6 a.m. Flight

I’m traveling from Grand Island to Madison

Off the Wing

 by way of Dallas

A clear sky

  the horizon wrapped in a rose colored ribbon

I can see the fields crisscrossed with roads

The land spotted with ponds and streams

Streetlights visible from small towns

 like spilled salt on a dark table cloth

By now my family is starting their morning routine

As are so many other families below our plane

I can see the day unfold

 beautiful from 20000 ft

But I start to wonder about the things I can’t see

  I can’t see the hungry child looking for something

  to eat in the bare cupboards

 I can’t see the dad sipping coffee as he makes

 his daughter’s lunch, she doesn’t like the school’s chicken

 I can’t hear the teenage son yell at his mom

 knowing it hurts her but he is so angry lately

 I can’t hear the dedicated teacher order her coffee

 the excitement of a new lesson spurring her to school early

I can’t experience the thousands of stories unfolding beneath me

as the curve of the sun rises from the horizon

  Slow and steady

  Making me squint to watch the darkness fade away on this new day

I smile as I text my family to have a wonderful day

For a second I understand the cliche

 that this life is a gift

 and through the joy and the pain

 it is my day to live

Then my phone vibrates

 “U 2 Dad”