On a recent trip back home to New York City, I was gazing out my usual window seat on the airplane (the fabulous JetBlue on this occasion) and reveling in the beauty and vastness of our universe. I snapped this picture during one of those gazes.
The seemingly uninterrupted expanse ahead allowed for reflection and fantasy. And creativity. I was coming back from a conference and in two hours was able to craft a concept for a book and innovative ways to write, publish and market it.
I recalled another time, about five years ago when returning from a party weekend and getting lost in the puffy clouds feeling the euphoria all over again.
I came across With This View, Who Needs Legroom? a New York Times article by pilot, Mark Vanhoenacker published the day I returned.
He beautifully captures the experience:
It’s how the details of the world are summoned again, how gracefully scale and shadings resolve into trees and fields and subdivisions. It’s the steady, lyrical motion of a silvery wing over a new place — an entirely unique geography and history that appear simply and perfectly beneath you.
So, get the window seat next time you travel. Just remember to visit the bathroom just before boarding




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Nice photo!
. I took several pictures of the same full moon last evening.
I love the photo group on flickr for “Window Seat” too. Always fun to see the planet from a jet.
Thanks, John! If you post the pictures that you took please let me know -I’d love to take a look!
Wasn’t aware of the “Window Seat” photo group on flickr, but will definitely check them out.
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