Wednesday, May 15, 2002 9:15am, Jackson International Airport
Waiting in an airport. A now desert. Minds full of goings and comings. Here time is really believable and of great importance. Meeting people with our familiarity radar on full alert. My last purchase was "Mt. Everest" breath gum – and the metal container set off the metal detector. Some cheap and sort lasting excitement and entertainment. You know it looks like just about all kinds pass through an airport and in a pretty much random mix. Everyone carrying a unique story, and its all a powerful media for distraction from the breath and body sensations. And the breath is not normal. There is an overlay of stress. A tension from the nearness to the unknown and the reminders of Sept. 11 help it become more conscious.
Wednesday, May 15 11:04am, Above Northern Mississippi
I’m all for circular aircraft. Separated from the rest of humanity, like this, we could easily bond into a sense of community, but being strapped into seeing the back of a seat creates a much different experience.
Wednesday, May 15 4:40pm, Memphis, TN KLM Jumbo Jet
The
air community has changed. Young. Multi-race. Multi-lingual. This is the world
of those who can afford the ticket. This makes me aware of the false comfort of
familiarity. 
The
unpredictable and strange more nearer. My watch will soon by lying badly. I can
feel myself treasuring the refuge of loving-kindness. The refuge of raw mind
without assumptions. The refuge of humility
Thursday, May 16 10:40am, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Several
strangenesses: Traveling at 600mph for 8 hours. Living at 33,000 feet for 8 hrs.
Just outside the window it was –68 degrees F. It was strange to see it start
getting light out when my senses thought it was just past 12 midnight. A very
short night! My body now thinks its about 3:30am and with little sleep, I’m
not feeling too sharp. Although much of the airport is a no smoking zone, the
smell of cigarettes is still strong. My breathing is affected.