The Flight of a Lifetime
Thoughts about Idealism - 1
It took some effort to get onto the flight. I don't like being confined. But this journey was vital. I don't remember the boarding. It was so long ago. Somehow, I found my seat, and opened my eyes to discover the place from which I would experience the journey.
.….
So, here I am. Airborne life is good right now. Reasonable food, and even internet connections have started to work. I have been finding out about flight. I want to know how it all works. I'm looking at the designs of engines when someone decides to change seats and sits down beside me.
“Hi” he says.
“Hello” I reply.
“Isn't this amazing” he says.
“I find it kind of scary” I answer.
“Why should you?” He asks.
“It's a fragile situation. The engines have to keep going, and there can be turbulence.” I reply.
“Nonsense, we are in the ideal environment” he says; “We are warm, fed, entertained. Flight is wonderful.”
“If you say so”. I feel uncomfortable with the conversation.
“It's far more than that” he insists. “Flight is the essence of everything. How could we not be in the skies?”. He shows me his ticket: “The Ideal Flight Experience” it says.
I take out my ticket. It says “the flight of a lifetime”.
….
Some time later, it seems like a very long time to me, the plane starts to descend. It has taken a while for me to understand my situation, but I now realise what the landing means. The lights have become dimmer. I look out of the window, and see the wings judder, and the occasional spark fly from the engine.
Some passengers talk of a landing, and a re-launch. They expect to lift off into new skies, and journey forever. Others think that past the check-out desk is the best and longest holiday anyone can ever imagine.
My Ideal Flight companion says that descent is an illusion. “How can it be otherwise when flight is the essence of all we are?” he insists.
I contemplate the descent. Whatever it may bring, I am happy to have had the chance to fly.