She is slender with skin like ebony, smooth and dark. Her eye lashes are naturally long and curled. Her long hair is captive in a netted chignon. Her bilingual skills are evident in her faint French accent each time she says, “attentsheeon”. In a noisy plane, I watch her lean closer to the elderly man and say, “Monsieur, would you like some coffee? Tea?” Her sparkling teeth framed in a smile, floods the small plane with light. He beams back at her. “Tea, thanks, love”, he responds happily. Her light, her aura, is generous. We all share this during a short flight.
The small plane shook and rattled. We are flying into a very strong headwind, punching through big angry clouds. I catch her eye, me from the back, and she in the front. She smiles. I, do, too. Secretly, we both know, we are serene as ducks on a pond, each hiding the anxiety that wells inside. We laugh nervously when saying goodbye. No more words needed. We are safe.
I’ve taught myself to be less anxious on these flights. I focus on taking photographs or visualize my return home.
These are some of the pictures I keep in memory ….
A musk duck trying to look cool while expelling a blast of bubbles when attempting to attract a mate!
Perth Airport, just before I flew out the other day.
I’ve come to know the Midwest is gorgeous in winter. This hill is on approach to Geraldton.
If you wake early enough, you’ll find frost on desert flowers in the mining region.
And when I return home, it’s time to stop and smell the roses.
No medication can match the effectiveness of these strategies, for me.
Part of the journey was letting go of what I knew and stepping into the unknown. I found it was not a bad place to be!
I’m no longer a nervous traveller. A stormy sky no longer makes me anxious. I’ve learned to trust. It is as big a step, as learning to forgive. I found when you do, you give yourself an amazing gift.
You start to live.
Until next time
As always
a dawn bird
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