There was always dancing. Every type of dancing every day of the week. Salsa on Thursdays were better than salsa on Tuesdays, and Fridays had waltzes. Wednesdays were swing nights. Each night had wonderful music that filled the dancers and the dance hall. The dancers held their partners close in their arms and let their bodies sway magnificently with the music. Friends were all gathered from their busy lifestyles to converge a few times a week, a few hours a night to succumb to the euphoric tempos and the grace of the dance. Her friends danced eagerly through the night, laughing and talking and catching up with weekly news updates. They perfected old moves and invented new ones. Even during the dances the sounds of chatter and laughter were familiar.
Salsa nights were her favorite. During salsa nights latin music would fill the room like a heavy blanket. No matter who was there within earshot, invigorating latin music would consume every portion of the person and compelled them to draw closer, closer into the world of latin dance. All around the room, men and women alike would gather and allow themselves to be engulfed into the sensual movements and sounds. After long hours at work, she and her friends would meet, have their favorite drinks, and surround themselves with other friends and strangers. Humid air would quickly fill the room and no one would notice. Their sensual movements and flamboyant stylings would whisk them away from their suburban lives and into the dark and exotic corners of Latin America. Vibrant music would pulse through the veins and limbs of everyone in the room and soon the entire room would be filled with euphoric dancers. Trumpets would be blazing in synch with the drum beats, and the sounds of a rich Latin singer would ring through the room. Eyes would twinkle, smiles would form, and the day and weeks’ troubles would be left at the door.
The passionate tones and beats still resonated in her ears as a smile began to form on her lips.
From her cramped little seat, the New York skyline stood boldly among the darkened landscape. Even though she was thousands of miles up in the sky, it was clear where New York stood amongst the land and the sea. Its numerous skyscrapers proudly reached up to meet her in the air and she let out a nostalgic sigh while she and her plane continued on across the Atlantic.
~ ~ ~
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Part 4
Single file line down the center of the airplane. Everyone is cautiously trying to get to their seats. Bags need to go in the overhead compartment. Smaller bags go underneath the seat in front of you. Passing first and business class and their roomy seats. Passing the stairs and the curtains that separates a $500, $2,000, and $7,000 ticket. From six seats in a row to ten.
Every so often, the slow moving line of passengers comes to a standstill as one finds his seat and tries with a gruff grunt to get his oversized carry-on into the overhead compartment. But the bag is too big for even him to swiftly stow away. Heads poke out from the line behind him as he tries to juggle his laptop bag while putting up his luggage.
More grumblings from the line. Eyes watch as he struggles with his bag. A baby cries four rows down as her mother is also trying to put away her carry-ons. Finally, the person behind the man gives him a hand and they successfully stow the carry-on. Appreciations are exchanged. And the line begins to move again.
The crowded cabin of the economy class. Ten seats in a row, divided up into three by four by three. Everyone is struggling to get to their seats. White lines form and quickly disappear as children press their faces against the tiny round windows carefully watching the ground crew load up the mounds luggage. Too tired from travels already, the mother takes a deep breath, closes her eyes and allows her child to stand on the seat and stare.
And a tiny woman who has already tuned out the others aboard the plane with her begins to imagine what waits ahead of her as she leaves her beloved home.
Only, she is quickly brought back to the moment with the sudden gust of air and the appearance of a man too large for his seat right next to her.
“Alright, let’s get this show on the road!” he says after shifting his weight around to get the seatbelt completely loosened and barely fitting around his robust figure.
The sudden invasion of space forces an awkward smile onto her face. Turning to the window she thinks, seven hours… seven hours… seven hours.
~ ~ ~
Every so often, the slow moving line of passengers comes to a standstill as one finds his seat and tries with a gruff grunt to get his oversized carry-on into the overhead compartment. But the bag is too big for even him to swiftly stow away. Heads poke out from the line behind him as he tries to juggle his laptop bag while putting up his luggage.
More grumblings from the line. Eyes watch as he struggles with his bag. A baby cries four rows down as her mother is also trying to put away her carry-ons. Finally, the person behind the man gives him a hand and they successfully stow the carry-on. Appreciations are exchanged. And the line begins to move again.
The crowded cabin of the economy class. Ten seats in a row, divided up into three by four by three. Everyone is struggling to get to their seats. White lines form and quickly disappear as children press their faces against the tiny round windows carefully watching the ground crew load up the mounds luggage. Too tired from travels already, the mother takes a deep breath, closes her eyes and allows her child to stand on the seat and stare.
And a tiny woman who has already tuned out the others aboard the plane with her begins to imagine what waits ahead of her as she leaves her beloved home.
Only, she is quickly brought back to the moment with the sudden gust of air and the appearance of a man too large for his seat right next to her.
“Alright, let’s get this show on the road!” he says after shifting his weight around to get the seatbelt completely loosened and barely fitting around his robust figure.
The sudden invasion of space forces an awkward smile onto her face. Turning to the window she thinks, seven hours… seven hours… seven hours.
~ ~ ~
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Part 3
Everything was still dark outside, but the interior of the airport was already quite lit. While many stores were still safely enclosed in their wire encasings, their merchandise all bearing their city name proudly before them, travelers and workers alike quickly bustled from one place to another making sure everything was in order.
Before entering the gate, families and lovers attempt to delay the impending separation through tearful goodbyes and well wishes to their traveling counterparts. Hand shakes and hugs are exchanged while mothers and fathers go over their list of things that might have been forgotten intermixed with things that must be remembered.
“Do you have your passport?”
“Don’t forget to call once you land to let us know you arrived safely.”
“Do you have your contact’s information so you know where to go when you land?”
“Is everything labeled?”
“Do you have all your luggage?”
“Make sure to email us about all your adventures!”
“You remembered your passport right?”
The questions begin to repeat themselves. Overhead jets are already heard loudly flying off into the skies. Malaysia, Cairo, San Francisco, Paris, all the destinations in the world all eagerly awaiting the sights of the massive jets landing upon their runway bringing weary travelers into their welcoming cities. A thousand miles up in the sky, hundreds of adventurers await their newest destination. All within the narrow confinements of a 747 jet.
“Do you have everything?”
A smile. A nod. Followed by a last hug.
“Yes Papa.”
~ ~ ~
Before entering the gate, families and lovers attempt to delay the impending separation through tearful goodbyes and well wishes to their traveling counterparts. Hand shakes and hugs are exchanged while mothers and fathers go over their list of things that might have been forgotten intermixed with things that must be remembered.
“Do you have your passport?”
“Don’t forget to call once you land to let us know you arrived safely.”
“Do you have your contact’s information so you know where to go when you land?”
“Is everything labeled?”
“Do you have all your luggage?”
“Make sure to email us about all your adventures!”
“You remembered your passport right?”
The questions begin to repeat themselves. Overhead jets are already heard loudly flying off into the skies. Malaysia, Cairo, San Francisco, Paris, all the destinations in the world all eagerly awaiting the sights of the massive jets landing upon their runway bringing weary travelers into their welcoming cities. A thousand miles up in the sky, hundreds of adventurers await their newest destination. All within the narrow confinements of a 747 jet.
“Do you have everything?”
A smile. A nod. Followed by a last hug.
“Yes Papa.”
~ ~ ~
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