Leaving. On a Jetplane...I wish!!

This is the nightsky this evening. Wonderful weather to fly. Anywhere. I absolutely love flying. Have done, from the first time I ever flew. I have had many domestic flights in New Zealand, on several different Airlines. Companies came & went, & they offered 'specials', at various times in the incarnation/evolution of their lives.

I vividly remember the first flight that GOM took, from the Southern City, to meet my family & visit the North Island for the first time. The flight landed at Whenuapai Airport, & it must have been 1964. He wore a suit, & tie, as men did, back in the day. It was a hot day, he had his jacket over his shoulder, the tie loosened, casually attractive. Sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked so young & handsome to me. I had tears in my eyes. But I never let him see them. I was the 'Ice Princess'.

I was so wounded, damaged, I was never, never falling in love again! And I didnt!! But....
Be warned. Love sometimes sneaks up. Without us realising.

He spent Christmas holidays staying at my family home. My mother really wanted to dislike him, but she couldn't. He was charming, faultless in his manners. It almost killed him to eat all the vegetables my mother cooked. He was the vegetable hater! The things we he did for love!!

Me, I didn't even realise I had been bitten- yet!

He flew off to Southern skies. But to Northern Cities. Eventually, I flew off to meet him, - at his urging. Still, largely believing, that I didn't really care- one way or the other...

He found employment in a city. I also found employment. We had friends & laughs.

Then we took the InterIsland Ferry to the Southern Island.

Fell apart, ....or went our seperate ways. I found employment. He travelled off on other journeys.

And came in & out of my life. Erratically. And I had my best male friend G* & life moved along.

I had flights to & from the Southern City. I love those flights. I loved being alone to fly off to destinations of my choosing.

I flew off to meet the man who changed my destiny for all time. I discovered I was SO over him. All I thought about was GOM. It was very very stange.

I am sure life kicks us in the pants, tells us where we need to be! Plays practical jokes, leaves us with egg all over our faces! Mocks us!!

But back to the flights. I was lucky to have yearly flights to visit with my mother, & other family, in NZ, after we had moved to Australia to live, permanently.

Prior to that GOM & I, after our surrender to our fate, & our marriage, & subsequent birth of our children, took holidays, involving flights to Australia, for holidays. Or trips to visit family inter-Islandly, so to say.

We often flew with Air New Zealand Airlines. Which had a good record. And lovely service. And really nice meals!


And we often flew with Qantas. Good service, nice staff. Nice meals. Excellent service, really.

And... we had many scary adventures. We had a "Birdstrike" once, when leaving Christchurch. It resulted in the flight being delayed for about 8 hours. We spent the time shut in the Airport. As we had been 'sneaking' off for a job interview in Australia. No one compensated for the missed appointment, or the missed accommodations, job interviews, missed opportunities....

We were once struck by lightning, leaving Mascot. I dont remember who the relevant Airline was. But I was unfazed. Who knows why. Our travelling companion was utterly destroyed. They (she) thought we were about to die. I didn't seem overly concerned. GOM was amazed. I just seem to feel 'safe' in the Air. Doesn't make sense? Perhaps not.

We have had delayed flights to Bangkok. Hairy flights to Phuket. Hairy flights to NZ. Or the South Island. Where I was once stranded with my 2 month old starving baby son, in Wellington. And treated mightily shabbily, by Air NZ Domestic flight.

But... I still love Flying. Feel it to be the most safe travel mode. I am petrified of car travel. I would prefer to fly any day!!

Nothing to do with flying, but.....

Rod Stewart, Tradewinds.