OK, but Mikey isn't allowed to read this:
I must say that it seems like a dream I had. I dreamed that I was flying. I love flying, but never seem to do it. Had a friend with a private plane take me up a couple of times, ten years ago, taking shots of my hunting grounds.
Commercially? It has been thirty years ago and then some. Neat dream, I was on an adventure. It took me over roads that I had not traveled in over a year, and the changes kept me wide-eyed. Then I was swept into the well-oiled machine of BWI Airport. Scary thing, leaving my truck and riding a shuttle to the terminal. I left my autonomy behind and took a leap of faith into the System. Wanting no chance of delay, I went straight into Security, and then, once I had regained custody of my shoes and reassembled myself, I set out to find my gate. The view was cramped and I had about three hours to kill, so I sat at the very end of the terminal, feet up on a stool and binoculars out. I watched two redtails over the pines at the end of the runway. I watched planes taxi, take off, and land. I watched fire trucks go by, lights a-blazing...
I watched the hawks some more.
Plane number 223 came in from Columbus and disgorged its load. People out, trash out, unspeakables out, and then we all lined up and waited. I had fun talking to a little girl who was on her way to Grandma's. She made me take off my hat. I think she was making sure that my hair went all the way to the top of my head. We filed in, and nobody objected when I requested a window seat. Imagine! This WAS a good dream!
Looking out the window, I could see folks doing God knows what, getting the plane ready for the sky. I was fine with that, but wondered about the guy with the gaiter up over his nose and mirror wraps in the hoodie that said "GITMO" on the back. Oh well, at least there was no Yeti on the wing.
Tugged back, we taxied out, lined up and made a run for it. We caught the sky and held on, and I felt that awesome push as God took us all in hand and lifted us. It always brings tears to my eyes, the soaring, the power, the lift, the flying higher even than the eagles. I was glued to the window, and watched the airport, and Baltimore, fade from view.
Killdeer