I love flying... :) I love planes, big and small. I love being in the air! I love seeing the sun rise and set in the air, the billowing clouds and the steady flow of movement forward, with sunshine pouring through the windows on a regular flight on a calm, clear day.
When I was a baby and all the way till I was 16, I traveled a lot with my parents - my father till he passed away when I was 5 1/2 and my mom all the time after. This period has offered some of the best memories of my life...It took me a while, but I finally feel the same way I did back then. That's the most glorious thing! I am deeply grateful for what I assumed was daily life always back then. I realize how special that is.
We used to do a lot of trips overseas. I have been traveling since I was a newborn. It is part of who I am! I think it is my mom's restless spirit, her desire to reconnect with her family and loved ones, and her love of learning and trying new things. Travel allows you to reinvent yourself, which is very liberating and also helps in getting you unstuck. It also connects you with people you love dearly who live in different places.
Well, going back to my story here, when I was very little, we went to northern England a lot because we have a lot of family there on my mom's side. Sometimes we stayed for a while and other times, we went on shorter trips. I remember a lot of airports, food and smiling people. I was a fairly cute little kid so new people I just met, were always were eager to hug me and pat me on the head. I also slept a lot so my memories are pretty blurry.
On one such trip when I was a little older, almost four years old, we were at the London airport and our flight was early. We had a connecting flight so we sat in the waiting area. My mom's kind of a super mom - always prepared with stuff for us to eat and do - pretty much everything you could possibly need or want. I was usually asleep at such intervals but for this trip, I was awake. I wanted warm food and looked around, not saying anything. The KLM pilot saw me and walked over. He talked to my mom and smiled at me.
He left and then came back with a warm scone for me and one for my mom and also some hot tea for her and warm milk for me. He sat next to me while I ate and told me a story. I remember it was about a bear. He smiled at me and put me on his lap and I got to play with his pilot cap. He put it on me and said, "Maybe you'll be the next pilot." My mom laughed and they talked for a while. Then he left, putting me gently back in my seat, handing me back my cup of milk.
Well, I am a pilot now. :) Still got a lot to learn but I love to fly. : D What adventures await?