The Landing: Jamaica Travelogue ©Dawn Minott

On By Dawn MinottIn Poetry

The experience of flying into Jamaica never gets old. There’s an indescribable feeling that washes over me between the pilot’s announcement of descent and the first glimpse of land.

My flight into Jamaica is always meticulously planned, starting with securing a window seat over the wing because where I sit on the plane matters, as you’ll soon see.

For most of the flight, I remain calm, occupying myself with a movie, a book, or some writing. However, once the pilot announces the descent, everything is set aside. My focus sharpens, ready to capture the moments leading up to our landing.

Pilot: “…we’ve just begun our initial descent….”

That’s my cue. iPhone in hand, I snap my first picture at the 10,000-feet marker.

Eyes peeled, I search for the first sight of land.

There it is …

… I capture my second picture. Home sweet home.

By now, a myriad of emotions flood in, with excitement at the forefront. This is the feeling I experience every time I return home to Jamaica.

As the pilot continues the descent, I take more pictures.

However, I’m always ready to switch to video mode. And this is the moment: as the plane’s engine aligns with the sea, it feels as if we might land in the water …

… but then as if out of nowhere, land appears, and we glide in for the touch down.

As soon as the wheels hit the tarmac there’s a sound. It’s the vibration of clapping hands ricocheting throughout the cabin as we all burst into what seems like orchestrated applause and engage in exuberant chatter. That spontaneous ritual never gets old.

One other picture I always take is this one:

This is taken at the top of the ramp as I make my way to the arrival hall.

And in that moment my heart finds its rest at home.

Grateful for another safe landing and the time spent in beautiful Jamaica—Jah-mek-yah!

2024 All Rights Reserved
Created with Canva            Image Credit: Me

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In creative solidarity, Dee

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