Airtime Musings

First Leg: SFO-PHX

As this A320 levels out and the lead flight attendant grants us permission to use "approved portable electronic devices", most of us are fist-rubbing our eyes like toddlers and relishing a good cat stretch in our seats. Funny how, for many, the period between lift-off and cruising altitude means... naptime.

I'm getting good vibes from this crowd. Starting with the warm greeting at the doorway, then observing how eagerly folks responded to pleas for divided families to be reunited in seats that were closer together. It didn't matter that the seat shuffling caused some who were originally in aisle or window seats to be squeezed into less spacious middles - as long as junior or little missy were within mama and papa's reach.

The pilot announces that Phoenix is already in the 90s...at 10 am. Hace mucho calor! As I tuck into my second breakfast (a chocolate croissant), the cheerful Filipino couple to my left bust open a take-out box of pancit, a tantalizing noodle dish. I inhale deeply to steal a taste, then flip open my book, wink at Bookmark Aragorn, and settle in for the ride.

Second Leg: PHX-ABQ

The window shades must be taking a beating, but they rock. They're all pulled down to keep the cabin cool, and amazingly, despite the 110 degrees outside, conditions in this CRJ200 puddle jumper are rather comfy. Everyone seems to be moving in slow motion and limiting interactions while boarding the aircraft, as if to minimize heat generation.

As pilot Charlie revs the engine at the runway start line, solo flight attendant Chris attempts to recite the entire safety spiel with no pauses, possibly setting the record for the fastest demo with the fewest breaths in the history of safety spieling.

Maybe I should take another nap. To conserve energy.

Epilogue

Here's the scene that welcomed me at my destination: As I stepped off the plane, three law enforcement officers -- two wearing Bernalillo County Sheriff Department patches and one aviation cop -- greeted me with warm smiles... before approaching the man behind me, showing him a mugshot of himself, and slapping handcuffs on him. The young guy in an oversized white t-shirt looked indifferent as he was quietly escorted away. Nothing was said. No fanfare... except in my own racing mind.