How to Fly - May Day Scenarios

For an explanation/introduction to How to Fly, click here. In the segment below, dreamers describe a variety of flying locales.

Gravity Gone Wrong

What I do is not so much flying, it's more like

a loss of gravity. I start floating up and away

from the earth. It's upsetting. It's not a pleasant

experience. I do know that I never wear

my glasses when I'm flying.

- James Howard, Age 46, Psychologist

Free Falling

Normally I just rise projectile-like, usually

from a field. But it's not always pleasant.

Sometimes I'll go into, like, dives. There's a

sensation of falling. Sometimes I'll just be

falling and then I fly. It's not like I take off.

I'm falling and say, "Oh, I'm not falling, I'm

flying," and then I fly.

When you're flying there's a sweetness and

affection to it. It's always exhilarating. Like,

"Woah, we're doing it again!"

- Bart Paugh, Age 40-something, Poet, Publication Designer

Aerial Rescue

I'm usually a little girl when I'm flying. I fly

like a dragonfly or a butterfly, but my arms

aren't moving. I fly around and see people

being attacked and I save them. I dive

down and snatch them away, or I attack the

perpetrator, mainly by falling on them or

pushing them away. When I was young it was

fun and I was happy saving people. Now it's

more like a nightmare.

- Brendalynn Goodall, Age 46, Director, Program on Ageing

Hovering Infant

I was really young when I flew. I wasn't even

walking yet, so my flying was like a float and a

kick. I would only fly as high as the top of a

doorway, right above the reach of an adult

male hand. I wasn't going any farther, I wasn't

going anywhere. I was actually stalled, but I

was safe.

- Laura Powers, Age 43, Legal Secretary, Former Resident of Soleri Arcology

Fleeing the Fall Semester

My flying is pretty purposeful. I always fly

to get away from someone or something

trying to get me. I'm always leaving a difficult

situation, always. Fall is a good season for flying,

when the school year starts.

You would like to be with me when I fly. I'm

great! To take off I kind of jump off, leap. I

swim along doing the breast stroke upward

until I reach a safe distance above tree level,

and then I go horizontal.

- Judy Richter, Ph.D., Age 50, Professor of Nursing, University of Northern Colorado