State of Mind, chapter 3
I woke up to my stomach rumbling, and then I knew I was starving. I looked to my right and out of my window to see the fluffiest clouds. At the time I just wanted to jump out of the plane and play in the clouds. They looked so carefree, just sitting there, moving along. I looked over into the ocean and realized that we still hadn't seen any land yet. We were miles up in the air, it was a scary thought.
I looked over to my watch and realized it was 1:30pm. I got up and asked one of the flight attendants if I could get something to eat as my stomach grumbled once again as if it were to be annoyed. I sat back in my seat and the lady came by with a little container and juice box. I said thanks. And then she left. I eyed the container carefully hoping there would be something great in it. I opened it, and there was spaghetti. I loved spaghetti, especially the way my nonna used to make it with the shit load of home made tomato sauce and the cheese. I knew this would be nothing like it. In my eyes, my nonna's spaghetti could kick any other nonna's spaghetti any day. I grabbed my fork, and dug it in to the food. I opened my mouth and ate it. It wasn't too bad, but as I said, it couldn't beat my nonna's.
I'd have to say that this would have to be the most boring time I had ever spent. I was so damn bored, there was absolutely nothing to do but sleep, and I already had woken up from it. I didn't feel like going back to sleep again, I wasn't tired. I decided to look into the ocean until I either found something to do or I fell asleep. I looked around at the people on the plane. Some were fat, some bald, some skinny some tall. This boredom thing was really getting to me now, I was at the point where I was analysing everything, including the plastic overcoat on the plane. I looked at my watch, 'ok its 2pm so that means its 10 hours from landing. 'What to do, what to do' I thought to myself. I didn't want to talk to Jen who was sleeping next to me. I was afraid if I started talking she wouldn't shut up. I twirled my thumbs and tapped my fingers around to songs on my lap.
I was seriously bored and if I didn't find anything I would have gone mental. 'What's this' I said to myself as I looked at the aeroplane magazines. Thank you god, thank you very much a begged to him, I had looked through them as I came across a word find book, and a quiz book. There were roughly about 100 word finds that hadn't been done and half of the quizzes hadn't been done either. I was in luck. I got out a pen and started like there was no tomorrow. I never knew word finds were so interesting. I finished about 25 of them. This so called 'interestingness' had started to fade away, it was getting quite boring, but seeing there was nothing else to do I kept going. I felt that I needed to go to the toilet so I jumped out of my seat and made my way down the skinny hallway. I came out five minutes later. I sat back down in my seat and kept on going with my crossword puzzles. I looked down at my watch. It was 5pm; I had 7 hours until landing. What the hell was I supposed to do for 7 hours? I decided to try and attempt to finish off the whole word find book. This may sound a little nerdish but there was nothing else to do, I couldn't even begin to explain how bored I was. 'Ahh, one more to go then I've completed 100.' I said to myself like it was a huge accomplishment, but then again had I ever made an accomplishment in my life. At least I was happy, happy to know if the plain went down, I had accomplished something in my life. I took hold of my pen, put it to the paper, and made a line going diagonally down. 'There I had completed the whole book. I made an accomplishment, wow im so proud of myself.' I though sarcastically.
Ok, it was now 6pm and we had 6 hours until I landed. I looked over into the ocean; there was nothing but the big blue sea. All I could do was sigh, I cried a bit; knowing that I had made it this far, way out of Australian land was just great. I then looked back out into the ocean and then all I could remember next was me falling asleep.
I woke up and scrunched up my eyes. I had realized that I had finally fallen asleep and killed some time. I looked over at my watch hoping it was at least 3 hours later. And you know what, it was even better. I had fallen asleep for about 4 hours, and it was 10pm, which meant I had 2 hours until the plane landed. I was too excited; I looked out of the window. You'd think it would be night time anytime soon but it was daylight. I am gonna be so jetlagged when I land.
'Ok, what to do for 2 more hours?' I though to myself. I found some paper and a pen and just doodle around. I wrote down my favourite lyrics from songs, band names, just anything to fill in time. I drew a big Dead Kennedys logo. It was a bit wonky but it did just fine. Then I drew the Motley Crue logo on the paper. I was just about to give up on my boredness and go to sleep until.
I looked out of my window and to my belief, I saw land. I rubbed my eyes a few times to make sure I wasn't seeing things or that this whole journey of mine wasn't just a dream, and it wasn't. I could actually see some bits of green. It was magnificent.
'Land, sweet land', I thought. I think I have just made another accomplishment.
I couldn't take my eyes off it. I was there, In California, where I hoped to reach a new life. I sat in my seat the whole time and looked out across the ocean, just staring at the land the whole time. I grew more and more excited and we came closer to it.
"Good afternoon passengers, this is your captain speaking, we will be landing in San Francisco California in 1.5 hours. I hope you've had a nice trip, thank you" announced the captain over the speakers. I sat down in my seat and got out my cassette player and put on the Ramones. I listened to the Ramones while looking out the window to the sea. We were getting closer and closer to land, in a matter of time we were right above it. I stared out the plane as I saw the hills and the grass and roads. I looked up ahead as I saw a huge air port. 'That must be where we are landing' I thought.
"Passengers please fasten your seat belts, we are going to be landing in a short time" came a voice over the speaker. I did as they said. I didn't want to go flying all over the place. But I doubt that would happen anyways. We grew closer and closer to the airport. I could see the runway clearly now. I hadn't realized until then that we had elevated down a lot. We were at least ten stories high now. We came lower and lower to the ground. I grabbed hold of my seat as my stomach started turning a little. I felt a crash and felt that we had touched down. Finally, it felt like my whole lifetime. The plane then turned around and stopped. Everyone then stood up, grabbed their belongings and left the plane as if nothing ever happened. It seemed that every person I had seen on that plane had a depressing look on their face. I was glad to get out. I was the last one left, so I got up, grabbed hold of my bad and my guitar and walked out of the plane and onto the steps.
I was now about to walk on land other than Australian. It felt like I was the first person in space. I took one large leap and there I was, on Californian land. It felt so good. I walked through the checking point of where they scanned you to see if you had any dangerous objects.
When I had the 'all clear' I walked on. I was surprised that I wasn't stopped for that street sign I had in my bag. I tried to find where I was going and what time it was. Apparently it was 11 in the morning. Major time difference there and it was also a day behind. So technically I had somewhere skipped 10 hours, how cool!
The people sure looked different. And geez, some talked very funny. I made it to the conveyer belt. I waited until my bag came around. I saw it and raced through people to get it before it went back inside again to disappear.
"Excuse me, excuse me!" I yelled seeming a bit annoyed.
I was about to walk out but I stopped when I saw a stand full of brochures about California, I decided to take every one of them. I still hadn't had a clue of where I was going to stay. There were at least 30 different brochures in my hand now as I took a seat. I looked through every one of them. Most of them were advertising for big cities and expensive places, but seeings I only had about $1600 left, I decided on some place cheap. I had no clue on where to go. They all looked so good. I read each one of them carefully until I came across a place called Berkeley, it seemed reasonably cheap, it had everything I needed and I guess it topped all other places. So Berkeley it is, I said to myself.
I walked out of the air port and tried to catch a cab. They always seemed to go to other people. Until one lady came to me and said
"You're doing it wrong, you gotta stick your hand out and wave it around like crazy"
"Thanks" I replied. Finally it came.
I hopped in and the guy at the front said,
"So where to?"
"Berkeley" I answered, not too sure what he was going to charge.
"umm, do you know how much it will cost to go there?" well that'll be around $200." He said. Now I clearly knew that taxi rides couldn't be that expensive. A total rip off I thought.
"Ok then, so where's the nearest train station then?" I asked hoping for an honest answer
"It's about 15 minutes away. Would you like to go there instead?" the man said
"Yes please" I stated.
We drove for 15 minutes until we got to the station. The taxi driver dropped me off after I paid him. I walked over to the main office dragging all of my bags behind,
"When does the next train leave to Berkley?"
"Ohh, umm that'll be in about 15 minutes" she said.
"Well could I get a ticket please?" I asked
"That'll be $20 please" she said. I paid her and she gave me my ticket. I walked over to the platform and put my cassette tape on. I played the Misfits. I felt like it.
Why was this taking so long? I wonder what my family was thinking back n Australia. HaHa, would they think I was dead or maybe abducted. Should I write a postcard? No, I think ill write them a letter one day, but I won't say where I am. I don't want them looking for me.
I looked at the time, 5 minutes till the train comes. I can't wait. Soon enough ill be at my destination. Then what'll I do? Ehh? Ill go with the flow. Ill live in a motel and have a job. I hope this is going to work.
I look to my left down the tracks; I can see two bright lights coming closer and closer. Finally, the train is here. I grabbed hold of my luggage and when it stopped I went. I showed the man my ticket and grabbed a window seat. It was still daylight but I was dead tired. I was sitting in a plane all day, what do you think?
I didn't want to fall asleep because I knew I was tired and I didn't want to miss my stop, I could just image me doing something like that. I looked out the window as we started moving. Thankfully nobody was sitting next to me, the carriage was mainly empty, and so I felt pretty lucky. I just couldn't stand anyone sitting next to me, especially strangers. They always talk to me about things I could really give a shit about. You know, like shut up, I don't give a shit.
I continued playing some Misfits; I was getting really bored again. And if I saw another word find booklet I would roll it up and smoke it. Or make a bonfire and dance naked around it. I nearly drifted off to sleep, but I kept myself awake. I was nearly there. Another 30 minutes and I had made it to Berkley, I just kept looking at everyone out the window, and I could have sworn that I saw someone with a Ramones t-shirt on, but I think I DID need some sleep by then. I had never seen another Ramones t-shirt before. It took me ages to get mine. I had to go way across the city, down in St.Kilda to get mine, and I think I got the last one. Ok I think I had another 5 minutes until I had reached Berkley, I was so damn hungry too. The train stopped, I grabbed my roller bag, my guitar and my other bag.
I went up to the man at the desk and asked where I could find a really really cheap hotel he told me to go down the streets a couple of streets away. I did as he said. I felt like an idiot carrying a big roller bag, a guitar and another bag along with me. But I had to do what I had to do! I walked down the main street, it was called "Pudsey" street. I made a mental note of that, just incase I forgot where I was.
I walked into a hotel that looked pretty crap so I expected it was cheap. I looked around and went to the office.
"hi, I was wondering how much it would cost to stay a night at this hotel?" I asked the lady sitting at the desk. She stopped writing and looked up at me.
"$10 a night and $50 a week" she said, she wasn't being rude about it either.
I decided to stay the night, it was pretty cheap too. I signed some papers and they gave me the key.
I went up two stories, there was only three. I put my bags in my room. It wasn't huge, but it'll do. I put on a change of clothes, now changing into a Dead Kennedys jumper. Waked on some jeans and I went out and put the key in my pocket.
I looked over to my watch and realized it was 1:30pm. I got up and asked one of the flight attendants if I could get something to eat as my stomach grumbled once again as if it were to be annoyed. I sat back in my seat and the lady came by with a little container and juice box. I said thanks. And then she left. I eyed the container carefully hoping there would be something great in it. I opened it, and there was spaghetti. I loved spaghetti, especially the way my nonna used to make it with the shit load of home made tomato sauce and the cheese. I knew this would be nothing like it. In my eyes, my nonna's spaghetti could kick any other nonna's spaghetti any day. I grabbed my fork, and dug it in to the food. I opened my mouth and ate it. It wasn't too bad, but as I said, it couldn't beat my nonna's.
I'd have to say that this would have to be the most boring time I had ever spent. I was so damn bored, there was absolutely nothing to do but sleep, and I already had woken up from it. I didn't feel like going back to sleep again, I wasn't tired. I decided to look into the ocean until I either found something to do or I fell asleep. I looked around at the people on the plane. Some were fat, some bald, some skinny some tall. This boredom thing was really getting to me now, I was at the point where I was analysing everything, including the plastic overcoat on the plane. I looked at my watch, 'ok its 2pm so that means its 10 hours from landing. 'What to do, what to do' I thought to myself. I didn't want to talk to Jen who was sleeping next to me. I was afraid if I started talking she wouldn't shut up. I twirled my thumbs and tapped my fingers around to songs on my lap.
I was seriously bored and if I didn't find anything I would have gone mental. 'What's this' I said to myself as I looked at the aeroplane magazines. Thank you god, thank you very much a begged to him, I had looked through them as I came across a word find book, and a quiz book. There were roughly about 100 word finds that hadn't been done and half of the quizzes hadn't been done either. I was in luck. I got out a pen and started like there was no tomorrow. I never knew word finds were so interesting. I finished about 25 of them. This so called 'interestingness' had started to fade away, it was getting quite boring, but seeing there was nothing else to do I kept going. I felt that I needed to go to the toilet so I jumped out of my seat and made my way down the skinny hallway. I came out five minutes later. I sat back down in my seat and kept on going with my crossword puzzles. I looked down at my watch. It was 5pm; I had 7 hours until landing. What the hell was I supposed to do for 7 hours? I decided to try and attempt to finish off the whole word find book. This may sound a little nerdish but there was nothing else to do, I couldn't even begin to explain how bored I was. 'Ahh, one more to go then I've completed 100.' I said to myself like it was a huge accomplishment, but then again had I ever made an accomplishment in my life. At least I was happy, happy to know if the plain went down, I had accomplished something in my life. I took hold of my pen, put it to the paper, and made a line going diagonally down. 'There I had completed the whole book. I made an accomplishment, wow im so proud of myself.' I though sarcastically.
Ok, it was now 6pm and we had 6 hours until I landed. I looked over into the ocean; there was nothing but the big blue sea. All I could do was sigh, I cried a bit; knowing that I had made it this far, way out of Australian land was just great. I then looked back out into the ocean and then all I could remember next was me falling asleep.
I woke up and scrunched up my eyes. I had realized that I had finally fallen asleep and killed some time. I looked over at my watch hoping it was at least 3 hours later. And you know what, it was even better. I had fallen asleep for about 4 hours, and it was 10pm, which meant I had 2 hours until the plane landed. I was too excited; I looked out of the window. You'd think it would be night time anytime soon but it was daylight. I am gonna be so jetlagged when I land.
'Ok, what to do for 2 more hours?' I though to myself. I found some paper and a pen and just doodle around. I wrote down my favourite lyrics from songs, band names, just anything to fill in time. I drew a big Dead Kennedys logo. It was a bit wonky but it did just fine. Then I drew the Motley Crue logo on the paper. I was just about to give up on my boredness and go to sleep until.
I looked out of my window and to my belief, I saw land. I rubbed my eyes a few times to make sure I wasn't seeing things or that this whole journey of mine wasn't just a dream, and it wasn't. I could actually see some bits of green. It was magnificent.
'Land, sweet land', I thought. I think I have just made another accomplishment.
I couldn't take my eyes off it. I was there, In California, where I hoped to reach a new life. I sat in my seat the whole time and looked out across the ocean, just staring at the land the whole time. I grew more and more excited and we came closer to it.
"Good afternoon passengers, this is your captain speaking, we will be landing in San Francisco California in 1.5 hours. I hope you've had a nice trip, thank you" announced the captain over the speakers. I sat down in my seat and got out my cassette player and put on the Ramones. I listened to the Ramones while looking out the window to the sea. We were getting closer and closer to land, in a matter of time we were right above it. I stared out the plane as I saw the hills and the grass and roads. I looked up ahead as I saw a huge air port. 'That must be where we are landing' I thought.
"Passengers please fasten your seat belts, we are going to be landing in a short time" came a voice over the speaker. I did as they said. I didn't want to go flying all over the place. But I doubt that would happen anyways. We grew closer and closer to the airport. I could see the runway clearly now. I hadn't realized until then that we had elevated down a lot. We were at least ten stories high now. We came lower and lower to the ground. I grabbed hold of my seat as my stomach started turning a little. I felt a crash and felt that we had touched down. Finally, it felt like my whole lifetime. The plane then turned around and stopped. Everyone then stood up, grabbed their belongings and left the plane as if nothing ever happened. It seemed that every person I had seen on that plane had a depressing look on their face. I was glad to get out. I was the last one left, so I got up, grabbed hold of my bad and my guitar and walked out of the plane and onto the steps.
I was now about to walk on land other than Australian. It felt like I was the first person in space. I took one large leap and there I was, on Californian land. It felt so good. I walked through the checking point of where they scanned you to see if you had any dangerous objects.
When I had the 'all clear' I walked on. I was surprised that I wasn't stopped for that street sign I had in my bag. I tried to find where I was going and what time it was. Apparently it was 11 in the morning. Major time difference there and it was also a day behind. So technically I had somewhere skipped 10 hours, how cool!
The people sure looked different. And geez, some talked very funny. I made it to the conveyer belt. I waited until my bag came around. I saw it and raced through people to get it before it went back inside again to disappear.
"Excuse me, excuse me!" I yelled seeming a bit annoyed.
I was about to walk out but I stopped when I saw a stand full of brochures about California, I decided to take every one of them. I still hadn't had a clue of where I was going to stay. There were at least 30 different brochures in my hand now as I took a seat. I looked through every one of them. Most of them were advertising for big cities and expensive places, but seeings I only had about $1600 left, I decided on some place cheap. I had no clue on where to go. They all looked so good. I read each one of them carefully until I came across a place called Berkeley, it seemed reasonably cheap, it had everything I needed and I guess it topped all other places. So Berkeley it is, I said to myself.
I walked out of the air port and tried to catch a cab. They always seemed to go to other people. Until one lady came to me and said
"You're doing it wrong, you gotta stick your hand out and wave it around like crazy"
"Thanks" I replied. Finally it came.
I hopped in and the guy at the front said,
"So where to?"
"Berkeley" I answered, not too sure what he was going to charge.
"umm, do you know how much it will cost to go there?" well that'll be around $200." He said. Now I clearly knew that taxi rides couldn't be that expensive. A total rip off I thought.
"Ok then, so where's the nearest train station then?" I asked hoping for an honest answer
"It's about 15 minutes away. Would you like to go there instead?" the man said
"Yes please" I stated.
We drove for 15 minutes until we got to the station. The taxi driver dropped me off after I paid him. I walked over to the main office dragging all of my bags behind,
"When does the next train leave to Berkley?"
"Ohh, umm that'll be in about 15 minutes" she said.
"Well could I get a ticket please?" I asked
"That'll be $20 please" she said. I paid her and she gave me my ticket. I walked over to the platform and put my cassette tape on. I played the Misfits. I felt like it.
Why was this taking so long? I wonder what my family was thinking back n Australia. HaHa, would they think I was dead or maybe abducted. Should I write a postcard? No, I think ill write them a letter one day, but I won't say where I am. I don't want them looking for me.
I looked at the time, 5 minutes till the train comes. I can't wait. Soon enough ill be at my destination. Then what'll I do? Ehh? Ill go with the flow. Ill live in a motel and have a job. I hope this is going to work.
I look to my left down the tracks; I can see two bright lights coming closer and closer. Finally, the train is here. I grabbed hold of my luggage and when it stopped I went. I showed the man my ticket and grabbed a window seat. It was still daylight but I was dead tired. I was sitting in a plane all day, what do you think?
I didn't want to fall asleep because I knew I was tired and I didn't want to miss my stop, I could just image me doing something like that. I looked out the window as we started moving. Thankfully nobody was sitting next to me, the carriage was mainly empty, and so I felt pretty lucky. I just couldn't stand anyone sitting next to me, especially strangers. They always talk to me about things I could really give a shit about. You know, like shut up, I don't give a shit.
I continued playing some Misfits; I was getting really bored again. And if I saw another word find booklet I would roll it up and smoke it. Or make a bonfire and dance naked around it. I nearly drifted off to sleep, but I kept myself awake. I was nearly there. Another 30 minutes and I had made it to Berkley, I just kept looking at everyone out the window, and I could have sworn that I saw someone with a Ramones t-shirt on, but I think I DID need some sleep by then. I had never seen another Ramones t-shirt before. It took me ages to get mine. I had to go way across the city, down in St.Kilda to get mine, and I think I got the last one. Ok I think I had another 5 minutes until I had reached Berkley, I was so damn hungry too. The train stopped, I grabbed my roller bag, my guitar and my other bag.
I went up to the man at the desk and asked where I could find a really really cheap hotel he told me to go down the streets a couple of streets away. I did as he said. I felt like an idiot carrying a big roller bag, a guitar and another bag along with me. But I had to do what I had to do! I walked down the main street, it was called "Pudsey" street. I made a mental note of that, just incase I forgot where I was.
I walked into a hotel that looked pretty crap so I expected it was cheap. I looked around and went to the office.
"hi, I was wondering how much it would cost to stay a night at this hotel?" I asked the lady sitting at the desk. She stopped writing and looked up at me.
"$10 a night and $50 a week" she said, she wasn't being rude about it either.
I decided to stay the night, it was pretty cheap too. I signed some papers and they gave me the key.
I went up two stories, there was only three. I put my bags in my room. It wasn't huge, but it'll do. I put on a change of clothes, now changing into a Dead Kennedys jumper. Waked on some jeans and I went out and put the key in my pocket.
