A series of essays….
 |
SUNSET AT 36,000 FEET |
….as seen through my eyes!
By: Jacqueline E Hughes
Attempting to snuggle comfortably into the middle seat, a position I woefully dislike finding myself in, I began claiming my justifiable real estate before my row mates arrived. Half of an armrest on one side and with just a slight bit of my elbow resting on the inside portion of the opposite one. That should do it for my two-hour and twenty minute flight from Grand Rapids, Michigan, back home to Orlando, Florida.
When flying up to Michigan to visit with my children, their children, and our good friends, I always considered this direct flight from Orlando to Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids back down to Orlando) as a convenient bus trip. It was short, direct, and, for the most part, uneventful. I would pick-up my rental car in G.R. and be on my way to Kalamazoo in no time at all.
Allegiant Airlines, Flight 62, was carrying a full load that day so, my desire to claim the window seat next to me due to a ‘no show’ appeared hopeless. Right on cue, Mr. Twenty Something peers over at his window seat and squeezes by me, ear buds installed, stashing his backpack under the lucky window seat holder in front of him. (Sadly, he closed the window shade early on and proceeded to sleep against it for the duration of the flight. What a waste!) So it goes…
She staggered down the narrow aisle, nearly the last passenger to board, and gingerly plunked down beside me after stowing her carry-on luggage only one overhead cubicle away from our row. I recall thinking how fortunate she was to have found an available slot nearby.
As the plane was secured and the flight attendants stretched oxygen masks and clicked disembodied seat belts while pointing out exit paths, I was looking forward to opening up my current book and reading for the better part of the flight. I don’t mind engaging in short conversations with fellow passengers. I would much rather read, if possible. Having just celebrated my birthday on Friday with friends, enjoyed most of the week with the grandkids, and now, looking forward to casting my presidential vote in two days for the right candidate, Hillary Clinton, I did not want to have to think too much on my ‘bus trip’ home.
Conversations between strangers can begin in many unlikely ways. She let her magazine slide off her lap and bent down to retrieve it. In doing so, she inadvertently nudged my book and apologized on her way back up. We smiled, exchanged first names, and began to talk. Since Mr. Windowseat had taken away my opportunity to marvel at the glorious orange sun setting to the west of our flight, as well as being able to see the twinkling lights of Central Florida from my little window as we approached our final destination, I found myself fully engaged with Ms. Aisleseat for the better part of an hour. So it goes…
She was jovial and kind. We established that we lived on opposite sides of the Orlando area but enjoyed many of the same things that this amazing place to live had to offer in the way of entertainment, eating, and shopping. We spoke about our husbands and children while sharing engaging anecdotes about our family life. Even though she was a few years younger than myself, we definitely clicked and found ourselves laughing our way through space and time. It was all good.
The only time we mentioned religion was for her to tell me that she and her husband had taken several trips to other countries to serve people in need, give them hope through God’s work, and were planning another trip very soon. The only time we talked politics was after a short conversation about how strong women can be while being by their husband’s side in every way. So, as I was telling her how excited I was to go home and physically vote for Hillary on Tuesday—suddenly, a small smile began to grow larger and larger until a puff of air revealed a stifled giggle that grew into an open laugh. So it goes… (Thank you, Kurt Vonnegut, for allowing me, in three small words, to express my feelings so clearly.)
My new friend, Ms. Aisleseat, bless her little heart, stared at me as if I were from another planet. She asked me if I truly believed that Donald Trump had a chance in hell of losing, especially to Hillary Clinton: a Democrat, a cheat, and a woman!! Three strikes and she’s out!
Wow! Wow! Wow!
What seemed to be such a normal chance conversation between strangers on a plane quickly turned into shock and awe, at least on my part. I can’t recall telling her she had to vote for Hillary on Tuesday. As a matter of fact, my assumptions about who she might be voting for were sparked by her verbalized faith in the strength of women and how women help to shape the world. So I took a chance by expressing my hopes in the power of womanhood and mentioned voting for Hillary.
The signs were all there. I just didn’t want to see them, I suppose. It was eye opening to be sitting next to The Trumpster Lady/Ms. Aisleseat on the plane who was in no way humble about her choice for president and told me, in no uncertain terms, that I was crazy to believe otherwise.
And, you know what? She turned out to be absolutely right. A bit over two days later, I, among millions of other souls, experienced one of the worst shocks of our lives, politically speaking. Personally, my body went numb on the morning of November the ninth. Then, I began to shake uncontrollably and feel as lonely and broken and hopeless as anyone could be. The tears would not be stifled all day long and there wasn’t anything anyone could say or do to make me feel better.
Hillary losing was very sad for so many reasons and that glass ceiling was cracked quite extensively—I just knew it! But, it still remained in place along with all of our fears of what was now going to come out of all this. I knew we had four years of hell to pay because this clueless, incompetent man now wielded extreme power and, virtually, had no idea what to do with it. It would take a humble sense of loyalty and discipline on his part in order to aid the people of this nation and help to maintain a sense of cohesiveness and strength that was so expertly projected by President Barack Obama for eight years.
Since that flight to Orlando I will admit to speaking with others on a plane. But, my conversations are kept short and innocent. I will never be placed in such a vulnerable position with a stranger, again. I take pride in being my own thinking person with original thoughts and ideals and not brainwashed or manipulated by anyone else. To this day it amazes me how many people have been caught up in this game of lack of self-worth that helped contribute to placing such a despicable man in office in the first place. Even more astounding is that he still reaches out to the weak and vulnerable to this day.
Over six years later—So it goes…!
Copyright © 2023 by Jacqueline E Hughes
All rights reserved
