by Terri Dixon
Logan International Airport in Boston is an interesting place. It sits right on the water, and when the plane lands, it looks like you’re actually going to crash right into the Atlantic Ocean. I made a mental note there and then to never sit in a window seat again. After the flaps practically falling out of the wings, which fortunately a fellow passenger explained to me so that I didn’t have to have a stroke, and the pilot telling us how windy it was and that it would make our landing rough; I was ready to take a boat to Russia.
I didn’t have a lot of time in Boston. My layover was two hours, so I didn’t have time to even leave the airport. I did have to stand in line again for international flights to have my passport checked and so on. That took a while. I was supposed to meet up with Tania on the other side of the security check. I’d seen pictures of her, but it was really crowded, and I was concerned that I might not recognize her. I knew that I took horrible photos, so I hoped she could recognize me as well.
“May I see your passport and visa, please?” the man at the security check asked.
I handed him my packet. He looked it over and handed it back to me.
“Did you pack your own bag?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied.
“Has your bag been with you the entire time and never out of your sight?”
“Yes.”
“Are you carrying anything for anyone other than yourself?”
“No.”
“Enjoy your flight.”
That was it. I was through and on my way. I’d reached the point of no return. I wasn’t a huge fan of flying at this point, but I was doing it. I was getting on plane and leaving the country and going to Russia and taking a class. I was becoming more brave by the minute. I was sure that at some point I would enjoy all of it. I hoped it would start soon.
I was only a few yards from the security check when I spotted Tania. I was worried for nothing. Her pale white skin, bright blue eyes and curly bright red hair stuck out like a sore thumb in a crowd. The minute I laid eyes on her, I was sure it was her. I was relieved to find her. After my initial flight I’d decided that I needed someone to do this with. I was way too scared to continue alone. I didn’t want to let on, but Tania was the face in the crowd that calmed me at that moment. I was hoping that with her for company, I could actually survive flying over an entire ocean.
She spotted me as well and ran towards me, reaching me in seconds. “Stacey?” she said.
“Tania! It’s so good to finally meet you,” I replied.
We skipped the handshake and gave each other a big hug.
“How was your flight?” Tania asked.
“Not what I expected,” I answered.
“Was it scary?” Tania asked. “I’ve been really nervous, being my first flight and all.”
We started to walk to our gate. “I don’t know if I would call it scary, but it sure wasn’t how I expected it to be,” I said as we walked.
“So, what’s it really like?” Tania asked.
“It’s like a really bad carnival ride that lasts a really long time. It comes with a lot of jabber on speakers from the pilot and flight attendants, and it kind of smells.”
“That doesn’t sound good.”
“It’s not as bad as that sounds either. You’ll see what I mean. Besides, I intend to sleep on this flight. I’m tired from the last one.”
“It is overnight.”
“Yeah, hopefully you can sleep some too.”
“I’m still excited.”
“Well, I’ll tell you what. You can be excited, and I’ll try to nap. You can even have my window seat.”
“Thanks!”
Next stop, Frankfurt and a connection to the gigantic capital of the biggest country in the world; Moscow, Russia. The adventure was about to begin, and I was going to be sick. I wondered if it was the orange juice I’d had on the first flight.
The Ring of the Queen