JAL from Narita
On days when I'm running late to work... I will stand at the train station and watch a big 777 fly in over the north side of the city. The Japan Airlines flight from Narita approaches low and comes in heading straight west over Wilson Ave. Compared to the normal AA or UA commuter flights, this bright white JAL flight stands out in the clear blue morning sky. I've strangely always felt more connected to the world around me as I thought of those passengers overhead anxious to get out of their seats after the 13 hr flight. I'm not entirely sure why but the sight of that jumbo jet with the red tail always brings a smile to my face.
Cut to last Monday morning... I woke in what felt like the dead of night in Brooklyn and hopped a morning commuter from LaGuardia to O'Hare. As we flew in across the lake, the skyscrapers rose from the misty fog in a truly spectacular site. As I stared in awe at my city through the window of 14A something else caught my eye... that very same JAL flight was coming in next to us. They were close enough that I could make out the silhouettes of groggy travellers in a few windows. They landed on the south runway at same time we landed on the north. As we taxied to the plane bridge that avoids the madness of Terminal 1... we pulled up next to the international arrivals and that incoming Narita flight. I gave a little wave wondering if anyone was looking out the window. I can't be sure but I think I saw a wave back.