What a great description of the similarities between flying here on earth and flying out in space. And a common thread of trust in the pilots and builders of the amazing machines.
Our species is a funny one. Dysfunctional in many ways. But also, we can take thousands, actually millions of electronic, pneumatic, mechanical and other physical parts, and thousands of calculations and millions of lines of code, producing a 737 or an SRS launch vehicle and Orion space capsule. We put members of our species in both and then touch off those powerful jet and rocket engines and complex controls trusting in our work. And it does it work! Awesome!
Bar, you were so entranced with the whole Artemis mission I think you naturally captured what was surely a shared moment for you and the Artemis astronauts. When the whine of the 737’s jet engines spinning up and the vibrations from the airplane’s wheels coming to speed began, and when the rumble and shuddering of the entire space craft began as the huge rocket engines ignited and it started to lift, I think you were sharing a shiver of excitement, a touch of apprehension and trust. Your trips coincided.
Also, I firmly believe there is an ancient innate bond between dogs and humans. Dog get us. Treble knew she was safe because she trusted her humans.
What a great message, Bill. Thank you. Treble was a sweetie and it was really nice to have her along. Needless to say, I pet her a lot as the trip went on. Her human had his leg up against her carrier so she’d know he was there while he and got a good long nap in, but she still stuck her head out periodically to say hi to me. Made the flight a whole lot more enjoyable for me. Thanks for responding in such a full and generous way.
Bar, this is so sweet! I'm sorry for the loss of your aunt. So much loss lately. But also so much beauty--like the wonder of the Artemis mission, and how this sweet, blind pup ended up next to you on this flight. I love your writing!
thank you, Lisa. So much loss and on so many levels, but here we are. The challenge, as always, is how to get through it. Treble the dog along with a book by Liane Moriarty, was a very good way to get through a 5-hour flight. My aunt was a gem. Thankfully I was able to visit with her a couple of times recently. It was really important to be at her memorial, to see my cousins (of which there are many), their kids and grandkids. As I get older, I feel like these gatherings are more and more important.
Yes, turbulence. Do you want a heads-up? I think so. Flying from London to Denver on 9/11, our pilot warned us of turbulence. We were to fasten our seatbelts. We did so, but no sooner had we done so, the pilot's voice came on again. I wish that I remember what he said, but what I do remember is that mid-sentence his voice cracked. Something like, "I have bad news... (15 second pause) the Twin Towers in New York are under attack." He promised to get back to us when he knew more. And at that point, everyone who had moved in the half-filled plane, returned to his assigned seat. (Security however frail at any cost?) Eventually, the pilot addressed us again. He gave us an up-date and then reassured us that he would leave his radio on - whatever he heard in the cockpit, we would simultaneously hear in the cabin. Absolutely brilliant! We were one of 26 flights that flew to Halifax for a three-day layover. Those who were on my flight were at-ease because of the pilot's thoughtfulness. The passengers on the other flights knew little or nothing and verged on hysterical.
Who was our pilot? Is he still alive? Is it too late to write a thank you note? One of my life regrets.
Incredible story, Doris. Every time I hear it with a little more detail I’m amazed. I wonder if there is a way to find the pilot? Have you ever looked into it? No doubt it would be difficult, but maybe writing the story and sending it to the Airline’s PR department would be useful, or might even find its way to the pilot. Was it British Airways??
You'd think I'd be using our B.A. miles, but actually, I was flying Delta. And we ended up in Atlanta. Did we stay over in Atlanta before going on to Denver? I don't remember. What I do remember is that we disembarked on the tarmac. I assume that they were looking for a stray terrorist. Thank you for your prompt. I will write to Delta and see if they have the name/address of our pilot.
What a great description of the similarities between flying here on earth and flying out in space. And a common thread of trust in the pilots and builders of the amazing machines.
Our species is a funny one. Dysfunctional in many ways. But also, we can take thousands, actually millions of electronic, pneumatic, mechanical and other physical parts, and thousands of calculations and millions of lines of code, producing a 737 or an SRS launch vehicle and Orion space capsule. We put members of our species in both and then touch off those powerful jet and rocket engines and complex controls trusting in our work. And it does it work! Awesome!
Bar, you were so entranced with the whole Artemis mission I think you naturally captured what was surely a shared moment for you and the Artemis astronauts. When the whine of the 737’s jet engines spinning up and the vibrations from the airplane’s wheels coming to speed began, and when the rumble and shuddering of the entire space craft began as the huge rocket engines ignited and it started to lift, I think you were sharing a shiver of excitement, a touch of apprehension and trust. Your trips coincided.
Also, I firmly believe there is an ancient innate bond between dogs and humans. Dog get us. Treble knew she was safe because she trusted her humans.
Welcome back!
What a great message, Bill. Thank you. Treble was a sweetie and it was really nice to have her along. Needless to say, I pet her a lot as the trip went on. Her human had his leg up against her carrier so she’d know he was there while he and got a good long nap in, but she still stuck her head out periodically to say hi to me. Made the flight a whole lot more enjoyable for me. Thanks for responding in such a full and generous way.
Bar, this is so sweet! I'm sorry for the loss of your aunt. So much loss lately. But also so much beauty--like the wonder of the Artemis mission, and how this sweet, blind pup ended up next to you on this flight. I love your writing!
thank you, Lisa. So much loss and on so many levels, but here we are. The challenge, as always, is how to get through it. Treble the dog along with a book by Liane Moriarty, was a very good way to get through a 5-hour flight. My aunt was a gem. Thankfully I was able to visit with her a couple of times recently. It was really important to be at her memorial, to see my cousins (of which there are many), their kids and grandkids. As I get older, I feel like these gatherings are more and more important.
Very sweet.
It was sweet, Robby. Made the trip a whole better. Thank you.
Yes, turbulence. Do you want a heads-up? I think so. Flying from London to Denver on 9/11, our pilot warned us of turbulence. We were to fasten our seatbelts. We did so, but no sooner had we done so, the pilot's voice came on again. I wish that I remember what he said, but what I do remember is that mid-sentence his voice cracked. Something like, "I have bad news... (15 second pause) the Twin Towers in New York are under attack." He promised to get back to us when he knew more. And at that point, everyone who had moved in the half-filled plane, returned to his assigned seat. (Security however frail at any cost?) Eventually, the pilot addressed us again. He gave us an up-date and then reassured us that he would leave his radio on - whatever he heard in the cockpit, we would simultaneously hear in the cabin. Absolutely brilliant! We were one of 26 flights that flew to Halifax for a three-day layover. Those who were on my flight were at-ease because of the pilot's thoughtfulness. The passengers on the other flights knew little or nothing and verged on hysterical.
Who was our pilot? Is he still alive? Is it too late to write a thank you note? One of my life regrets.
Incredible story, Doris. Every time I hear it with a little more detail I’m amazed. I wonder if there is a way to find the pilot? Have you ever looked into it? No doubt it would be difficult, but maybe writing the story and sending it to the Airline’s PR department would be useful, or might even find its way to the pilot. Was it British Airways??
You'd think I'd be using our B.A. miles, but actually, I was flying Delta. And we ended up in Atlanta. Did we stay over in Atlanta before going on to Denver? I don't remember. What I do remember is that we disembarked on the tarmac. I assume that they were looking for a stray terrorist. Thank you for your prompt. I will write to Delta and see if they have the name/address of our pilot.
I hope you got my message about the play in Ashland about this very story that's being performed right now. Let me know.
Thanks, a beautiful little vignette, resting on big facts.
My condolences for the loss of Aunt Bonnie.
Thank you, Sarah. She was a good one...Love to you.