Newark, Take Two…
I used to refer to the “in-seat sigh of relief” when flying. The idea was that getting to the airport could be stressful, actually getting into the terminal could be stressful, checking in can be stressful, checking your bags can be stressful, going through security can be stressful, waiting to board your flight can be stressful, and getting on the plane can be stressful. In other words, there’s a lot of stress involved in air travel today. I actually used to look forward to each and every moment spent on an airplane. I even got my private pilot’s license (”certificate”, actually, to those on the “inside”) so I could spend even more time in the air. But I digress…
With all the stress of air travel today, and with as many miles I spend in the air to go on photo shoots, speak at events, run workshops, and more, I’ve had my share of challenges. But I could always (well, mostly) count on the sense of relief I would feel when I finally settled into my seat and could just relax until reaching my destination.
I had just such a sigh of relief last Sunday after I boarded Continental flight 1881 at Newark Liberty International Airport, headed home to Seattle. It was bitterly cold on the east coast (at least to this California native, with apologies to those in the midwest), and strong winds had moved in, promising a bumpy flight. Those winds also led to flight delays, with the delay for my own flight being estimated at about 45 minutes. But at least I was in my seat, with my seatbelt fastened and carry-on bags stowed, ready to head home. In fact, I was so relieved and relaxed (and tired) that I soon fell asleep. Then I was awakened by the pilot’s announcement, only to face the “adventure” I described in my previous blog post.
Today it was time for “Newark, Take Two”. Despite the security lockdown I had endured a few days earlier, the fact that the airline couldn’t get me onto another flight until over three days later, and the particularly troublesome fact that my luggage had gone on to Seattle without me, the time leading up to the flight was stress-free. The morning went smoothly, the drive to the airport went smoothly, security went smoothly, everything was going smoothly. OK, I’ll admit, breakfast at the airport didn’t go all that smoothly, but I’ve learned to expect poor service at Newark airport…
But when I sat in my seat I felt a little uneasy. Instead of the “in-seat sigh of relief” I felt a bit of anxiety. What fiasco might cause a delay this time around?
I tensed up when the pilot made a PA announcement just after everyone was on board and the door was closed. But he was just letting us know that a few more bags needed to be loaded, and then we’d be on our way. Sure, I thought, I’ll believe it when I see it. But we did push back from the gate, relatively on time.
Then another PA announcement from the pilot. We were number fourteen in line to takeoff, so it would be about 45 minutes before we could takeoff. I just wanted to get into the air so I would know I really was on my way home this time.
Fortunately, this time we really did take off, and we landed safely in Seattle. So the second take was a success. I even got reunited with my luggage after over three days of separation.
All is (more or less) right with the world again. But I’m not really looking forward to my next flight out of town in less than two weeks, though I’m very much looking forward to speaking at FOTOfusion. I’ll hope to see some of you there, and that none of us has any adventures getting there!
As I write this I’m sitting in the back seat of the car that picked me up at the airport. As I slid into the back seat, I realized the “in-seat sigh of relief” still existed, it had just changed from the seat on the plane to the seat in a car at my destination…
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