Only Fools Rush In (And I Ain't No Fool)

Thirty three thousand feet between me and the Pacific Ocean. Clouds in the shapes of bunny rabbits and boats floated past, casting their shadows on the water. Wheels squeaked as the stewardess pushed her cart down the aisle, offering stale peanuts and soda. And I lay back in my seat, drugged to my neck in motion sickness medicine.

The ride had been smooth so far, with only minor turbulence at the start. I left my window open despite the bright sun shining in my eyes. It was the only thing distracting me from the distance. A stewardess came by with her cart, looking right at me. My neighbors were both asleep, thank God. She smiled brightly at me and held up a small bag of peanuts. "Care for some?"

"No thanks," I said, feeling light and heavy at the same time. I didn't feel sick in the slightest. Dramamine really was the best on the market. Unfortunately, I felt like I was about to fall asleep any second. The woman pushed her cart away and I closed my eyes. 

"Attention passengers...our flight to Australia will resume momentarily. Please fasten your seat belts."

I opened my eyes, now wide awake. We weren't moving. In fact, our plane was on the ground in some runway. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I looked out the window and saw a world of green dotted with palm trees. 

Our first stop of the flight was in Hawaii. 

So I could say I'd been here three times now. Wouldn't my mother be jealous? Of course I didn't have time to look around. I'd been asleep for too long and our flight would leave without me if I tried anything. I grabbed my bag from under my seat and pulled out my bottle of Dramamine. Popping another one into my mouth to keep me going the rest of the trip, I stuffed my bag away and leaned back in my chair. 

Both my neighbors were gone. They were an old couple who flew to Maui for a weekend getaway. I was kind of glad I wasn't getting off the plane now. I wasn't finished with my beauty sleep. Grabbing the blanket I thought to pack for myself, I wrapped myself in a Hannah burrito and curled up. 

"Fasten your seat belts and make sure all windows are open. Please make sure your chairs are in an upright position."

The downsides of take off and landing just to name a few. The plane began to crawl across the runway, a man in an orange vest waving two large wands. For some reason I started giggling at the sight. Must be the medicine. Hopefully it would wear off by the time Peter came to pick me up at the airport. I would be meeting his band shortly after and they didn't need to see me like this! Faster and faster the plane moved and my heart nearly stopped. Soon enough we were up in the air and I could lean my chair back again. 

A baby started crying from the pressure building up in its ears. Due to an extra heavy layer of clouds the turbulence was even worse this time around. I gripped my armrest till my knuckles turned white and looked out the window. Light rain pattered against the glass. Up and up we soared, the world below shrinking dubiously. 

This trip better be worth all the fuss.

I wheeled my bag behind me as I wandered through the airport. The weight of the medicine lay heavy on my shoulders and I could hardly keep my eyes open. No one paid me any mind; they were too busy catching last minute flights and getting through customs to even notice me. I realized I had no idea what I was doing when I found myself at the restroom area. This airport wasn't like the one I had come from. It was much bigger. 

Resisting the urge to collapse on the floor and sleep, I turned around and made my way across the place. Surely the exits were around here somewhere.... The wheels of my suitcase kept hitting the backs of my feet, keeping me awake. I tried to follow common sense and pack light but there were too many things I might need. Too many situations I might find myself in that required a certain kind of attire. Better to have it and not need it, I always say.