songs from the big chair
September 24, 2009– squeezed into Seat 23C of American Airlines flight 100 (to London, where I’ll connect to Belgrade-bound flight 888). Sandra Bullock’s antics in “The Proposal” just can’t keep my interest— I’m more incredulous about the mere fact of my sitting here, in this seat, in this plane headed to that place, than her overdrawn portrait of ‘The New York Woman.” So much history and serendipity, planning and packing and Love has led to this moment… so many people inspiring or enabling this mission. Squeezed into Seat 23C with me are some of the biggest people in my life: my father, my Oma, and my Walt. This visionary company have been more present than ever these past few weeks: my dad remembering his favorite horses on the salas, Oma singing the old songs in her high thready voice, and Walt laughing heartily (eyebrows raised, cheeks on fire) that, by God! He’s making that overseas trip at last! And to Serbia, no less!!!
There have been other mentors, muses, facilitators, and friends whose brief roles in this saga occurred at just the right time, providing a memorable encounter or a key idea. Here are nine of them—none of whom I knew a month ago, though they’ve added immeasurable (and literal!) meaning to my Serbian odyssey.
