The Angel

We were the fifth in line and I only noticed it after the weariness had worn off and the second one took off.  It was close to midnight and we had been taxiing for a few good minutes before the turns and maneuvers on the tarmac made sense to me.  I thought we were simply going in circles, further delaying a flight that's already five hours delayed.  Until I noticed the lighted paths and the arrows, pointing us where to turn and where to go. Go straight, turn left, go straight again, turn right, then pause.  Gather strength, maintain momentum, race through the tarmac, and with such force, take off.  The first few seconds of being airborne feels wobbly when we try to find our balance. I looked out the window and the lights from houses and buildings were twinkling and, as if, floating; an illusion from the mist and the recent rain.  It was a spectacular view and I sat there staring at it for awhile. That's how it is.  We cut ourselves from the jet w...

It's been a month of hotels and rented cars, packing a house and then an entire office. It's the last day for more than half in the office, almost every cubicle and corner have been packed and boxed.  Some have flown out already, while others have gone out, back into their homes without the prospect of a new job.  There were last emails and last suppers for officemates who have known each other for years, ending with the always-broken promise to keep in touch.  I was still in my office, which is almost boxed up except for my desktop computer.  My boss unexpectedly walked in and said, I just realized you've been moving around for the last six months. We were the last ones in the office and we will be the last one to remain.  Everyone's flying out tomorrow at the latest; I'm taking the last flight on Friday.  The servers and computers and everything else are expected to arrive on Saturday afternoon and we have the rest of the weekend to get everything runni...