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[9] CHAPTER NINE: Journey

July 21, 2024 - 00:23

     I got on the plane after playing Snake for.. let's say a LONG time.. let's say THREE HOURS STRAIGHT.. and settled into my seat. Hey, at least it's premium economy. I put on Loop earplugs I'd bought a while ago to help with my noise sensitivity and dozed off, clutching my bag as if it was my service weapon, never letting it go even in sleep. (It contained my passport.)

     Some time later, the PA came on, waking me up and notifying me that we were about to land. I had to transfer, but it was still domestic. Yay! I didn't have to go through all the hassle of baggage, and just walk to the next flight - Air New Zealand 24 - which would depart from gate 17. The plane landed, I removed my earplugs, collected my carry-ons, waited to exit the plane, and started for the gate.

     As I was walking, I again thought of the cashier I met at The Blue Lady, and started pondering. I knew since I was a kid that I didn't really want to be a boy, but I suppressed those thoughts because of societal pressures to be a boy because I was born a boy. I thought "Why do I need to follow the rules? After all, Canada allows me not to." 

    But what am I?

     I finally reached the gate, but the plane would not take off for another thirty minutes. I had time, I had time.. so I brought out my journal and wrote an entry. I mentioned that I didn't really feel like a "man" and that conversation with the cashier at The Blue Lady changed my view on things, then closed it and put it away. Those were thoughts for later. I would then pull out my phone, only to find it didn't have much battery left. Better charge it on the flight to Vancouver..

     I wanted to find a radio station around here, so I pulled out my pocket radio and listened. I found the public broadcaster's station and listened for a while. By the end of a music programme, Flight 24 would start boarding, so I got on, and turned off my radio. "At least I have economy premium."

     After settling into my seat, I brought out my laptop and purchased an unlimited Wi-Fi package. On the flight, I came across a site called the "Nonbinary Wiki." I clicked.. and after a horribly long load time, I was presented with the main page. I didn't know where to start, so I clicked the button that said "Don't know where to start? Click here!" - and was presented with a "Dive in!" page.

     On that page, I went to Identities > Nonbinary - since that's on the top-middle of the page. I read on.. and at the end of the page, I thought "Hm. Maybe there's a bit more to gender than I previously thought.. I might be non-binary."

July 20, 2024 - 05:29

     It's July 20 Vancouver time, and I will be dating entries accordingly now.

   I then put everything into my carry-on, then dozed off.

   Hours later, I woke up to an announcement telling me that breakfast would be served. I ordered the meal with a sausage & "roesti potatoes" in it. What I got was hash browns instead. How do people find such fancy names for mundane things? I didn't complain.. and started eating. Surprisingly good - a nice amount of spice.

     I then watched a few flicks on the in-flight entertainment system, and ate my dinner. It was fried rice. I had never tried rice before, so I dug in. It tasted of peas, a sauce I dimly remember, and pepper. It was amazing, considering it's airline food. I'll try some when I get to Vancouver. I again began to doze off, the thoughts of me being non-binary still lingering in the back of my mind. Before I slept again, I said to myself, "I think I'll start going by my last name, Lynn. It sounds better."

July 20, 2024 - 06:54

     We've just entered Canadian airspace, and the seatbelt sign turned on. I feel the plane shaking - no, I FEEL THE PLANE SHAKING!!! I'm honestly terrified, since I've never encountered turbulence to this degree before..

July 20, 2024 - 07:30

	I've arrived at the gate.. I'll spare myself the huge bore of check-in.
	
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