*Disclaimer: I typed this on the flight and I haven't made any edits besides this one. And adding the pictures to the text.
Actually getting on the plane took a bit longer than expected. At first I couldn’t really tell you why. Boarding time rolled round, people started getting in line, and I think it was about 30 minutes after initial boarding time was SUPPOSED to start, we finally start boarding.
Now I might have been a bit of jerk in this next section so forgive me if you will. I had been standing somewhat close to the gate but I was standing by a pillar outside of the line. I typically sit while we’re waiting to board buuut it’s like a 7-hour flight. I was going to be sitting for a bit. However, boarding starts and priority goes, and 1st class then all of a sudden the gate agent says, “The rest of the plane may board now.” I maybe, kind of, a little cut most of the line when he said that. I was just so close and the line disintegrated a bit after the first two were called.
Anyways. Now I’m in the boarding line behind this fella when the gate agent gets a call, the gate agent checking passports and tickets gets a call, and a third airline employee walks up and says something to the first person. The fella I’m behind had already handed over his passport when they tell the agent checking to stop.
“We may have to de-ice the plane”.
OH BOY. It’s been so long since I had been in a cold environment where that was even a possibility I didn’t know what that might mean for us.
Turns out not much, just an additional 10 minutes on the runway while they de-iced the plane. Not too bad. It was cool though. I’m in a window seat, and the window is so iced over I can barely see through it. But then two lights start hovering into view, piercing the darkness beyond my window. And then it started to hose us down with….whatever they use. And the lights crept closer, like a monster in the fog.
It was quite visually striking. Or at least, it was to my imagination. (Maybe it’s the Florida in me?)
These two lights hovering in the distance as a gangly form reveals itself over time. A dense fog erupting from its maw, quickly obscuring my already limited view of it. I wanted to take a picture to show y’all but my dang phone crapped out on me and my camera was in the overhead bin! So I hope my imagination will do instead.
Now we’ve taken off (I’m typing this while in the air, but no wi-fi so….the past?)
OMG I MIGHT SEE AN AURORA FROM MY WINDOW
Or is it a cloud??
I CAN’T TELL.
Update: IT WAS THE AURORA BOREALIS.
I took some pics.
IT WAS SO PRETTY. The pics don’t do it any sort of justice but proof??
They were mostly green but there were smidges of yellow and orange that would off-shoot. It didn’t last super long, (Or maybe we just flew by too quickly). And I got to see it undulate and reach out. I’m so glad I pulled my camera down, but mostly, I’m so glad I gave up on my nap! I started typing cause I couldn’t sleep, and I was going to complain about how much light there was in the plane but BOY look what that got me!
Is this an apt time for ‘one door closes another one opens’ ??
Now we’re still way up in the air over the wilds (?) of Canada moving towards the arctic.
Later…
Now it’s just like aurora after aurora!! They’re coming in waves. It starts off looking like clouds on the horizon, particularly over a city. But the light is too…white, it’s not the horrendous orange that pollutes the night sky. Then we move closer (or they get stronger) and the ribbons start to form, pulsing with a faint green light then eventually becoming strong enough to be…..”Yep! That’s green!” And in particularly strong ones the yellows and oranges make themselves known as well.
I thought I was going to try and get some sleep but that might not be happening anymore.
I feel a little super paranoid. We’re in a dark spot, but I keep- suddenly- looking out the window.
Keeping my eyes on the sky!
Like the weather isn’t supposed to be super great while I’m in Iceland, so I want to enjoy this as much as possible.
I’m going to pause on the blog and just enjoy the view. !!!! <3