Aviation Biography: Flying Wild I

There is just something so fabulous about being able to touch the sky. I'm not sure quite what but the principles of flight are marvelous. Works of art and science that have been put together by philosophers, scientists, and pilot wanna be’s at the time. Honestly, I never thought that I would be invested in the flying industry but here I am. Being bought into the longevity and commitment to something more than just life. The burning fire of passion, honor, and devotion.

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It all began in my early childhood when I enjoyed swinging on the swing for hours and hours on end. It appeared as if nothing was apparently wrong with me. However, on the other hand, I began to develop an odd bond with the clouds in the sky. Counting them, looking at them, or just simply drawing them. Clearly, there was something different. It could be simply stated as this: No one had this hobby. It just seemed so odd that a youngling had a bond with the sky so much. Sure, but no. I mean there are so many endless possibilities that could occur, but a bond with the sky and the heavens above?

Colors, textures, mixtures, existed above, mesmerizing my own child eyes. I had no idea as to why this was happening. I could admit one thing for sure: I had my eyes turned to the sky and I wasn’t coming back down to the ground. The clouds had already been touched by the tip of my nose. 

All the time following had passed by so quickly as if the clock wanted me to get older. Not a day passed by that I didn't look at the sky. Honestly, it seemed like a reality that I longed for but didn't understand was waiting ahead. I had never believed that it had been for a reason that my eyes were in tune with the sky. My mind was going a thousand miles per second while trying to focus wasn’t going to get me anywhere. It appeared that reality was going way too fast. 

Sooner or later my twelfth birthday had come and gone. Before I knew it my family and I were in the airport going to tropical, green, lush, Hawaii. Everyone’s dream place for vacationing. Albeit, there was so much to see, hear, taste, and smell. Of course we went to the island of Kauai. 

While time ticked by I took the time to notice all of the decorations that had been posted for Christmas. Trees, candy canes, and more layered through the airport entrance. Everything just seemed so foreign and scary since it had never been seen before by my own eye. A plane’s loud jet blast could be heard from inside the luggage check in. After quite some time checking in our baggage, heading through security, we had finally made it to the terminal. 

The sheer look of amazement had taken over my face. I was scared, amazed, and happy all at the same time. A beautiful Boeing 737 had caught my attention; Sleek, thin, and shiny and white, Red, and Blue. It was like walking into a whole other world with new things and new people. It felt oddly like home: warm, welcoming, and encouraging. I remember hearing the jet blast from it taxiing away from the gate. 

A strong odor that smelled like home. This was the first time that coffee had ever smelled good to me. Whilst eating lunch I studied out the windows, watched the people go by, smelled the smells, and listened to the jazz music. Had this been a new world that I had discovered? What was this? By the time lunch was over a tiny detail had caught my eye: men -and very occasionally a woman- dressed in black pants, black shoes, a black coat with yellow stripes running horizontally down the wrists, and finally a white collared button up shirt with a black tie. Sometimes I’d catch them wearing an odd shaped hat. What did this mean?

By the time that the flight departed I never had enough time to study anything to get a firm knowledge. The service was excellent with a plentiful amount of cranberry juice. There was just something so different about this. Whatever it was, it definitely intrigued me. 

That brought me to sunny days on the beach, in the ocean, and on the land. Hawaii was a very nice, warm, and elegant place. Many turtles, whales, and dolphins were spotted in the water. All of the scenery is very picturesque and will leave anyone speechless. A personal favorite from the trip was taking a boat around the Napali Coast. Humuhumunukunukuapua’a hid in the rocks and crevasses under water. Hibiscus, plumeria, croton, and monstera were around every single corner. Sunsets and sunrises kissed the ocean creating so many different colors.

The saddest moments of my life have been coming home from the islands. This is the hardest thing that every traveler just has to agree with. Especially not knowing if it is possible to ever return to the place again. Sometimes it’s so sad. 

The year following this trip was the longest ever because it had appeared that the boredom was setting in. Having fun for a week and a half then coming home to do nothing is not fun. I had forgotten about the airport experience until sometime around my thirteenth birthday. The questions began to flood my memory just as if it was yesterday…