Fight in Flight

Fight  In Flight

Plane flight Pan AM 5952 swayed

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

 The international flight in route to Sao Paulo, Brazil from the Miami International Airport bounced.  Flight Pan AM 5952 swayed  in its 45,000 feet altitude, as the captain announced over the pa,” we will be landing in Sao Palo, BRAZIL in 13 hours.  The stewardesses will be circulating the evening and morning menus shortly.  So sit back, and enjoy the ride.” That left us plenty of time to prepare and rest time for me and my team’s first international tournament.

When we landed and left the run-way only airport, we boarded vehicles. We were first to travel to our field of competion by way of a winding and narrow tropic road within a series of well equipped sport utility vehicles, Their height above the road allowed all of us to view the surrounding vegetation and villages, all down the mountains edge ,safely and securely. To our surprise, our field of competion was directly on the beach. A short and bumpy ride rattled us all to the point of vibration, and what was next was very welcoming. The field’s sand was as soft against my feet, as grass in the morning sunlight.  My team delightfully played to a 7-6 loss.      

The temperature in BRAZIL is a median one within the tropics.  The winds blew a gentle pace against my face that felt as an angel lips; soft, gentle and warm. The constant breeze can be felt there all during the day and night.   The welcoming ceremonies and weeklong tournament were being played at a Football Club named Jeeriqua in rural Sao Paulo.  Their definition of rural was the kind of public park with banana and coconut tress all around.  There were sounds that I heard there that I will never hear again.  Both the sights and sounds were as new and foreign to me as a walk upon the moon. My team ended the week of tournament play at 1-5.

The people in Brazil were friendly.  The night before our departure we ate as kings.  There was a banquet in our honor, and to plant the seeds of a continued travel team exchange and play arrangement.  There were delicious fruits from every portion of the rainbow, and meat entrees that were tender to every size fork.  The banquet table seating was well near twenty feet in length and seated our whole team.   The entire dinner filled us with the presence of being above ourselves and everyone.  

I do not know today of these people that I played, and traveled with this year.  I regret that, but think of this time often.  I was fortunate to go to Brazil to compete at the international level in the game of soccer.  I keep this time in my mind for the sweetest and happiest recollections. While I do not remember everything completely, there are several little things that I will never forget; the freshness of bananas, the taste of roasted boar.  Nor, will I forget, the sight of the “backward” flushing toilet.

At the end of the week we were all tired; but in a refreshed sort of way. This country named Brazil trained, and shown us all a new way to play the game.  Our trip back to the United States came too quick, yet none of us had any regrets. “Gee I hope that the flight back home to the Unites States doesn’t have to take a major emergency detour over the airspace of the country of Panama again.” I think to myself pausing on the stairway into the plane’s doorway entry.  A quick nudge from a player behind me and my game pack was again over my shoulder, and I boarded.  

  (The United States invasion of Panama, codenamed Operation Just Cause, was the invasion of Panama by the United States in December 1989, during the administration of U.S. President George H. W. Bush, and ten years before the Panama Canal was transferred from control of the United States, back to Panama. During the invasion, de facto Panamanian leader, general, and dictator Manuel Noriega was deposed and the Panamanian Defense Force dissolved.)