Jesse Joyner, PhD

I flew to Syracuse, NY yesterday morning to do my juggling presentation for the Upward program at North Syracuse Baptist Church. I woke up around 4:45am to catch my early flight, so I figured I could catch some zzzz’s on the plane to New York.

I boarded the second leg of my trip (Philadelphia to Syracuse) and was pretty tired. I sat down in my seat and prepared to doze off. The stewardess gave the “safety talk” and then the pilot taxied the plane to the runway. That’s about when I fell into my little cat-nap.

Now, when I cat-nap, I am still about 25% aware of my real-life surroundings. I heard the noise of the plane engine and I also heard the stewardess going down the aisle offering everyone something to drink (a mid-flight ritual). I remember looking at her in my cat-nap and politely declining the offer for some water, then going back to sleep.

My nap lasted about 30 minutes, and I specifically remember thinking the thought to myself, “Wow, this is a really smooth plane ride.” There was no turbulence – just peaceful, quiet, smooth sailing.

Then I heard some very loud engine noises and the plane increasing in speed. I woke from my dormant state and, you guessed it, we were speeding down the runway, not even in the air yet.

During my nap, we were waiting in a line of about 15 or so planes to take off. The stewardess was offering water during the wait time. I will still remember it as the smoothest flight I have ever experienced.