Monday, August 27

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.


22 comments:

Joyce said...

I don't really share your love of flying. It might be the long flights to Australia that have done me in. DH falls asleep before we take off and I cant' sleep at all. He arrives all fresh and wanting to sight see and I can only haul my grumpy self off to bed. Next time I'm taking a sleeping pill.

smilnsigh said...

Oh thank you for commenting that you like my new *pale* blog look. And can read it, easily. So far, everyone has had a "thumbs up." Hope it continues. :-)

And lookie... the subject of flying. It's 'in the air.' :-) I'm contemplating a wee little entry on flying, too. :-)

Mari-Nanci

crafty said...

You are so rational about the flying/safety thing, and I am envious. I am terrified of flying, not so others can tell, but I have to concentrate -really- hard to stay normal on the outside...

Stomper Girl said...

I would freak out for sure at a lightning strike. I'm a nervous flyer but Fixit adores it. He's a motorbike rider, he likes speed and when he felt the power of the plane, he was hooked!

~Bren~ said...

Goodness I am behind! I just caught up on your last 3 posts. I have to say, I admire you...I am terrified to fly. Loved hearing about you and GOM "dating".

Paula said...

I wish I loved to fly, but I don't.

Hi. My name is Bob (Big Old Baby) and I hate to fly.

I drink on the plane.

Joni said...

Hey Meggie! I have flown twice in my life and don't wish to leave the ground ever again! LOL. The baby in the previous post is so darn cute. Makes my heart melt.

velcro said...

I love flying. Have flown since I was 3 years old, and with god knows how many different airlines. Never had a birdstrike or lightning strike but my Gran did experience an engine fire when she flew back to New Zealand from the UK

Lucy said...

The long flights did get a bit exhausting, but no, I still love that feeling when it goes up and up and through the clouds. When we flew to NZ last year, it was bright light outside and there were the most fabulous views of the Tibetan Plateau and more, and we weren't allowed to open the blinds and look because some people were sleeping, I felt deprived of what should have been a magical part of the trip.
And I love the whole story about you and GOM and how you wove it all in too.

Anonymous said...

How wonderful, the way that love finds a way. GOM, your one true love. Such a great story, and keep on flying! It IS much safer statistically than driving in an automobile.

ancient one said...

I have never flown. Don't think I want to do it. My husband flew once with his job and he said never again.

Andrea said...

Meggie - your blog is brilliant ! I love your flying stories and I was nearly ill laughing at your last post :-) I'm going to delve back in your archives - lol !

Lee said...

I love flying as long as it is a plane that can rise above the turbulence. I have been up in a small plane one. That's enough. I can tick it of the experiences list and move on. Really sad I missed the Concorde era though.

SnowWhite said...

my word your life sounds as colourful as mine has been so far. Thanks for popping over too
xx
shona

Aunty Evil said...

I love flying, but prefer the take off and landing best. I get bored when in the air.

I agree about love sneaking up on you. I was the same with MDH. He fought hard, thank goodness! He had a very broken heart to heal. It was only ever going to be him that was able to.

Jenni said...

I don't like to fly. I will if I have to, but I would much rather drive or take the train. Too many Aircrash Investigation TV shows watched at 3am on my tea break at work.

Ali Honey said...

Gosh Meggie - you are much travelled! I love to fly but don't get many chaces. Try a helicopter they are even more fun!

Unknown said...

Well I DON´T love flying. Great story about the love!

Mary said...

I kind of love flying. I am quite philosophical about the statistics etc. I am not thrilled by take off or landings but like being in the air. Are you going to get some photos of the lunar eclipse tonight as part of your regular sky scape photos? Loved reading about GOM and G

Fairlie - www.feetonforeignlands.com said...

I feel like just writing "ditto" as BlueMountains Mary has written almost word for word what I was planning to say! Right down to whether we could look forward to photos of the lunar eclipse!

Although I wouldn't say I *love* flying, but I certainly like it as a means of reaching faraway places quickly.

Aunty Evil said...

Ha ha! I just spotted your world map on the right! It looks like it has been used as target practice!

Poor Australia and NZ have been wiped out, and the USA isn't far behind! England, Scotland and Ireland are history, as is western Europe. Asia is suffering.

But you clearly don't appeal to the Russians. :)

Meggie, what have you done!!??

My float said...

I love the thought of flying. I USED to love flying. But then I grew up and felt vulnerable. I am definitely sitting next to you on my next flight!

How lovely you and GOM found each other at last!