Miles High

Anxiety Up. Wheels High.

Shea Anderson is walking through the airport and she's anxious, as usual but in desperate need of this vacation. Her breathing is stilted slightly and her heels click quickly across the floor as she approaches the check-in area for her flight. An attendant can be heard over the loudspeaker welcoming travelers and giving flight updates.

Shea
I always get nervous right before I fly. It's like my imagination, which would be better served helping me get over this damn writer's block, goes into overdrive imagining every calamity that could potentially occur on a trip. Anything from a simple loss of luggage in transport to the ultimate disaster, crash. I know that it's irrational so I have learned to push through. Each flight comes with the same routine, a glass of red wine as soon as possible and a medley of The Lord's Prayer and some negro spiritual hymn upon takeoff. It's not until we're in the air and at altitude that I feel my breath, steady and present, a freedom comes over me and I feel uninhibited, relaxed, a more human version of myself and not the tightly wound coil of worry and fear wrapped up in flesh. This trip is a random one, to a town I've never heard of let alone visited before. I don't know exactly why I'm going but I know I have to get there.

Airline Attendant

Welcome Ms. Anderson and thank you for flying Wanderlust Airlines. Will you be checking any bags today?

Shea

No ma'am. I just have this carry on. I do need a copy of my boarding pass.

Attendant

Alright no problem. Let me just see your ID... (clicks on keyboard) Ok. Well, Miss, it looks like this flight is oversold by exactly one ticket. Because you're the last passenger to check in they won't have a seating assignment for you. You'll have to wait until everyone has boarded to get on.

Shea

Wow... so, when is the next flight out?

Attendant

The next flight out isn't until Thursday. We will be asking for a volunteer to stay in town a couple more days and that comes with a $600 voucher.

Shea

Alright... you know. Maybe I should just leave. This trip is just a getaway from work but maybe I can just...

Attendant

Maybe that's a sign that you really should get on this flight. Go on ahead. We'll work everything out at the gate.

Shea

Ok, it's just that I feel like it's a sign I should stay here. Sorry, I just have a lot on my mind.

Attendant

I understand and trust, it's going to work out. Here's your pass and you'll head to the left to Gate A10. Have a great flight.

Shea
Ok, just breathe. It's fine. Everything is fine. How about this for a deal? If you make it through TSA and to the gate on time and no one else volunteers to stay behind, then and only then can you stay home. The truth is, you know you need this trip. Work is outrageous, your family is on your last nerve and writing... you haven't done it in months. This is what you need.
A real break and a chance to just be.

I went through TSA just fine and as I was approaching the gate, the attendant from earlier made the announcement.

Attendant

Good evening everyone. We'll be boarding Flight 887 to Punta Gorda, FL in about 20 minutes but I wanted to let you all know that this evening's flight is oversold by just one seat. We are looking for a volunteer to stay behind until the next flight on Thursday. We are offering a $600 travel voucher for that lucky person. Thanks so much and approach the desk if you're interested.

Shea
I sat still in defiance to the fear and anxiety welling up inside me. I needed this break. I watched as an older woman approached the desk. After a couple minutes she walked away and the attendant announced she'd found a person. I took a sigh of relief and got myself mentally prepared for this much needed flight. A few minutes later they began boarding and I watched as the passengers lined up. Nearly everyone over the age of 50 and white. This will be a nice quiet one I thought. As the line started to dwindle, I took my place near the desk to await the verdict on where I'd be sitting.

Attendant

Alright Miss, you'll be sitting in seat 32 EE. It's near the back, the way back... on the left side of the plane. Enjoy your flight.

Shea

As long as there's wine, I'm sure it'll be perfect. I usually like to have a window seat but at this point, I'll take whatever I can get.

Shea

I walked on to the plane and saw rows of people already prepped with travel pillows tucked neatly behind their wrinkled necks. It made me giggle a little to be the youngest person on the whole flight. My mom used to say she felt most comfortable on flights full of kids because that meant nothing bad would happen. I wonder what she'd say about a cabin full of geriatrics and retirees. As I approached my seat I was met with a pleasant surprise.