Bradley’s Almanac

In Flight Entertainment…

Posted on March 6, 2004 at 6:58 pm | No Comments

35,000 feet over northeastern Canada, heading back out over the open Atlantic, AmAnSet in my headphones. From here it’s nothing but ocean until we hit the UK. My second trip there, but the first was so long ago that it all feels new. I’ve been on probably a dozen flights in my life, but I can’t seem to get blas� about it. I know it’s safe, I know I’m less at risk here than driving in Boston, but the turbulence turns my stomach and the landings leave me slightly shaken.

The first leg, Boston to DC, was short but not-so-sweet. Saturday morning rainstorms kept things bumpy, prompting our captain to apologize for ‘the chop’. Getting a free upgrade to comfy seats made things just a little easier… my first time in first class spoiled me. The approach to Dulles was brutal, though… the constant vibration made me way overly conscious of how unnatural this all feels… in a massive metal cylinder hurtling through the sky.

Disembark at terminal D, reembark at terminal C, business class on a bigger plane. Now we’re talkin’. Loads of leg room, personal video screens, orange juice and fresh fruit. I hoped for a window, but got an aisle… the girl at the window next to me asks “Do you prefer aisle or window?”. Turns out she digs the aisle, so we swap. Aces.

We’re airborne, and I send off a couple covert text messages to Amie before the stewardess spots me, or my cell phone signal leaves for good. Breakfast arrives shortly and it’s movie time. “Once Upon a Time in Mexico” plays at my seat as I fall in and out of sleep. The perfect time killer. Three hours down now, four more to go. Drowsiness pulls at me, so I’ll leave you for now, over the deep ocean.

(written six hours ago)

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  • BOSTON-AREA LIVE SHOW ACTION
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    Saturday, December 27th
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    Sunday, December 28th
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    Thursday, January 8th
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