The build up to our departure is an exercise in dispelling my own disbelief as I attempt to reconcile that “this in fact is happening.” It is a mixture of calm disassociation and giddy nervous energy channeled into packing, organizing, shutting off utilities, cleaning and general preparations for a trip that will last the next five months. The feelings don’t start to dissipate until my bags are stowed above me and my seatbelt is safely fastened across my lap. This is when a grin flashes across my face.
Each chair back has a small LCD monitor that promises the bird’s eye view from in front and below the aircraft. As we lift off at dark-thirty pm flying into the night this promise remained unfulfilled. Scandinavian Airlines does live up to the bottomless refreshments that so many other airlines seem to have abandoned in these modern times of frugality. It makes me wonder how other airlines claim shallow pockets while serving up higher airfares. Scandinavian Air was without a doubt the cheapest fare and American Airlines is still emailing me “deals on my next flight” after I hit 10,000 air miles.
Our flight has many small children aboard. Their voices mixing generously with the many dialects and languages being spoken to one another. I find it odd that while all the announcements were multi-lingual only the emergency precaution presentation was presented solely in English. It’s one of the moments that make me feel profoundly lazy to be an American.
The flight to Copenhagen was an easy one to endure. Not at all the long duration one might fear. I watched a small bit of the last “Rocky” movie, which intrigued me with the idea of Stallone as a director doing a Stallone/Rocky movie, but more so when it became apparent that Stallone brought in a new editor to spice up the championship fight.
