Ok, here we go. This was a very special and dear moment for me.

I left the lounge and the terminal was dead empty, shops closed, kind of spooky.

We were leaving and thank you, from one of the closer in gates, saved me all that walking.

I approached the gate and they had all these people dressed in black clothes, hats, kippot,
and garb. You can tell, I am excited. Oh this is cool. It is so real.

I have waited a long time for this.

You have those special moments in your life. Graduation, wedding, mine is still pending, , but hey, I was very close(too close LOL ), but most of my special moments are travel related.

When we went to board the South African plane to Jo'burg, the Qantas to Sydney, my first trip to Asia, my first trip to the UK, then later Paris. Now this. This was special. When I was at the doorway to the SAA 747-300, was like a dream.

I went over to a seat to get ready and prepare. I took out a pin with a US flag and Israeli flag together and put them on my shirt. Already I had stares and many smiles. I bought this at the Israeli Independence Day Festival in LA.

Many Friday nights at Shabbat (don't forget, I am in a church on Sunday), the Israeli Film Festival, Seders with the family(been a while there), Israeli thiss and thats, now here comes the graduation. Oh my.

I am excited and you can see it, you can feel it.

I go to the check in desk. No security questions? huh? She took my BP and stared at my lapel pin. It shows love and a strong friendship between the US and Israel. I have one for the UK and USA, just didn't bring it, but it is appropriate as well, all my heritage. I also have a Switzerland/USA pin, you get the idea.

We walk down the hallway. Has to be 90% Israelis on the plane, speaking Hebrew, I look at the aircraft, a BA 767,
get the reg #, again, all will be provided later. Promise. chocolates, lounges, and all. LOL

Ok, do they do a security check down here? No... Walk on the plane. Wow, this plane is different.
The seats are different and nicer than the Euro version of the BA 767. Everyone is standing, yacking in Hebrew, many look at my lapel pin and smile. Should I have worn kippot? (I left it at home!)

I take my seat, carry ons in the overhead. Keep my book on the Israelis, figure it is in good company here ,
and say hello to my neighbor, not realizing at the time that he and I will become very close over the next 5 hours.

I asked him why no security questions? He said BA doesn't do it. Some airlines do, Air France and Lufthansa are some that do, but he said, ouch, when I leave Israel, I will get some questions, and I will remember them!
"When you leave Israel you will be asked questions and you WILL remember them!" and I quote

A very tall man, probably a Rabbi!?, with kippot, kept walking up and down the aisles. He didn't want to touch a girl who was in the aisle assorting her things, she is oblivious to him, he puts his hands just above her, trying to get by, and he goes back and forth. Sorry, but his big butt LOL is in my friend's face, and my new friend is ticked.

He pulls a face. I am laughing hard. I say it is intimate, well, let him be intimate somewhere else.

It is too, too funny, oy, ya had to be there. Everyone is talking fervently and mostly in Hebrew. A very lively crowd, I am loving it. This is so exciting, probably one of the most exciting moments in my life.

Our neighbors in the seats in front of us yack constantly in Ivrit, though later exchange pleasntries with us in
English, but have their seats all the way back.

Final checks and we push back after a small delay, pulling away from Terminal 4. I have always dreamed of this event, you can't even imagine. Sometimes the dreaming is part of the fun, right?

They did the safety video, same as other BA 767s, but the plane is nicer, a different seat material, headsets, and in the same package, comes a small coach amenity kit, nice touch. BUT they need more legroom. While not AA and the guys in front had their seats back, and the crew doesn't say anything!?, there could be more legroom.
During the long and protracted announcements, oh he is boring!, not a word of Hebrew, that is rude.

As we taxi out, BA 744 to Singapore and Sydney, they kept paging the last passengers. SQ 744, Emirates 777, probably that gorgeous stewardess was on there. The other BA 767 which I am sure is to Athinai, Athens.

Then who is directly across from us but the ELAL 777. Too funny. This plane is full, who is on ELAL?

It was great to see it, however, they would go before us and hence, be at customs before us, ugh.

ELAL goes, then we turn around, oh my gosh I am going to Israel, time to scream. So many songs to go through my head. What do I sing to myself? Havanagila. Spelling? Havanagila is perfect for a takeoff. It starts out slow, builds up, then goes fast, which you match to take off.

And away we go. Hava Nagila Hava, Nagila Hava.....................lift off...........................

Fly over Terminal 4, cheers, and some lights, and into the clouds.......................................