Pavlina and Douglas, my old friend from Kansas City, and her boyfriend from upper New York dropped by yesterday to take us flying with their cessna named Juliette. While we had discussed meeting in new York, this was a last moment visit, they flew in from New York, a 2,5 hour flight, to pick us from the Manasass National Airport. The airport is a small one. 4 or 6 seat planes routinely take off or land here. In the waiting room we found a complimentary magazine titled The Elite. It had a price tag on it, $35, but since it was displayed on the shelf as complimentary, we just took it. On our way back, after a long day, I scrolled down the first page. The Editor of the magazine explained why she was bullish on the jet set, and bearish on the carrier industry, meaning she fervently believed everyone must fly jets because commercial carriers are air buses, and when was the last time you were a source of inspiration for the air hostess?, and besides, private jets were getting more and more affordable for everyone. Well, maybe we should get one --- Once a cultural studies student, always a cultural studies student- here I am doing it again!
Anyways, the magazine, drinks in Manassas quaint Old Town, and sad good byes came last. What came first was the extreme anxiety attack. I am speaking on my behalf, for Pavlina is already flying the plane with the assitance of Douglas, including the hardest part --- landing. And Levent, well, the last time I saw him he was on the phone talking with a crazy biker friend of his on base jumping. His crazy friend told him he had already tried base jumping and was almost falling asleep. It wasnt nearly as exciting as speeding on a highway. So, given the facts on the ground, I decided to enjoy the flight, and try not to feel like I was being kidnapped. After a brief orientation which included some coded words and no fly zones, Pavlina and I hopped into the back seats, while Levent and Douglas took the front seats. Seeing Levent fly the plane with his own two hands did not help me overcome my anxiety! Happily, I forgot how scared I was at some point- it is too beautiful up there to really feel down or negative. My stomach was the only part of me that rejected the whole adventure from take off to landing. As for me, I was too happy to be on the back seat with Poly. We joked that with her white blouse and dark sunglasses, Pavlina looked like a congresswoman running for a political campaign, and I looked goofy like her PR manager. This was indeed like a scene from The Aviator, where Cate Blanchett and the aviator romanticaly drink milk at dawn – we had no milk, yet it was a beautiful day, no clouds, gentle wind, nothing but occasional planes flying overhead, and the tiny miniscule shadow of Juliette reflecting on a lake underneath. Our destination was charming Annapolis – a picturesque spot on the East Coast. We landed at the local airport, and walked to a conveniently located crab house. Our gang of four picked a big table outside, ordered Maryland Crabcakes with french fries, and spent the next hour or so discussing Levents newest photography projects, meeting in Albena, Bulgaria and having fun, and generally daydreaming. Wow, was this really happening? It had been ages since I last saw Poly, and I was sitting there with a giant red crab sign over my head. Not really talking, but traying to convince myself that only several hours ago, I would not imagine flying with her in a private airplane and having lunch in a completely different city.