole process took over 30 hours.

    I've avoided flying ever since.

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    1. What an ordeal! Can't say as I blame you!

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  5. It's cheaper to drive. Oh, but I MISS flying. Take offs and landings, watching the world slip silently by from 30k feet. The ability to watch the landscape change swiftly in 2 hours from prairie to mountain to ocean, to get another perspective of towns. *sigh*

    Now we drive. Sometimes taking on-the-fly-by-seat-of-pants roadtrips. The slow changes, the many people, the funny things people do in cars.

    And ya lil thief! You didn't get me a copy?!

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    1. I'd rather drive, honestly, but for getting across the US it's just not as feasible. As Patricia said, at least the people watching is plentiful. I haul my Kindle and if the airport has free wifi, I can watch Netflix or read, so delays, although annoying, aren't boring anymore. As long as I have something to read.

      I'm flying again end of next week (sigh), I'll nab you one then... HEHEHEHEHEHHE (evil cackle)

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  6. I am one of those white-knuckle fliers who feels she has to grip the arm rest and/or help out the pilot by keeping her right foot ready on that imaginary brake. I'd much rather drive. Enjoyed your story here and your moment of rebellion! My mother, an experienced flier, used to sigh with relief whenever the plane was over water --- a softer landing if the plane crashes! By the way, her brother was one of the first to pilot a 747 years ago; my mom remembered him as always having his eyes on the sky when they were kids, and he ended up flying for TWA.

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    1. Now that's a fun bit of trivia to know about your brother. I'm not really a relaxed flier, but I try not to let it bother me too much. Honestly, I hate all the security that is involved anymore-- that's the most unsettling part of flying for me. It feels so invasive! Like you, I'd rather drive, see the sights and get out from time to time for a little local dining. Thanks for stopping by Mary Ann-- I've been enjoying your blog.

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  7. I have a fear of flying. Enough said :)

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    1. Hi Damyanti-- thanks for stopping by. Yeah, I have to say it's not my favorite thing. And yet, here I am doing it all over again next weekend.

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  8. I'm an unenthusiastic flier married to a man who LOVES flying (he got his pilot's license before he could drive a car).... so as we take off, he's marveling at the mechanical sounds of the hydraulic lifts while I'm breaking his fingers with my terrified grip, certain we're crashing imminently. He's very sweet about it, possibly because I've never actually broken a bone. Great post, Julie, and as a flier who remembers the olden days, I miss them too.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by and reading Julia. Yes, I wish I understood all the mechanics. Or maybe not. Maybe that just makes you realize all that can go wrong. I'll just keep humming the "C'mon and flyyyy meeee" tune and pretend it's 1969.

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  9. That's awesome Julie!

    I'm taking my 5 kids on a plane for their first flight in April. I'm curious how they'll see the experience.

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    1. Five kids... I'm curious how you'll see the experience! I hope you have an enjoyable trip. If nothing else you can regale them with stories of how it was "back in th' day..."

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