Air Time

John Denver once sang, 'It's a Long Way from LA to Denver. It's a Long Time to Hang in the Sky' (Starwood in Aspen).

He didn't know the half of it...

Try 14 hours LA to Sydney - and 13 back.

Even for the lucky few ensconced in their luxury first class 'pods', that much time on an airplane is a chore. For those of us in the 'herd' corralled in economy, it's like hanging on the outskirts of purgatory peering at hell.

Or, it would be, if the flight attendants weren't so nice, and if their airline wasn't thoughtful enough to supply sufficient movies, TV, and games to keep you distracted.

At any given moment of the flight, even we peons had plenty to watch and to drink. Eating, though, was more challenging and sporadic outside the two meals served, unless you craved 'cornsticks' and cookies. I managed to stow away a reasonable tonnage of those items, so I remained satisfied, but I saw others contemplating the 'snack rack' and ultimately deciding their long-term health was more important than short-term hunger. Everyone has their priorities.

One new item of amusement I'd never seen before was the 'skycam'. It was a camera perched on the tail of our plane - a relatively new Airbus 380, and it gave an interesting view of takeoff and landing. In the middle of the night, if you needed reassurance that all was well, checking the skycam provided a comforting view of a blinking light in the darkness, each blink like the zap of a pacemaker letting us know the plane (and we) were alive and well.

One familiar item I glanced at - then avoided like the plague - was the 'flight path' map. Knowing I was flying with my fellow passengers over so much uninhabited ocean made me feel vulnerable. I've seen Lost (and didn't like it). Of course, you are just as 'vulnerable' when flying over land, but at a lower gut level the difference was keenly felt.

As our plane lifted off from Sydney, I caught a glimpse of fires burning outside the city. The smoke was white, so I'd like to think they were controlled burns, but you never know, Sydney was windy. We arrived at Los Angeles flying over and through the haze from fires, none controlled, burning in the mountains east of the city. When I got home and checked the news I found that one of the fires was wrecking havoc along one of my favorite motorcycling roads.

I also learned that another 'Goodbye' was in order, for Edward 'Ted' Kennedy.

Sad sights and sadder news to end such a long time in the air ...