Whenever I travel, time suspends at the airport. I’m not flying the plane. I can’t control the weather. I’m at the mercy of the airlines and TSA and whatever rules they impose.
So I wait. In limbo. Crowded into a row of airport seats, keeping my arms and legs close, pinned behind my roll-on suitcase. Listening to announcements. Unsurprised by delays. Constrained.
Onboard, I shoehorn myself into an airplane seat. And wait. Wait to be given a snack. Wait to be allowed to get up. Usually, I accept the waiting, don’t expect anything different.
Often, I relish the flight time. No one needs anything from me. I can watch a silly movie that I wouldn’t have bothered with in the movie theater. I read, write, or doze. Eat all of the snacks.
Like air travel, sheltering in place is restrictive—close quarters, limited amusements, and out of my hands. I wouldn’t have signed up for it, but now that I’m on this journey, borrowing from my air travel mindset helps me accept this limbo. For the most part.
In flight and during quarantine, time suspends. After an indeterminate while, we will arrive, and time will re-engage. Life will start up in a new place.
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5 responses to “Time Suspended”
Gives me a new perspective. Time is truly suspended and I can’t solve it by “being busy,” rather surrendering makes so much more sense. Thanks!
That’s a very good way to look at it, Ellen! I do the same thing when I fly…just go on “autopilot” because I have no control over anything. Sometimes I enjoy it, too, for the exact reasons you stated. I’m trying to have that mindset for this situation as well, but sometimes it feels like one of those time when I’m at the airport, trying to fly somewhere for a short and much-anticipated vacation, and the flight just keeps getting delayed and delayed and delayed. You know what I mean, I’m sure!
Unfortunately, I do know what you mean—the delay, delay, delay part of the metaphor works too. Take care!
Great analogy, Ellen. It is a waiting game for sure.
Thanks! I hope you and your family are doing OK.