Nancy Triggiani
It was my first venture to Europe and I was flying solo. My husband remained home to oversee our business and care for our only child, a furry two-year-old long coat Akita named, Romeo. Prompted, nudged, and encouraged by an Austrian friend who helped organize my trip, I found myself standing curbside at the departure terminal for Austrian Airlines, amid the crumbling ruins of Newark, New Jersey, kissing my husband goodbye. Having not traveled by air in many years, I didn’t know what to expect …. on either side of the pond!
Waddling toward the snaking check-in line, encumbered with an oversized towering backpack that could easily fit a compact electric car, and a smaller one that wasn’t so small, I eyed the other passengers towing their wheeled luggage with ease. As I said, I hadn’t flown in a long time, but I’m tough, I thought to myself – a former competitive judo player – I’ve got this! As the line inched forward, the others shuffled ahead with smoothly rolling suitcases at their heels, while I lugged and wrestled with mine, sweating, as though in the finals of a judo tournament. Reaching the counter, I handed my opponent over to the airlines clerk who, exactly like a judo official, weighed it in and attached an Austrian Airlines tag around one of the straps, placing it on a conveyor. I watched it vanish into an abyss, wondering if and where we shall meet again. Read more