Looking around the room one saw many people mingling and chatting amongst themselves. There was talk of work and talk of travels, and all the while there was wine and fondue going around. Though these people had been her friends for the past two years, Juliet constantly felt a little nagging feeling inside her. There was always something lacking in their conversations. She went on numerous outings with them and invited them to dinners and dancing as well.
Often times Juliet attributed it to their different backgrounds. An English major in the den of engineers. Two opposite worlds meeting and closing in. Talks of work included talks of rockets and satellites and programs on computers with bugs that needed to be fixed. In her college career she had never once picked up a computer science nor engineering course. Walking through the halls of the science building on the strange occasion when her English literature discussions would be scheduled to meet there, she would look at the displays of computer chips and charts and programs of the different classes with blank curiosity. The running joke was always that English was a fuzzy major and that it wasn’t something that you’d truly major in. And if you did it was your second major or your minor rather than your one and only. Nevertheless, the written language was the source of Juliet’s pleasure.
“Juliet, I’m so excited for you! I can’t believe that you’re heading off to France in just a few weeks! Aren’t you excited?”
“Yeah I’m really excited, though I think the excitement’s starting to turn into anxiety. I mean who does this kind of thing? You know, who drops everything and moves to another country for a year?”
“Oh come on Jules, it’ll be awesome!”
“Yeah I truly wish I had the time to do something like this. I’m so amazed by you, Juliet.”
Juliet smiled. “So how’s work going, John?”
“Haha, it’s okay. It’s pretty slow right now, lots of paperwork being taken care of. Though we have been doing some cool ignition tests which have been the highlight of my days at work.”
“Oh wow that sounds awesome!”
“Basically the test that we were doing is just ‘cold flow test’, but in a couple of weeks we get to attach the actual chamber so it’ll look like a proper rocket and do the hot fire test.”
“Haha sounds fun.”
“Hey John, you know we can actually hear you guys playing with your rockets over at my office! Your rockets are so loud! Where do you guys test them out at?” Daniel chimed in.
“We’re out by Faber Field, which is actually still pretty far from you isn’t it? Man, we’re that loud? Awesome!”
Other conversations went about throughout the room.
“Kathy this is such a great party, but why on earth do you have so many fondue pots?”
“So how is that start up company of yours going? Have you guys launched your website yet?”
“We’re going to test our rocket out in Kansas next week, so right now we’re making sure everything works and whatnot.”
“Do you know where in France you’ll be teaching at?”
“When are you headed to France? I’ll actually be in Italy in a few days; you should move up your flight and spend some time in Italy with us!”
Mark drove the conversations that night like every other night. Juliet smiled half-heartedly and nodded through most of the conversations while her mind and conversation wandered off to other conversations. It wasn’t that she wasn’t interested in the conversation Mark was pushing. It was that she had heard it before on multiple occasions. Juliet had wondered on several occasions whether or not he realized that he was repeating his stories and comments. She was sure there was a time when such conversations interested her. The talk of work, the talk of events, the talk of people who were in the same room together. She had felt this feeling before, she had felt herself tuning out of conversations and quieting down. Her comments weren’t as elaborate, and she tried hard to hide lack of interest. What was it that caused her to draw away from the people she used to spend so much time with? She didn’t resent the people. No, she loved the people in the room. They were here to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter in life. They were here to talk and socialize with other people over food and drinks. She resented, instead, herself and the feeling that was brewing in her. How could she be pulling away and disengaging herself from her friends? These people that have shared events and celebrations with her? She couldn’t explain the reasoning for it, but she knew herself that her life here was coming to a slow end. She was leaving not only to fulfill a dream of hers, but to start fresh once again.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Part 10
Juliet studied English in school, she loved writing and how the words of authors and poets felt as she read them aloud. Each book she picked up illuminated more of the human condition and the subtleties of each single gesture made and every simple look given. What was said and left unsaid carried more than a million other words along with it.
And yet, one begins to wonder, what was it that attracted her so much to these fictional characters and fictional situations? Was it the ideas and the possibilities that they presented that attracted her to the written word? The ability to see and experience life through another person, a life different from her own? Or was it the suggestion, the possibility, of more? The captivation of the words, the furious passion behind every call to arms, the hopeless romanticism of one struck by cupid’s arrow. Did it truly exist outside of letters and words typed on paper? Was such complete possession of the spirit just limited to the imagination or did it transcend to the world she lived in?
Juliet knew all the people around her. They were all very intelligent people whom she willingly surrounded herself with. These were people different from her previous life, with different goal and different motives. They all knew what they wanted and were determined to get it. Juliet willingly put herself into conversations of their lives and their adventures, and she smiled and laughed along with them. Only there was always something present in all her conversations with these people. The one major connection that she had without a doubt with these people.
~ ~ ~
And yet, one begins to wonder, what was it that attracted her so much to these fictional characters and fictional situations? Was it the ideas and the possibilities that they presented that attracted her to the written word? The ability to see and experience life through another person, a life different from her own? Or was it the suggestion, the possibility, of more? The captivation of the words, the furious passion behind every call to arms, the hopeless romanticism of one struck by cupid’s arrow. Did it truly exist outside of letters and words typed on paper? Was such complete possession of the spirit just limited to the imagination or did it transcend to the world she lived in?
Juliet knew all the people around her. They were all very intelligent people whom she willingly surrounded herself with. These were people different from her previous life, with different goal and different motives. They all knew what they wanted and were determined to get it. Juliet willingly put herself into conversations of their lives and their adventures, and she smiled and laughed along with them. Only there was always something present in all her conversations with these people. The one major connection that she had without a doubt with these people.
~ ~ ~
Part 9
The plane suddenly shook its passengers alert. Those who had been sleeping were now rudely awakened from their unconscious states. Even the flight attendants who were walking up and down the aisles clung to the seats to steady themselves while the plane gave off two more sudden jolts.
“This is your captain speaking. We’re experiencing some turbulence in the skies right now so we’ve turned on the fasten seatbelts light as you can see. So if you all will carefully return to your seats and fasten those seat belts we up here in the cockpit will try to get to some smoother skies.”
Juliet immediately clutched both armrests as the airplane shook and jolted. For a good two minutes the plane continued with its struggle to keep steady while all the passengers looked around with anxiety livid in their eyes. Juliet looked at the man sitting next to her and he had the book he was reading clutched in one hand while the other grabbed the other armrest. His eyes were completely sealed shut and his knuckles were white with the force that he used to clutch his book.
With every jolt there were plenty of gasps and semi-screams though the plane cabin. Across the aisle, the couple that was so peacefully sleeping just moments earlier were looking up at the oxygen mask frantically awaiting their decent from their cases. The few children that were aboard the plane began to cry as the fear of flying and the fear of falling suddenly became too real and too closely intertwined for their young souls.
“This isn’t so bad, this isn’t so bad, this isn’t so bad.”
Juliet glanced back at the man sitting next to her. His eyes were no longer furiously shut, but instead he was intently staring at the back of the seat in front of him and he was quietly repeating to himself in attempts to comfort himself. Juliet forced a smile though she was sure he wasn’t aware of anything but the shaking of the plane and the seat in front of him.
Though it seemed to be quite some time, the plane finally leveled itself in calmer skies. Overhead the pilot apologized for the discomfort of turbulence and reassured everyone that everything was fine.
With relief, Juliet let go of the armrests only to feel the sharp pain of her cramped fingers after being clenched for so long. The crumpling of papers brought her attention back to the several letters and cards that were the unfortunate victims of her hand and the armrest. Unfolding the table attached to the seat in front of her, she started her attempts to smooth out as many wrinkles as possible.
“That wasn’t that bad, it really wasn’t that bad.”
Juliet looked up from her crumpled mess to the man next to her and she smiled. “It really wasn’t. Supposedly you’re safer up in an airplane than in a car you know. Less chances of accidents.”
The man finally tore his eyes away from the seat back and gave Juliet a blank stare. His face had blanched significantly from before. “I’ve flown quite a number of flights in the recent years and I still can’t get over the turbulence.”
“Yeah, some flights just are better than others,” she agreed.
“You know,” the girl on the other side of the man chimed in, “while on my flight back to the states we had some pretty nasty turbulence of our own, which was actually worse than this. This wasn’t bad compared to that. What’s funny was that during that flight, the guy sitting next to me insisted that it wasn’t bad turbulence until you see the flight attendant hit the ceiling of the cabin. Unfortunately during one of his flights, he tends to travel a lot due to work, though I can’t recall what he did right now, during his flight the plane hit turbulence so suddenly that the flight attendant standing a few rows ahead of where he was sitting didn’t get a chance to return to her seat or even grab on to anything before it threw her off her feet.”
Juliet gasped and asked with complete shock in her voice, “Oh my god was she ok?”
In disbelief herself, the girl nodded and said that she was fine, shaken up, but fine nevertheless. Then she turned her glance to the man in between and offered an empathetic smile. “No one went flying here so we’re good. And hey, that’s a good book you got there.”
The man in the middle forced a smile and looked from the girl to his book, “Heh yeah, I’ve been told. So far it’s kind of strange.”
Juliet glanced down to the book that he was holding. The Unbearable Lightness of Being, she read. “I have to agree, it’s a strange book, but hang in there,” she said with a smile. “It’s an interesting read.”
~ ~ ~
“This is your captain speaking. We’re experiencing some turbulence in the skies right now so we’ve turned on the fasten seatbelts light as you can see. So if you all will carefully return to your seats and fasten those seat belts we up here in the cockpit will try to get to some smoother skies.”
Juliet immediately clutched both armrests as the airplane shook and jolted. For a good two minutes the plane continued with its struggle to keep steady while all the passengers looked around with anxiety livid in their eyes. Juliet looked at the man sitting next to her and he had the book he was reading clutched in one hand while the other grabbed the other armrest. His eyes were completely sealed shut and his knuckles were white with the force that he used to clutch his book.
With every jolt there were plenty of gasps and semi-screams though the plane cabin. Across the aisle, the couple that was so peacefully sleeping just moments earlier were looking up at the oxygen mask frantically awaiting their decent from their cases. The few children that were aboard the plane began to cry as the fear of flying and the fear of falling suddenly became too real and too closely intertwined for their young souls.
“This isn’t so bad, this isn’t so bad, this isn’t so bad.”
Juliet glanced back at the man sitting next to her. His eyes were no longer furiously shut, but instead he was intently staring at the back of the seat in front of him and he was quietly repeating to himself in attempts to comfort himself. Juliet forced a smile though she was sure he wasn’t aware of anything but the shaking of the plane and the seat in front of him.
Though it seemed to be quite some time, the plane finally leveled itself in calmer skies. Overhead the pilot apologized for the discomfort of turbulence and reassured everyone that everything was fine.
With relief, Juliet let go of the armrests only to feel the sharp pain of her cramped fingers after being clenched for so long. The crumpling of papers brought her attention back to the several letters and cards that were the unfortunate victims of her hand and the armrest. Unfolding the table attached to the seat in front of her, she started her attempts to smooth out as many wrinkles as possible.
“That wasn’t that bad, it really wasn’t that bad.”
Juliet looked up from her crumpled mess to the man next to her and she smiled. “It really wasn’t. Supposedly you’re safer up in an airplane than in a car you know. Less chances of accidents.”
The man finally tore his eyes away from the seat back and gave Juliet a blank stare. His face had blanched significantly from before. “I’ve flown quite a number of flights in the recent years and I still can’t get over the turbulence.”
“Yeah, some flights just are better than others,” she agreed.
“You know,” the girl on the other side of the man chimed in, “while on my flight back to the states we had some pretty nasty turbulence of our own, which was actually worse than this. This wasn’t bad compared to that. What’s funny was that during that flight, the guy sitting next to me insisted that it wasn’t bad turbulence until you see the flight attendant hit the ceiling of the cabin. Unfortunately during one of his flights, he tends to travel a lot due to work, though I can’t recall what he did right now, during his flight the plane hit turbulence so suddenly that the flight attendant standing a few rows ahead of where he was sitting didn’t get a chance to return to her seat or even grab on to anything before it threw her off her feet.”
Juliet gasped and asked with complete shock in her voice, “Oh my god was she ok?”
In disbelief herself, the girl nodded and said that she was fine, shaken up, but fine nevertheless. Then she turned her glance to the man in between and offered an empathetic smile. “No one went flying here so we’re good. And hey, that’s a good book you got there.”
The man in the middle forced a smile and looked from the girl to his book, “Heh yeah, I’ve been told. So far it’s kind of strange.”
Juliet glanced down to the book that he was holding. The Unbearable Lightness of Being, she read. “I have to agree, it’s a strange book, but hang in there,” she said with a smile. “It’s an interesting read.”
~ ~ ~
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Part 8
Dear Juliet,
Surprise! Didn’t think you’d hear from anyone from home in a while did you? Least not till after you landed in France and settled into your new place. Knowing you, your first priority will be to get internet huh? Don’t even try to deny it. I know you. Well we figured you were going to be rather lonely on a long flight off to France by yourself (and, oh I don’t know, two hundred other people on the same plane you are, all going to the same airport as you are, so I’m guessing are going to and have already been stuck on the same airplane for the same time and you’re still not going to talk to any of them are you? haha) so we’d sneak a letter into your stuff. And, since it’s actually in your carry on rather than your luggage, which, by the way, are both ridiculously heavy (what are you bringing there?? And are you sure you’ll be ok getting to your place with all that stuff?), you’d probably get to this before you land.
So what are your flight companions like? Did you get a chance to work out your French yet with another passenger? Better get some last minute practice in before you land! You don’t want to be completely incompetent once you land. Oh, are you unfortunate enough to sit next to a fat person? Haha perhaps not politically correct, but I believe everyone can commiserate with that. I truly think Americans need to learn to downsize, or just exercise like everyone else. Surely they realize being obese isn’t good for them! Then again I suppose they all rationalize it all too.
Anyhow, we all hope you have a wonderful and safe flight! We all already miss you so do come back soon! Here’s some pictures to keep you company and some words from others. Take care while you’re in France! Eat well and bring back some baguettes and cheese!
-- Mark
Ps. Don’t forget the wine.
Hey Jules!
Hope the French treat you well! I am so jealous that you’re going! I wanna go! We should have smuggled me in your luggage! Take care and I’ll see you soon!
Your cousin,
Anna
Juliet,
Don’t forget to learn how to cook there. Then you can become a patisseier and test stuff on me! I don’t care what you make so long as it’s delicious! Have a safe flight!
-- Mike
Hi Juliet!
Good luck good luck goooood luck!! We wish you the best from here! Hope you got enough Chinese food, boba, and frozen yogurt before you left. Though I think it’s safe to say that you’ll have plenty of opportunities for gelato, that’s kinda like frozen yogurt right?
Take care!
Kathy and Chris
It was so good to see you before you left for France, Juliet! I’ve always wanted to go to France, though now I think my French has gotten quite rusty after all these years of waiting to go. Take lots of pictures for us so we can live vicariously through you! It’ll be the ultimate food tour for you! Cheers!
-- Lena
Hey!
Wasssup my France bound friend! I still can’t believe you’re going to France! You’re leaving us for the Frenchies! What do they got that we don’t have here in America anyhow huh? We have plenty of wine in Napa! Cheese stinks! And escargots are snails! And just think, frog legs? Really? Do you really want to eat frog legs?
Guess it’s too late to ask if you’re all packed. Hope you have everything you need! Take care and we’ll see you when you get back!
-- John
Xiao AnAn…
Pourquoi me laissez-vous? Vous ennuyez-vous de moi déjà? Qui volonté que je danse avec maintenant? Il s'avère, je sais parler français après tout.
Is my translating bot correct? AnAn, be strong ok! Find new friends, a local café, buy baguettes! But most importantly, have FUN!! *hug* be SAFE!! It’s time for you to have your adventure. We will always be here for you so don’t you worry. I seriously have a big hole in my heart now. Who will dance with me now? Mei quan xie, this sort of thing builds character, and you’re a tough one, so be good while you’re there ok! “You have to go forward not backwards, upwards not forwards, and always twirling, twirling towards freedom!”
Sorry I missed your good-bye dinner! It’s really because I didn’t want to say good-bye and not because my high school friend was here.
Miss you,
Tai
Surprise! Didn’t think you’d hear from anyone from home in a while did you? Least not till after you landed in France and settled into your new place. Knowing you, your first priority will be to get internet huh? Don’t even try to deny it. I know you. Well we figured you were going to be rather lonely on a long flight off to France by yourself (and, oh I don’t know, two hundred other people on the same plane you are, all going to the same airport as you are, so I’m guessing are going to and have already been stuck on the same airplane for the same time and you’re still not going to talk to any of them are you? haha) so we’d sneak a letter into your stuff. And, since it’s actually in your carry on rather than your luggage, which, by the way, are both ridiculously heavy (what are you bringing there?? And are you sure you’ll be ok getting to your place with all that stuff?), you’d probably get to this before you land.
So what are your flight companions like? Did you get a chance to work out your French yet with another passenger? Better get some last minute practice in before you land! You don’t want to be completely incompetent once you land. Oh, are you unfortunate enough to sit next to a fat person? Haha perhaps not politically correct, but I believe everyone can commiserate with that. I truly think Americans need to learn to downsize, or just exercise like everyone else. Surely they realize being obese isn’t good for them! Then again I suppose they all rationalize it all too.
Anyhow, we all hope you have a wonderful and safe flight! We all already miss you so do come back soon! Here’s some pictures to keep you company and some words from others. Take care while you’re in France! Eat well and bring back some baguettes and cheese!
-- Mark
Ps. Don’t forget the wine.
Hey Jules!
Hope the French treat you well! I am so jealous that you’re going! I wanna go! We should have smuggled me in your luggage! Take care and I’ll see you soon!
Your cousin,
Anna
Juliet,
Don’t forget to learn how to cook there. Then you can become a patisseier and test stuff on me! I don’t care what you make so long as it’s delicious! Have a safe flight!
-- Mike
Hi Juliet!
Good luck good luck goooood luck!! We wish you the best from here! Hope you got enough Chinese food, boba, and frozen yogurt before you left. Though I think it’s safe to say that you’ll have plenty of opportunities for gelato, that’s kinda like frozen yogurt right?
Take care!
Kathy and Chris
It was so good to see you before you left for France, Juliet! I’ve always wanted to go to France, though now I think my French has gotten quite rusty after all these years of waiting to go. Take lots of pictures for us so we can live vicariously through you! It’ll be the ultimate food tour for you! Cheers!
-- Lena
Hey!
Wasssup my France bound friend! I still can’t believe you’re going to France! You’re leaving us for the Frenchies! What do they got that we don’t have here in America anyhow huh? We have plenty of wine in Napa! Cheese stinks! And escargots are snails! And just think, frog legs? Really? Do you really want to eat frog legs?
Guess it’s too late to ask if you’re all packed. Hope you have everything you need! Take care and we’ll see you when you get back!
-- John
Xiao AnAn…
Pourquoi me laissez-vous? Vous ennuyez-vous de moi déjà? Qui volonté que je danse avec maintenant? Il s'avère, je sais parler français après tout.
Is my translating bot correct? AnAn, be strong ok! Find new friends, a local café, buy baguettes! But most importantly, have FUN!! *hug* be SAFE!! It’s time for you to have your adventure. We will always be here for you so don’t you worry. I seriously have a big hole in my heart now. Who will dance with me now? Mei quan xie, this sort of thing builds character, and you’re a tough one, so be good while you’re there ok! “You have to go forward not backwards, upwards not forwards, and always twirling, twirling towards freedom!”
Sorry I missed your good-bye dinner! It’s really because I didn’t want to say good-bye and not because my high school friend was here.
Miss you,
Tai
Monday, November 10, 2008
Part 7
Upon waking up from her slumber, she was fortunate enough to have some more space now with her neighbor away from his seat. Most everyone was asleep in the quiet airplane cabin. Only a few people were awake doing one thing or another. The dozen individual reading lights scattered throughout the cabin illuminated the heads of those for whom the simulated night couldn’t draw into slumber.
With her more rotund neighbor vacant from his seat, she stretched out her cramped limbs. She couldn’t imagine how frequent travelers got accustomed to such a lifestyle even if they traveled business or the luxurious first class. Just being on an airplane with the circulated air that stung her nose and the lack of space were good enough reasons to not fly terribly often.
Looking about the quiet cabin, she decided her limbs needed more blood circulation that her measly stretch could give. The pleasure of more space in my seat or the much needed movement? she hesitated. Nevertheless, with the tingly sensation creeping up in her legs, she was reminded that it was well past time to stand up and walk around again. With a last glance at the map on her monitor, she let out a sigh and got up. Flying hundreds of miles above the vast Atlantic, with another three hours before reaching their destination, she took what was a sad excuse for a stroll down the narrow alleys of the giant jet.
As she stretched her legs and walked through the aisles, she found herself rather bemused by the sleeping people. No matter how big or small they were, they were all able to nod off in the tiny airplane seats. One little girl with two little pigtails on either sides of her head curled up into a ball with one hand gently clutching her mother’s sleeve while the mother herself rested one hand on her young daughter and the other on her younger son who quietly sucked his thumb in his sleep.
A large, well built man who was over heard saying he was a high school football coach who was feared and loved by everyone in the district slept with his arms folded across his chest. Though his gruff appearance earlier had caused young children to cower away, the peaceful image of his sleeping expression suggested a softer side to him.
A few seats away, a young husband’s head rested on top of his wife’s who had fallen asleep on his shoulder. There seemed to be no remnants of their prior argument as the two of them slept rather huddled together. Like the child earlier, her hand rested on top of his wrist, where his hand was on her leg. Neither hand was clenched with animosity or frustration, but the gentle protection and comfort that a single touch can give to another individual. Though the argument seemed to have been of a reoccurring theme, the youthful wife had still fallen asleep on his shoulder marking her silent profession of love. As he too began to fall asleep aboard the darkened plane, he rested his hand on her lap lending her comfort as she slept. Upon feeling his touch on her leg, a smile unconsciously played upon her lips as she drowsily rested her had on his wrist. Visions of young love were apparent in the two as suggestions to their prior argument were now nowhere to be seen as the two slept aboard a plane carrying hundreds.
One of the stranger sleepers she found as she continued to stretch her limbs through the narrow aisles was a young adult of twenty who seemed to have gotten herself into quite a strange ball. Legs curled up and wedged between the wall and the her, the young woman had one hand underneath the tiny pillow supporting it with both her arm and her head while the other arm was wrapped around her legs, ensuring that they stayed tucked while she was sleeping. The earbuds still in her ears continued to play the sounds of the current movie playing, though she was clearly not listening. How she was able to be comfortable in such a position was beyond anyone’s guess, but still though the sounds of the movie against the silence of the airplane cabin, the young woman slept as peacefully as a seat in an airplane would allow.
The few scattered around the cabin who weren’t able to sleep, seemed reluctant to do what little they were able to do. One can only be entertained by doing the same few things for so long in a tiny seat surrounded by others without the luxury of personal space or privacy, or even the mere ability to stand up and move. There is only so much space on an airplane, thus significantly limiting your choices of action. Those who chose to read tolerated the scattered jolts of turbulence that interrupted their characters’ development. Those who were able and didn’t mind the interruptions carried on with their card games, occasionally having to stop to hold down the cards while the airplane shook.
She returned to her seat, somewhat surprised to see her neighbor’s seat still vacant. As she settled into her seat for the rest of her journey, she took one last look around the compartment. Everyone here had their own story. Everyone had their reasons to board a plane and leave the country. Whether it was meant to be a short stay or a longer one like hers, everyone here was waiting. Waiting for this part of the trip to be over with. Like Juliet, they were all tired of the confining seats cabin of the confining cabin. They were tired of being in transit. In this case, Juliet thought as she curled up into her own ball of comfort and close her eyes again, happiness isn’t found in the journey. Just another few hours until we land.
With her more rotund neighbor vacant from his seat, she stretched out her cramped limbs. She couldn’t imagine how frequent travelers got accustomed to such a lifestyle even if they traveled business or the luxurious first class. Just being on an airplane with the circulated air that stung her nose and the lack of space were good enough reasons to not fly terribly often.
Looking about the quiet cabin, she decided her limbs needed more blood circulation that her measly stretch could give. The pleasure of more space in my seat or the much needed movement? she hesitated. Nevertheless, with the tingly sensation creeping up in her legs, she was reminded that it was well past time to stand up and walk around again. With a last glance at the map on her monitor, she let out a sigh and got up. Flying hundreds of miles above the vast Atlantic, with another three hours before reaching their destination, she took what was a sad excuse for a stroll down the narrow alleys of the giant jet.
As she stretched her legs and walked through the aisles, she found herself rather bemused by the sleeping people. No matter how big or small they were, they were all able to nod off in the tiny airplane seats. One little girl with two little pigtails on either sides of her head curled up into a ball with one hand gently clutching her mother’s sleeve while the mother herself rested one hand on her young daughter and the other on her younger son who quietly sucked his thumb in his sleep.
A large, well built man who was over heard saying he was a high school football coach who was feared and loved by everyone in the district slept with his arms folded across his chest. Though his gruff appearance earlier had caused young children to cower away, the peaceful image of his sleeping expression suggested a softer side to him.
A few seats away, a young husband’s head rested on top of his wife’s who had fallen asleep on his shoulder. There seemed to be no remnants of their prior argument as the two of them slept rather huddled together. Like the child earlier, her hand rested on top of his wrist, where his hand was on her leg. Neither hand was clenched with animosity or frustration, but the gentle protection and comfort that a single touch can give to another individual. Though the argument seemed to have been of a reoccurring theme, the youthful wife had still fallen asleep on his shoulder marking her silent profession of love. As he too began to fall asleep aboard the darkened plane, he rested his hand on her lap lending her comfort as she slept. Upon feeling his touch on her leg, a smile unconsciously played upon her lips as she drowsily rested her had on his wrist. Visions of young love were apparent in the two as suggestions to their prior argument were now nowhere to be seen as the two slept aboard a plane carrying hundreds.
One of the stranger sleepers she found as she continued to stretch her limbs through the narrow aisles was a young adult of twenty who seemed to have gotten herself into quite a strange ball. Legs curled up and wedged between the wall and the her, the young woman had one hand underneath the tiny pillow supporting it with both her arm and her head while the other arm was wrapped around her legs, ensuring that they stayed tucked while she was sleeping. The earbuds still in her ears continued to play the sounds of the current movie playing, though she was clearly not listening. How she was able to be comfortable in such a position was beyond anyone’s guess, but still though the sounds of the movie against the silence of the airplane cabin, the young woman slept as peacefully as a seat in an airplane would allow.
The few scattered around the cabin who weren’t able to sleep, seemed reluctant to do what little they were able to do. One can only be entertained by doing the same few things for so long in a tiny seat surrounded by others without the luxury of personal space or privacy, or even the mere ability to stand up and move. There is only so much space on an airplane, thus significantly limiting your choices of action. Those who chose to read tolerated the scattered jolts of turbulence that interrupted their characters’ development. Those who were able and didn’t mind the interruptions carried on with their card games, occasionally having to stop to hold down the cards while the airplane shook.
She returned to her seat, somewhat surprised to see her neighbor’s seat still vacant. As she settled into her seat for the rest of her journey, she took one last look around the compartment. Everyone here had their own story. Everyone had their reasons to board a plane and leave the country. Whether it was meant to be a short stay or a longer one like hers, everyone here was waiting. Waiting for this part of the trip to be over with. Like Juliet, they were all tired of the confining seats cabin of the confining cabin. They were tired of being in transit. In this case, Juliet thought as she curled up into her own ball of comfort and close her eyes again, happiness isn’t found in the journey. Just another few hours until we land.
Part 6
It’s actually an awful feeling sitting on a plane for extended hours. Sure it has it’s appeal for a while. The fact that I’m thousands of miles above everyone else is actually quite awesome. Everyone aboard the plane and I are going somewhere new. The people and the cultures will be different. Even scenery will be different. We’re going hundreds of miles an hour with nothing underneath us for miles on end. We’re among the clouds! It’s like that scene in Aladdin when Aladdin and Jasmine are flying on their magic carpet and making swirls in the clouds and they’re singing and looking fondly into each others’ eyes as they fall madly in love with each other (though I think at this point Aladdin already has fallen in love with her and is trying to make her fall for him).
Only, we’re not actually making any swirls, but going in a straight line. And we’re thousands of miles away from hard, solid ground. In a carrier that is filled with hundreds of gallons of fuel. Which means, if anything goes wrong, there’ll be a big fiery mess falling from the sky at hundreds of miles an hour and gaining momentum as gravity pulls the big fiery mess that used to hold hundreds of oh so happy people traveling across the Atlantic. Delightful. If things go wrong, and I pray that nothing will, how lovely would it be to die with all these wonderful people… to die in a tiny compartment filled with hundreds of awesome, awesome people…
And how is it that of all flights I managed to find the one with the most unfortunate bunch? Mr. Snores-a-lot seven rows back three seats over sounds like a train intersection. And Miss Teenybopper with her friends three seats back are laughing and giggling loudly over something so trifle as the coincidence that they’re wearing the same shoes! And it’s as if they’re the only ones on this plane. How on earth is it that these teens are friends with the most annoying voices in the world? Do they hear themselves? Poor Mom of the year front and center can’t seem to get that baby of hers to stop crying, and unfortunately this fat dude sitting next to me is past invading my personal space. Man… Why did France have to be so far?
~ ~ ~
Only, we’re not actually making any swirls, but going in a straight line. And we’re thousands of miles away from hard, solid ground. In a carrier that is filled with hundreds of gallons of fuel. Which means, if anything goes wrong, there’ll be a big fiery mess falling from the sky at hundreds of miles an hour and gaining momentum as gravity pulls the big fiery mess that used to hold hundreds of oh so happy people traveling across the Atlantic. Delightful. If things go wrong, and I pray that nothing will, how lovely would it be to die with all these wonderful people… to die in a tiny compartment filled with hundreds of awesome, awesome people…
And how is it that of all flights I managed to find the one with the most unfortunate bunch? Mr. Snores-a-lot seven rows back three seats over sounds like a train intersection. And Miss Teenybopper with her friends three seats back are laughing and giggling loudly over something so trifle as the coincidence that they’re wearing the same shoes! And it’s as if they’re the only ones on this plane. How on earth is it that these teens are friends with the most annoying voices in the world? Do they hear themselves? Poor Mom of the year front and center can’t seem to get that baby of hers to stop crying, and unfortunately this fat dude sitting next to me is past invading my personal space. Man… Why did France have to be so far?
~ ~ ~
Monday, November 3, 2008
Jardin des Tuileries
Parks in the fall have an amazingly peaceful feeling. The air is cold and crisp, trees dot the dirt grounds with leaves that are barely clinging on to the branches. The otherwise monotone ground is colored with bright yellows, browns, oranges, and even the subtle hints of green. All the trees here are only half filled with fall colored leaves. Every so often a leaf lets go and flutters to the ground to join its other fallen counterparts.
Behind the trees that stand in line under the cold gray skies, a beautiful French palace stands tall among its potted flowers and column-lined walkways. Its brick façade and intricate borders remind visitors of its distinguished background.
Leaves blow and dance across the ground as a brisk gust of wind blows by. Through the tall grass windows lined with white trim, a drastic contrast is presented. Inside lights flicker, a fireplace roars to life. The mahogany dining table illuminates with the light of the roaring fire.
While people walk by bundled up in scarves and thick jackets to ward off the bitingly cold winds, the residents of the little palace seem unaware of it. Laughing merrily in their warm abode they talk and gossip of their friends and family and of warmer places than here.
Fluttering in the wind, yellow leaves prepare themselves for the final gust of wind that will allow them to take their poetically glorious flight.
The song of the leaves as they welcome in the winter cold.
Behind the trees that stand in line under the cold gray skies, a beautiful French palace stands tall among its potted flowers and column-lined walkways. Its brick façade and intricate borders remind visitors of its distinguished background.
Leaves blow and dance across the ground as a brisk gust of wind blows by. Through the tall grass windows lined with white trim, a drastic contrast is presented. Inside lights flicker, a fireplace roars to life. The mahogany dining table illuminates with the light of the roaring fire.
While people walk by bundled up in scarves and thick jackets to ward off the bitingly cold winds, the residents of the little palace seem unaware of it. Laughing merrily in their warm abode they talk and gossip of their friends and family and of warmer places than here.
Fluttering in the wind, yellow leaves prepare themselves for the final gust of wind that will allow them to take their poetically glorious flight.
The song of the leaves as they welcome in the winter cold.
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