I boarded the plane. As I sat down in my seat I saw that it had no seatbelt -- an airline oversight, of sorts. All the other seats were taken. And so perhaps it was that this seat, yes, this seat, was meant for me.

As I looked out the window, I thought to myself, I can either decide to see the beauty

or the scratches.

And then I knew with a kind of certainty

that on this journey I would see both.