Something Old Something New

In a matter of months, we would experience the greatest economic                                                               crisis in my lifetime.  This flight took place just prior to that crisis.                                                                       Our 401 K started to evaporate into 'thin air'. Some got richer;                                                                         more became poorer. We bailed from the stock market, counted                                                                                       our pennies and took a much needed vacation. The airline that took                                                                    me to Jackson, Ms. in 2008 no longer have flights to Jackson.                                                                          THAT WAS THEN. Time changes things. 13 years ago, a much-anticipated                                                        flight became a reality. It was an over due quest involving showing gratitude                                              to an older brother and visiting friends I had not seen in more than 40 years.                                                                                                                                                         THAT WAS THEN, and looking back, I can clearly see that some things in life                                                 must be done when the opportunity presents itself.  In the 13 years since,                                                I have not taken another vacation like that one. Reunions of both my wife's                                      family and mine were in view.  Such reunions were a feat and a first for both of us. She went first, and I joined her and her family a few days later. Flight 1122 became a memorable one. I had never documented an airplane flight before until flight 1122, and during so became a source of deep satisfaction. It was a special kind of inspiration. THAT WAS THEN. I can visualize myself, now 13 years later, at the window staring into and below the clouds. I hand wrote scenes from 30,000 feet in 'picture words' never to be experienced again. Inconsequential to the entire world, but a milestone to me. THAT WAS THEN; a quiet flight with no bad behavior from any passenger. Today I read a small report about bad behavior aboard airplanes in 2021. In a typical year,                                                                     an air plane will experience 100-150 cases of misbehavior. That picture                                                            no doubt was even fewer in 2008 when I took two different planes to                                                              reach my destination.  THAT WAS THEN. So far in 2021, there has been                                                      nearly 4500 cases of bad behavior aboard airplanes.  THIS IS NOW.

093021PSCtest, Something Old Something New, John Lawless
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FLIGHT 1122                                                                                                                                                                     

Departing Sacramento, Ca. just past 7:00 AMPT on a nice Saturday morning, we headed for Chicago. All is going well as we take off, as the pilot soon announces that we will ascend up to 39,000 feet.

I am now watching the clouds roll back as they seem to hover and move slowly across the hills, valleys, mountains, lakes, and prairies.  We continue to climb so very high above the clouds, and above us is only sky.
A bit later now,  I am beginning to see mountain tops capped with snow in early July, and I also see patches of green for just a little while.  I feel just a slight bit of turbulence, and again I see nothing more purer white or nothing more prettier blue.

It has just now occurred to me that when I touch ground, I shall be more mindful of the clouds and sky of white and blue.  I shall remember that we are but tiny creatures carrying on our earthly lives that are sometimes filled with colors of many sorts.  The colors of our lives like storms often turn gray, dim, and dark.  Furthermore, I am reminded to let peace fill my heart, and speak to me in colors of blue and white, whenever I am troubled and tossed by some earthly concern.

As flight 1122 starts to make its approach towards Chicago, I am seeing white clouds as if they have been purposely distributed in a line of patterned patches.  They seem to be just hovering there and waiting for further orders from their maker.  A few minutes later now, and I see man made patterns on the grounds below.

As we move closer to Chicago, the pilot is announcing his further descent to 22000 feet and continues to descend.  As seat belts are now being buckled, I see landscaped patterns of farm crops appearing as we descend and move closer to the city of Chicago.

Now, just 90 miles from Chicago at 12:36 PMCT, I see the beauty below displaying life’s pictures of greenery, highways, roadways, and waterways.  I also see large patches of clouds floating swiftly, and in just a few minutes we will be touching down.

As we get closer to Chicago in our final approach, I notice that the beautiful white clouds are giving way to the toasty haze through which I can dimly see the Chicago skyline.  Just moments ago, I took one last look at the Sears Towers as we slowly descended and touched down at 12:55 PMCT.

Let it be known, and let it be written, that on July 5, 2008, on Flight 1122,       I saw peaceful clouds of white held sweetly in the clear skies of blue.
Submitted and posted 7/26/17 PoSoup Haibun Contest, Guzzi

Copyright © Curtis Johnson | Year Posted 2021

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