We often use the expression - life goes on.  Often we use it in a bad situation...sort of resigned...there's nothing we can do.  I am not sure I've ever heard anyone say it with joy in his or her voice.

Life goes on!  After my flight into NY the first of this month, I no longer take that for granted.  Leaving all the details out, I (and other passengers with window shades up) thought the plane was too near a tall building.  I know the distance is greater than it looks.  Actually I did not look.  I just listened to the ones beside and behind me.  This was AFTER the pilot told us we were in a unique situation (just what you want to hear a pilot say) ... there was a laser field about a mile and 3/4 radius but we shouldn't have to fly through it depending on the number of planes taxing in...but IF we did, not to look out.  I thought that meant he would tell us if we were...so I left my window shade up....so did the people in front of me. We were over the wing. The people by me and in front of me and a guy behind on the other side (diagonal) began saying, "That building..we're going to hit that  building."  I know the distance is less than it looks, but I don't know how close we were because I could not look.   After the building remarks the plane started rocking back and forth (sideways) for what seemed like a long time.  People screamed.  The kid in front of me said the plane was going down.  The lady beside me grabbed her husband's hand and then mine. 

We landed safely...but hard.  Then the pilot said we would be towed all the way in...but not to worry if the emergency lights came on.  He also said, "Welcome to NY.  We had a good flight except for those last (however many) feet."  A pause..."We didn't fly through the laser field."  I got off the plane saying I would never fly again...but I did.  I had to fly back home....but I will admit without me even realizing I was crying, tears rolled down my cheeks.

There is one sort of funny part.  Of course, I was writing in my journal when all of this happened.  I stopped before the building and the turbulance.  The next morning when I read what I wrote, I laughed..

"Laser field?  laser field?  laser field? 

1 3/4 mile  What the hell?

laser field?

Damn, I never thought to research laser fields"

I promised myself I would never take life for granted again....and two rather funny resolutions.  I won't wear black, and I'll let my toes show!  The background on that is for convenience sake I had gotten into the habit of always wearing black pants to school, not because I liked the look but because it was convenient and cheaper.  The toe part...I thought my toes were ugly so I won't let them show except at home or in very informal situations. I guess no black represents no mourning, and the open shoes represent freedom. I think those two cover it all. 

                                    Usually I can identify the source of every image.  But I can not this one.  I just know it is not mine.