Diverse Voices Quarterly Issue 1 & 2

When I handed my ticket to the agent to board, he smiled. “Have a good flight,
Heather.”
On board, it looked like a nightclub minus the disco ball. The lighting was
purplish with a rim of pink tube lighting along the ceiling. Techno music beat steadily
in the background, and there were no curtains to separate the cabins, only a thick
bluish plastic divider. Other than looking out the windows, you’d never guess that it
was 8:40 a.m. I wasn’t so sure about this. Where was the familiar Gershwin melody?
My white leather seat in 2D was outfitted with a built-in massage, like a spa chair
in a nail salon. The buttons on the side were dummy-proof and clearly marked:
“Takeoff,” “Comfort,” and “Recline.” Comfort? I never find comfort when I’m flying.
An amiable male flight attendant surprised me, offering to put my bag in the
overhead. Then, I tried to settle in and counted the seats to the nearest exit.
The grooves in the runway made for a noisy takeoff. I touched my earrings, prayed
that we didn’t get a flat tire, and distracted myself with work. The weather made for a
smooth flight. I even caught a little CNN on the 9-inch monitor attached to my seat.
Before I knew it, we were on our final approach. Quickly, I touched my earrings,
making up for lost time. It was tricky to choreograph touching the earrings and
putting the work away. Usually, I’ve put things away before the announcement so that
I can concentrate on the landing. Still, we touched down safely.
The cockpit door opened and the pilot came out to greet us. Did I just fly with a
pilot dressed in black shirt and trousers at the helm? Where were his epaulets and his
hat?
On my afternoon return flight the next day, I was welcomed again with mood
lighting. But, this time, all the window shades were down. Seated in 1A, I had a ringside
view of the two female flight attendants. I waited for them to instruct us to open
the shades. They didn’t. Was this a Virgin America flight thing?
Not being able to see out was unsettling. Wasn’t there some FAA rule to have the
shades up for takeoff? Dare I lift mine and dilute this hip atmosphere? I told myself to
go with it. Experience an entire flight with the window shades down.
I was feeling confident until the flight attendant behind the muted plastic referred
to her manual to make the safety announcement. Thankfully, the other flight
attendant looked in command as she expertly demonstrated blowing into the sleeves of
the life vest. She was the one I’d follow if we had to get out and onto a wing in the San
Francisco Bay.
My heart beat faster as the plane picked up speed down the runway. Staring at the
drawn window shade, I rubbed my earrings hard and told myself to relax. Whoosh! We
were up. I did yoga breathing as I ticked off those crucial three minutes after takeoff.
Inhale slowly, exhale. I pressed the button marked “Relax,” bringing my seat back. It
Diverse Voices Quarterly, Vol. 1, Issue 1 & 2
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