There was a point in time when my boss told me that nothing good could come of refreshing Livejournal all day long.
He was officially wrong yesterday afternoon, when autonomic_pilot posted that he was taking a plane up to watch the lunar eclipse from 8,000 feet, and since he had three empty seats, the first three people to speak up got them.
Three thoughts shot through my brain in rapid succession:
1. If I want to do this, I have to respond NOW. Ok! 2. I will have to leave work early. Fine by me! 3. Wait, I have dance class tonight! WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY BRAIN? FUCK DANCE CLASS.
I was one of the lucky three, the trio rounded out by la_roja and aelius27, whom you’ll recall graciously hosted Adventures in Science! Part One: Owl Vomit.
After practically floating out of work, I made a pit stop at David’s Bridal to maybe find something to wear to Kayleigh’s last-minute Prom Party this weekend, and after getting frustrated at incorrect sizing and hot layers of tulle, I have decided that my goddamn animal friends had better kick it up a notch and make something for me.
After all of THAT, I met everyone at Wings Aloft, where we prepared to sacrifice babies to convince an angered God to give back the moon.
Frankly, I was a little concerned about all of us being able to fit inside. But I’m not the pilot here, so…oh, wait!
Our fearless pilot.
As the one with the fancy-pants camera that I didn’t quite know how to use, I got to be the co-pilot. Er, ride shotgun. Er, sit in the front and pray I wouldn’t break anything.
STOP BLINDING ME, WOMAN.
This was the emergency handle, which, when pulled, launches out a rocket/parachute 1-2 punch combo that destroys the plane but saves the passengers. autonomic_pilot said that since its inception, it’s been used 13 times and is credited with saving 31 lives, which is pretty goddamn awesome.
Hey, look, it’s the world’s blurriest sunset over mountaintops! Gosh, wouldn’t that be nice if it were in focus? …I’m ShakyHands McGee.
This is the point where, in accordance with the wishes of our TRULY fearless pilot, who perhaps didn’t know that the first week I had my driver’s license I totaled my car in an act of sheer Stupidity that is yet unrivaled, I took control of the plane. The expression on my face is equal parts ecstatic and terrified that I would kill us all. Doing something stupid that kills myself? Eh, we all have to go sometime. Taking others with me? Not so much!
Note: Although I didn’t make any seatbelt announcements, I was indeed in full control as autonomic_pilot had to use both hands to operate my camera. Or at least, I was granted the illusion of complete control, as it has become clear to me that John can actually control the plane via The Force.
The sky reflecting off of my glasses means I’m deadly serious like THE ICEMAN, bitches!
This is what terror looks like when Mellzah’s got control.
The eclipse and night sky itself was, in a word, breathtaking. There are moments in my life when I’m overwhelmed by beauty, when my heart swells from the joy of it, and I almost feel it will engulf me. This was one of those moments. It was so incredible, and I wish that I could’ve captured even a fraction of that feeling with my camera.
When I dated Alex, who was a pilot, he said that people often ask how planes know where they’re going without roads, and the joke-y pilot answer is to point out at the wings and say all they do is fly between the lights. This picture has nothing to do with the wings of the plane, but it makes me think of that nonetheless.
la_roja taking a spin in the mini-plane.
No, you’re breaking it! I AM NOT!
Putting the plane back into the garage. There was a gap of MAYBE a foot on either side of the plane, which I would imagine is terrifying every time you put it in the garage–there’s not exactly room for error. Then again, there isn’t a crapton of room for error when your safety blanket is a rocket parachute, so maybe terror is something he’s used to by now.
This was an amazing, amazing experience. I really can’t give enough thanks–words seem insufficient and hollow. Still: thank you, thank you, thank you. The trip might have ended last night, but I’m still walking on air.
