I pretty much hate flying.  I’m not afraid of flying. It’s just such a hassle and I do so love road trips.  But sometimes, you just have to do it, and today’s flight was perfect.

I love looking out the plane window.  This morning, all of a sudden when I looked down, I knew I was looking at possibly my favorite place on the face of the earth — The Black Canyon of the Gunnison.  I had never seen it from way up there before.  You can sprinkle my ashes there, way down at East Portal.

I was still recovering from that when I saw the incredible snow-covered Rockies from a point of view no human can really take in all at once.   It’s enough to make you believe in God.

Later, as we were descending, the setting sun lit up the Statue of Liberty. Sentimental fool that I am, I thought of my Citizenship students.  They asked me to bring back pictures of Miss Liberty and Ellis Island.  When I saw her,  said to myself, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free  .  .  .  I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”  I do not pretend to know the answers to our immigration issues, but I know my students will be such good citizens.  I hope I am holding just a small lamp for them.

Traveling is a very good thing, even if sometimes you have to fly. It’s amazing what you can see from up there.