Journey to Poland log.2

The longest flight on this trip will be Boston to Amsterdam and then the return flight. I was ready in every conceivable way. When it was time for me to board, I was asked by the check-in crew to wait until everyone boarded the aircraft. I waited patiently. The plane won't leave without me...I hope. I chuckled and thought of all the conspiracy theories and possible reasons why I couldn’t board the aircraft with the rest.

Check-in Crew: There were some inconsistencies with my ticket and seating. We were able to resolve it.

Me: Sure!

Although I was the last one to enter, I felt like a rockstar! My puffer jacket, T-shirt, and Jogger pants spoke volume. The running shoes were a bit too much, but it was for that in case moment when and if I have to sprint. Overall, comfortable and stylish. Walked through the first-class section, I noticed some of the seats were vacant. I felt the temptation to sit down and pretend it was mine. Entitlement! Not ashamed to admit that it came with my generation. I don't want to sit with the commoners! Never enough space for my legs to move around in those seats! I thought of all possible combination to sit at the first class seat. When the crew closed the hatch, however, I woke up from my dream. Off to the commoners I go!

Fun fact, if you start to waddle after you left first class, you entered the economy class. I was desperate to get to my designated seat to put away my belongings. Dodged all the families, kids and grannies to the end of the airplane. Probably won't have any space near my seat. I didn't want my backpack to be too far away from me. I noticed a girl was seated in my place. A quick glance from me was supposed to be unnoticed did not happen. We connected eyes and right away,

Her: Am I seating on your seat? I am so, sorry...

Me: That's all right!

I didn't want her to move. I only wanted her to scooch over! There was a vacant seat, and she could sit there...She should sit there! She scanned her ticket and found her place was five rows ahead of mine. I wondered who was going to next to me. I am nervous as is. I don't want for someone an uncontrollable bladder problem or talkative.

The compartment above my seat was closed. I pushed my luck, opened it and found space to put my carry-on. Opened the bay across from it, just enough space for me to put my bag. There was a whiff of positivism flowed through the narrow aircraft aisle. When I sat down, the disappointment came back. For a brief moment, I thought of her return. Eight hours was plenty of time to get to know someone and make a new friend. The nervousness brought out the neediness. On a positive note, I have an empty seat,

Awesome!

The captain announced that everyone had boarded the plane. Preparation to to take-off is on it’s way. I put on my Air-pods on for some motivation music and alleviate some of the nervousness. I don't like the squirming feeling down my stomach or the ear-popping. I browsed through my Spotify and started to play, "Here I go again" by Whitesnake. Suddenly, someone tapped my shoulder. I looked over...

Ana: Can I...head to my seat?

Me: But, of course!

Before things got awkward, I introduced myself. I reassured her that since I was seated on the aisle seat; to let me know if she needed anything. She was headed to Portugal, by herself. Small talk!

The aircraft started to move. I noticed that Ana was quiet and nervous. Then she began to tell me that she usually travel with someone like her children or grandchildren. Since it was last minute, emergency, and everyone was busy; Ana decided to fly by herself and not bother anyone. She is a confident woman. Recently, she is around 80 years old and that she is a great-great-grandmother. However long, her great-great-grandchild made her family a fifth-generation woman to be, alive.

When the engine of the Boeing 767's fired up; she became restless. Her eyes were closed. She moved from side to side and gripped the seat cushion as if the plane was on free-fall. She seemed uncomfortable. I reassured her that everything would be fine. Who am I kidding? I haven't flown for ages! Plane take-off is never pleasant for anyone. When the Captain announced, "Prepare for take-off," Ana started to apologize to me and kept repeating:

Ana: I am sorry, but can I ask you for a favor?

Me: Yes!

Ana: Can I hold your hand?

Me: SURE!

I couldn't say what I thought. NO LADY! Hold your own hands! My hands are glued and clamped to the seat as well! For a split second, I started to have all the movies and shows run through my head. The scene where the woman is pregnant and are holding the guy's hand. Every single of her push, the "man's" hand became brittle and red because she wanted to hold his hand. How come no one suggests a stress ball to her? This kind old woman had five kids! Her hands are probably a vise-grip, made out of Portugal steel.

Ana reminded me of my grandmother, whom I haven't seen for the last couple of years. Taking all the risk to fly to a country, if I land safely with one hand chopped off, so be it! I mean...Ana is in her early 80's but looked like she was in her mid-thirties. The plane took off, she grabbed my hand and squeezed.

Ana was a religious woman. She prayed that we take-off safely. It was rainy-windy, and turbulence was unavoidable. The sudden drop in air pressure caused my ears to pop. Ana gripped my hand more in each shake. My nervousness was on an entirely different level. The moment seemed right, Ohh...what the heck! I am going to snap a picture and remember this moment.”Once the plane reached the cruising altitude, and it was safe to unbuckle our seat-belts. Ana had my hands on lock-down. I couldn't feel my fingertips.

20 minutes later...

OH NO! Could it be? From the motion, fear, and embarrassment, she...FELL ASLEEP? Are you kidding me? This is Awkward. COME ON! Let go of my hand, please! I need to know and feel that it still, exists! It's my best hand! I use it for MANY...purposes! What if I tell her...'Hey, I need to go to the bathroom, let go of my hand...please!' Maybe I invent an app to charge people to hold my hand? I mean it is a right kind of "holding hand," hand! Probably...the best one out there! I felt great having this internal dialogue to myself when suddenly, I started to feel my hand again.

WE MEET AGAIN! HALLELUJAH!

I realized my hand was sweaty. I couldn't tell if it was me or Ana.

Me: My hands get sweaty a lot! (haha) 🤣

Ana: Thank you!

Before I got to say, not a problem, she fell asleep! A sudden realization unveiled itself. I might have to give Ana my hand again for landing. Occasionally, I do pretty good exercise with my hand. I couldn't give myself *high five* for my service at the moment, but a mental *high-five* would do. Back to my music! The movies and shows the airline had for entertainment were things I have seen or wasn't interested in. I will browse through it during my flight back.

Ana seemed like a champ amongst travelers. With her age, she didn't show any sign of frailty. She was wise, who followed her regiment. Sleep for FIVE hours, wake up for food, no drinks, and more rest. Drinking liquid might cause her to go to the bathroom, and she wasn't going to take any chances. She didn't like the bathroom idea on an airplane. The more I got to know her, I noticed that I was enjoying myself. Though a lot of what she said was personal to me, she didn't mind sharing it at all. She was open and was happy to tell me her story.

Ana grew up in America. She was reserved but a popular teenager amongst her group of friends. She used to love to dance Marangue. When it came to love, she fell in love with the first guy she had set her eyes on. She told me that her teenage love came with multiple breakups. In one of her breakup, her friends had challenged her to date an older guy. She accepted the challenge and decided to date the hottest guy in the school. Every girl wanted to date him, but they didn't know why he wouldn't. She was 16, and he was 19 at that time. She eventually brought up enough courage and asked him on a date. Her parents had approved, but something deep within her told her to go back to her old boyfriend. They were together for six months.

Ana had broken up with the older fella and went back to date her Ex. She went on to marry him against her parent's wishes when she turned 18. They were married for 45 years. She went on to tell me, throughout their marriage and her own life, she had found many things, including courage and tolerance. She found out that her husband had gambling issues. The issue became a problem when he didn't quit while her and their kids struggled financially. She couldn't take the risk when it came to her children's lives. She stuck around and tried to make it work for as long as she could. Ana went on to tell me that it was hard but she had to divorce him. She felt a huge relief off her shoulders and moved on.

Ana found more time to focus on her kids and grandkids. She seemed much happier when she talked to me about them. She showed me some of their pictures. She told me that she loves the realty business. Her goal is to have all her kids, grandkids and great grandkids to be part of it. In one of the images, I asked her who this one person was. She said it was her grandkid who is 21 and going to Boston University. She is pretty cute. Maybe I can impress her by letting her hold my hand again. The time flew by as we talked. We shared a meal together and felt we bonded. Though short, it was nice that Ana was part of my journey and I was in her's.

Captain announced that we would land shortly. I could hear the landing gear sound from within the aircraft. Before she said anything, I put out my hand for her to hold. I wanted her to know, that I am thankful and glad that she had opened herself to me. I was overwhelmed with sadness. I didn't spend that much time with her, yet, felt close. I felt compassion, happiness and learned to have tolerance and courage. It will suck to part our ways, but I wish her Good luck nonetheless! Like take-off, she gripped my hand. This time, the only thing I can think of is her journey. She still has long ways to go. I hope she finds more people who will lend her a hand during take-off and landing.

When the plane finally landed, and the captain said his pleasantries, but I didn't have time to listen to it all. I immediately got up and brought her carry-on down. I grabbed my belongings and waddled with the group to exit the plane as quickly as I could. Finally, I am in Schiphol, Amsterdam.

Good luck Ana! If you ever see this story, Thank you!

Day 0(log2): In-flight from Boston to Amsterdam