Mid-air Friendship
Flying back from my first semester at college, I looked forward to returning to a place of familiarity and comfort. On my eight hour flight, I cradled a sketchbook as a carry-on and found myself sketching various portions of the plane. The lady next to me would eventually poke her head towards me and ask about my doodles. I told her I enjoyed sketching, and that I was a college student flying home. She mentioned her own children and her excitement for Thanksgiving—from there, we would chat about our favorite artists, states we had visited, college drama, and our favorite Thanksgiving foods. The hours transformed us into a special mid-air pairing. At the end, I sketched a portrait of her as a momento and wrote my Art Instagram contact.Â
To this day, we send each other reels of anything art-related that captivates us. "My children told me all about that artist!" and "You must visit this art spot since you're on the East Coast!!" are some of my favorite messages to see when I open my phone. She reminds me that someone is always thinking of me...that there is someone on this Earth, whom I had met in the air, that the magic of art connects me with.​​​​​​​
We are always so busy getting from one place to another. Sometimes the most special moments spur from the breathing spaces between our destinations. In the middle. In the air.Â