It didn't take me long to figure out that I was going places. My first flight in 1962 was on a prop plane to California with my baby sister, my grandmother and myself. It was a flight I will never forget.
I remember that day like it was yesterday. Grandma Tillie went out of her way to put us in the prettiest of dresses, patent leather shoes, white anklets. I was so proud as I left the apartment building on 84th Street and all of my friends on "the block" were outside to say good-bye. For the first time, I was doing something none of my friends did. I was going on an airplane to California.
We left from JFK airport and I remember thinking how much it resembled the Jetson's cartoon show. So spacey, so big. As they announced our flight, the three of us walked on to the tarmac, up the stairs and were shown where our seats were. We buckled in and held on for dear life. As the plane took off, I knew that this was the beginning of my many journey's in life.
The flight attendants were so glamourous and they served us food. I looked out of the window as everything got smaller and smaller, until we were surrounded by the clouds and I could see nothing. And then, without notice, the plane started to bounce around, decline and ascend, shift and shake. The flight attendents were no where to be seen, the bells were ringing, my grandmother was white as a ghost and I, vomitted all over my pretty new dress. Whether or not it was scheduled, we landed somewhere along the way and the flight attendents cleaned me up as Grandma Tillie tended to my sister. It was all good again.
In spite of the trauma we experienced, it was time to take off again. I wasn't afraid and again, as the plane took off, I felt as though my life was going on another journey. I could not hold back my excitement as we ascended into the clouds again. This time, the remainder of the flight was smooth, relaxing and fun, as I had the full attention of the flight attendants.
Little did I know that flight would set a path for the rest of my life. My passion for discovering far away places grew ever so deep. I also became very well aware of how wonderful traveling is for the soul. To me, each flight reminds me of how life is, you never know what you are going to get. Just like everyday life, each flight has it's bumpy times and smooth times, cloudy and clear.
I knew that day, that for the rest of my life, whether in a plane or on the ground, I would have those times and look forward to each and every one of them.
My journey had just begun.
