Airplanes First, Then Girls?

 

An old Soviet romantic comedy "Небесный тихоход" (Heavenly Slug, 1945) tells a story of three friends, brave pilots and convinced bachelors, who decide that their priority is their job, and they would never, ever, ever, not in a million years, or maybe just not till the end of war, fall in love. Good plan!

We are migratory birds, my friends,

Just one problem with that:

On the land, we didn't have time to get married,

And it's hard to find a wife in the sky!

That's because we're pilots,

The sky is our home.

Airplanes come first,

And only then girls.

That's pretty much what the boys are singing in their happy little song.

You get a tender image in your dreams,
You want to give away your heart forever.
Today, you meet her and fall in love.
And tomorrow, you get an order to leave.

That's because we're pilots,
The sky is our home.
Airplanes come first,
And only then girls.

So not to have this longing on our way,

Remembering the affectionate look,

We decided to not fall in love, my friends,

Even with the prettiest girls.

That's because we're pilots.

The sky is our home.

Airplanes come first,

And only then girls.

I agree! Just look at these toys! Wouldn't you want to play with them? Pure fun. Far from the complicated matters of heart! The song hit the nerve. Its creators, poet Alexei Fatyanov and composer Vasily Solovyev-Sedoi, created many other beautiful songs, both together and independently from one another, but always in that simple yet very touching, powerful way which makes them genuinely loved by generations. Such songs often have characteristics of folk songs and in reality become the songs that people sing not just on the stage, but when they gather with friends and family around the table and have the blood-warming 100 grams to break the barrier between the tough reality they face and tenderness of their souls.

V. Solovyev-Sedoi (on the left) and A. Fatyanov, 1942. 

A. Fatyanov (on the right)

Such songs were especially needed in the darkest times, during the war, and were written plentifully by Russian song writers, as well as movies filled with love, kindness and laughter, often romantic comedies. Art often helps to overcome the hardest moments in history and people's lives.

Art also helps to overcome medium and mild sized challenges, such as practically non-stop rainy weather for a month and a half. I don't know about the rest of Seattle, but I can only stay at home so many days in a row. Honestly, shopping malls are not my favorite places to hang out. I much prefer theater, music and art to keep me company. Or museums. 

So that's where the Real Adventure Man and I spent one rainy Sunday - in the Museum of Flight (which celebrates 100 years of Boeing this year!), looking at airplanes of all shapes and sizes, from the early romantics to the modern day super speedy planes. Justin, who is an aircraft geek, would tell you so much about them. Not only did he built models, read books about aviation and spend a lot of time around planes, but he also learned to fly - he wanted to become a pilot at some point. I am much less sophisticated in this field. But I enjoy seeing planes, especially the antique ones. Flying is one of the most daring dreams mankind has succeeded in making a reality so far. And whenever it comes to big dreams and dreamers who dare to believe in them, you got my attention!  

As you've probably guessed by now, our pilots friends from the 1945 Soviet romcom, hopelessly fell in love in the end. And how could it be any other way? If you have a passionate heart, it is impossible to limit it to love one thing only. Our heart has a capacity to fill itself with lots of love and many dreams. No need to try to figure it all out with our mind. Trust that it all will sort itself out. 

Coat - Simply Be (my first purchase from this British brand)

Faux leather skirt - Charlotte Russe (last year)

Plaid shirt and hat - Lane Bryant (old)

Earrings - vintage

Laptop case used as a clutch - Cynthia Rowley for Staples

Rainproof suede booties - Aquatalia (last year)

Photographs by Justin Donie
Location - Boeing Museum of Flight, Seattle

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