I finally had another one of my interesting experiential dreams; these are a type of dream I have with clear details but no strong emotions or feelings of "learn this lesson" (and sometimes it's clear the receiver/protagonist isn't even me but that I am riding along as an observer).
It began with me deplaning and heading to a connecting flight. My last flight had been a long one (perhaps transatlantic), and since it had all been booked by my agent I didn't really pay any attention to details as I checked in, stowed my modest carrying-on, and settled into my window seat. The plane had a slightly different layout, though the outside was still familiar to me, so probably a modified Boeing (or I was simply too tired from traveling to bother noticing more than the wider isles and extra padded, comfortable chairs, which I was thoroughly enjoying).
The takeoff was uneventful, or maybe even smoother than usual; it was quite a nice flight, especially when compared to the vague memory of my last long, bumpy one, so I eased down into my chair to nap. I have a pretty good sense of how a plane should behave: that after it takes off and sets its course, you pretty much feel like a straight-shot arrow to your destination. So I felt it when this flight did not climb to a cruising altitude, nor did it stop tilting occasionally.
"What the hell are the pilots doing?" I wondered aloud, partly to my nearest seatmate (whose chair was still far enough from mine that we couldn't bump elbows, so yeah, definitely a dream). I watched the ground swirl as the giant plane did a graceful slow-curve to line up with a scenic river, and still quite low enough to be able to see details. Even with the low altitude and gentle plane maneuvering, stewards were about, taking drink orders and chatting in friendly tones with bright smiles. Then our path took us to the "mouth" of the river, past many sparkling marinas with their sailboats before beginning another lazy sweep out over the water, either a large lake or the ocean.
"It's a beautiful view, isn't it," one of the stewards prompted. "We see everything the birds see." I was struck by her warm, sincere tone (nearly reverent), so I turned from the window to see who was speaking. She was leaning just enough so her long, shining black hair hung close, her expression was warm and open, and instead of the colorful uniforms most stewards were wearing, she was wearing a thin garment that was almost a nightie, or a short kimono. I was confused, wondering why she was dressed so scantily, even as I noticed it showing off just how fit her body was, and that she was pregnant (maybe 7 months, judging by the curve that made her dress stretch over her belly). I didn't say or do anything other than returning the smile and nodding in response, and I watched her move on to the young couple on other side of the main walkway.
I just wanted to get home, still in travel mode, even slightly irritated at the inefficient path the pilot was taking, and must have said something to my grinning seatmate about how bizarre this behavior was for a regional airline, and he then point up at writing along the ceiling. It seemed oddly fancy lettering, perhaps not even in English (I vaguely remember strange characters, which is my only hint of this not being a location I identify with) yet readable, and it said something like "<unknown airline name> Sky Tours, Enjoying the Air Above our Heads."
At this point I was feeling quite unobservant in all my autopilot assumptions. I began to shift my attitude and accept that this plane was just going to spend time meandering all over the place (if "meandering" is a term that can even be properly applied to a plane in flight!). The plane had leveled out again before beginning to slowly tilt in the other direction so the other side of the plane could view the coast and my side view the fluffy clouds, but now my interest was on the "greeter" woman (tour guide?) as she leaned over the young couple and chat with them. I heard the seated young woman excitedly announce they were also trying to get pregnant, which of course caused quite a bit of celebration, and at her prompting, they were both placing hands on and rubbing her pregnant belly. The steward showed them how to lift the armrest between them, lower the seats to an almost prone position, and then she squeezed in with them, laying down with her top arm around them both. I couldn't see what all they were touching as they excitedly chatted, but I could imagine because I saw plenty of movement.
I tried to just think about how she probably shouldn't be flying for a living while being so pregnant, but it was clearly part of her attraction. I heard her deep, warm laugh and that she was working on her fifth child, that she would enjoy flying right up until it was her time, and that her baby's "soul nurse" was all prepared so that she could come back to work immediately. The couple asked the question I was wondering, and she explained in happy tones that since her body was young and healthy, she was having babies for others who would then nurse and raise them. It felt kind of cultish to me, the way she happily talked about such a non-standard arrangement, but it might also have been a sign of just how out-of-touch I was. With all the smooth skin, glistening hair and long legs I could see, she certainly had good genes to share. The couple was certainly happy with her and sharing excited chatter.
By then I had simply decided to relax in a tired-yet-soothed fashion and enjoy the strange tour for whatever it was.
It began with me deplaning and heading to a connecting flight. My last flight had been a long one (perhaps transatlantic), and since it had all been booked by my agent I didn't really pay any attention to details as I checked in, stowed my modest carrying-on, and settled into my window seat. The plane had a slightly different layout, though the outside was still familiar to me, so probably a modified Boeing (or I was simply too tired from traveling to bother noticing more than the wider isles and extra padded, comfortable chairs, which I was thoroughly enjoying).
The takeoff was uneventful, or maybe even smoother than usual; it was quite a nice flight, especially when compared to the vague memory of my last long, bumpy one, so I eased down into my chair to nap. I have a pretty good sense of how a plane should behave: that after it takes off and sets its course, you pretty much feel like a straight-shot arrow to your destination. So I felt it when this flight did not climb to a cruising altitude, nor did it stop tilting occasionally.
"What the hell are the pilots doing?" I wondered aloud, partly to my nearest seatmate (whose chair was still far enough from mine that we couldn't bump elbows, so yeah, definitely a dream). I watched the ground swirl as the giant plane did a graceful slow-curve to line up with a scenic river, and still quite low enough to be able to see details. Even with the low altitude and gentle plane maneuvering, stewards were about, taking drink orders and chatting in friendly tones with bright smiles. Then our path took us to the "mouth" of the river, past many sparkling marinas with their sailboats before beginning another lazy sweep out over the water, either a large lake or the ocean.
"It's a beautiful view, isn't it," one of the stewards prompted. "We see everything the birds see." I was struck by her warm, sincere tone (nearly reverent), so I turned from the window to see who was speaking. She was leaning just enough so her long, shining black hair hung close, her expression was warm and open, and instead of the colorful uniforms most stewards were wearing, she was wearing a thin garment that was almost a nightie, or a short kimono. I was confused, wondering why she was dressed so scantily, even as I noticed it showing off just how fit her body was, and that she was pregnant (maybe 7 months, judging by the curve that made her dress stretch over her belly). I didn't say or do anything other than returning the smile and nodding in response, and I watched her move on to the young couple on other side of the main walkway.
I just wanted to get home, still in travel mode, even slightly irritated at the inefficient path the pilot was taking, and must have said something to my grinning seatmate about how bizarre this behavior was for a regional airline, and he then point up at writing along the ceiling. It seemed oddly fancy lettering, perhaps not even in English (I vaguely remember strange characters, which is my only hint of this not being a location I identify with) yet readable, and it said something like "<unknown airline name> Sky Tours, Enjoying the Air Above our Heads."
At this point I was feeling quite unobservant in all my autopilot assumptions. I began to shift my attitude and accept that this plane was just going to spend time meandering all over the place (if "meandering" is a term that can even be properly applied to a plane in flight!). The plane had leveled out again before beginning to slowly tilt in the other direction so the other side of the plane could view the coast and my side view the fluffy clouds, but now my interest was on the "greeter" woman (tour guide?) as she leaned over the young couple and chat with them. I heard the seated young woman excitedly announce they were also trying to get pregnant, which of course caused quite a bit of celebration, and at her prompting, they were both placing hands on and rubbing her pregnant belly. The steward showed them how to lift the armrest between them, lower the seats to an almost prone position, and then she squeezed in with them, laying down with her top arm around them both. I couldn't see what all they were touching as they excitedly chatted, but I could imagine because I saw plenty of movement.
I tried to just think about how she probably shouldn't be flying for a living while being so pregnant, but it was clearly part of her attraction. I heard her deep, warm laugh and that she was working on her fifth child, that she would enjoy flying right up until it was her time, and that her baby's "soul nurse" was all prepared so that she could come back to work immediately. The couple asked the question I was wondering, and she explained in happy tones that since her body was young and healthy, she was having babies for others who would then nurse and raise them. It felt kind of cultish to me, the way she happily talked about such a non-standard arrangement, but it might also have been a sign of just how out-of-touch I was. With all the smooth skin, glistening hair and long legs I could see, she certainly had good genes to share. The couple was certainly happy with her and sharing excited chatter.
By then I had simply decided to relax in a tired-yet-soothed fashion and enjoy the strange tour for whatever it was.
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