Departures

My sister was as young as 4 the first time we flew and I, 6. Memories woven to music, hover cloaked by musical choruses. “Everybody dance now!” Staring at the airplane tray table in front of me, switching radio stations in my seat stereo. That song always brought me across the oceans, every time, I would listen to the airplane radio and it would be there. Beckoning me to start my adventure. It was like a dream, surreal paired with that music, the sound of the airplane engine buzzing. The faces of strangers moving about the cabin. I distinctly remember conversations that I had with myself “where are we going? What are we doing here…