Friday Gratitude: Up, Up and Away
Fri, Jun 12, 2009
Air travel is something that I don’t do well. I tend to break out in a cold sweat, my limbs begin to shake and my breaths come in shallow gasps. And that’s before I’ve even boarded the plane.
Flying didn’t used to be a problem, but several years ago, this changed. There was nothing dramatic; no scary experience on a particular flight that led me to kiss the ground upon disembarking. No brush with death that made me vow to never board a plane again. But for some reason, the older I’ve gotten, the harder it has become.
I think it may have something to do with ignorance because as they say, ignorance truly is bliss. I remember when I was 16 and took my first flight from Virginia to Georgia, I was excited and full of anticipation. I reveled in the feel of the plane lifting into the air and the sound of the wheels being retracted. Landing was just as fun with the screech of the tires and the forward momentum as my body strained against its seatbelt before it came to a rest.
I think I was too naive to understand that these procedures, which are such a part of flying, actually defy the laws of nature. I could be wrong, but doesn’t the law of gravity say that what comes up must come down? I guess the problem is the matter in which it comes down.
It doesn’t help that every time a crash occurs, I gravitate to the TV and I watch for reports of survivors. I want to believe that the best can happen, that people can survive those horrible incidents. It gives me hope that I, too, will survive should something happen. It also helps me to believe the statistics that claim flying is safer than driving. I’m still not sure I believe that, but I’m willing to go on a little faith.
Which is exactly what I’m doing right now as I sit in my seat, 35,000 feet above the ground, typing out this post. I wasn’t going to write a post while in the air, but I quickly realized that it is the best source of distraction. We just made it through some “rough air” as they say and now we can finally “move about the cabin.” Not that there’s anywhere to go, but it’s nice to know that there’s an option.
Hopefully, if you are reading this, it means that we are safely on the ground. It means that I survived the four hour flight with little physical damage (I can’t say the same about emotional damage unfortunately). It also means that I am in Salt Lake City, Utah.
So today, Friday, I am particularly grateful to be alive, to be safe and sound, and best of all – to be back on the ground.
Do you enjoy flying? If not, any tricks that help you?
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June 12th, 2009 at 5:22 am
I can relate……We are flying out Thursday to Disney. My stomach is already in knots. Especially since two of my children will be with me and one of my children is staying behind. I pray that we land safely and then return safely.
June 12th, 2009 at 6:26 am
I am not a big fan of flying but do prefer it to my husband’s driving
I don’t really have any tricks – I just say a quick prayer and leave the rest to someone else!
June 12th, 2009 at 6:35 am
Hooray!!! You made it safely! Hmm….tricks. I do a little dance before I get on. Just kidding. I for the most part enjoy flying but I hate not moving so I try to get up and walk around as much as possible.
The Wife of Odie´s last blog post..thailand = fun
June 12th, 2009 at 6:39 am
I like flying. It’s usually a lot faster than driving. But, I don’t like being squished between two strangers in a middle seat in coach where I feel trapped. I get very antsy, sometimes panicky, and can’t sit still.
Unless I’m flying to Alaska or over the Grand Canyon, I’m over the window seat, so I choose the aisle seat whenever possible. It makes me feel less trapped. On long flights, I try to sleep. That makes the time go by faster. I also try to break the time into segments with a vague plan of fun things to do like watch a movie, read a girlie or gossipy magazine, read a great book, or work on some other project like handwriting a few personal notes to mail. And even if I don’t have to go, I make myself stand up and walk to the restroom – if only to wash my hands or brush my hair – just to stretch my legs.
June 12th, 2009 at 6:40 am
My first flight was from Kentucky to Hawaii at age 18. Since then I’ve become quite the little jet-setter, taking trips by myself, etc. Usually I get trashy magazines to read, or am so exhausted from getting up at 2am that I sleep (also helpful for avoiding other passengers who won’t shut up). My friend though, who hates flying and gets scared…she has two syllables for what helps, and they are “VAL-YUM.”
Unrelated but hopefully will make you laugh–I was once seated on a plane beside a drunk Mexican (this is no lie, he was drunk when he get ON the plane), and he got a can of Budweiser at 6am. There was obviously no sleeping for me on that flight.
June 12th, 2009 at 6:40 am
…sometimes I even play video games on my laptop.
June 12th, 2009 at 6:52 am
The COP LOVES to fly and enjoys it so much. I enjoy it but must watch the sitting too long and getting swollen feet, so I live for the “move about the cabin” messages just to stretch for a few seconds. I do pray on take-offs and landings that all goes well. To me that’s just a natural part of traveling. No matter the means, planes, trains or automobiles, we always make our travel time include prayer. It gives us a peace and we always enjoy the travel more fully.
Enjoy your trip. Prepare for your return trip with a prayer and let yourself relax, hold the CPA’s hand and think of all the great things you get to do when you get home!!
June 12th, 2009 at 7:08 am
I don’t like flying but it has to do with claustrophobia issues more than the actual flying. The fact that I have to breathe “recycled” air makes me just a little bit nutty.
Still, sometimes you just have to do it. It is the most efficient way to get from point A to point B.
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June 12th, 2009 at 7:28 am
I love flying. My first flight was (like Jill) also from Kentucky to Hawaii, that’s a long one for a first but it was great. The small regional planes are a little bumpy for me but I try to always avoid those.
June 12th, 2009 at 8:44 am
I know you were being cheeky, but maybe it would help if you did some reading on the basics of WHY those planes stay up in the air. At least understanding what thrust, lift, and drag are might help you to realize no laws of physics are being broken
June 12th, 2009 at 9:14 am
I don’t know if knowing how that stuff works is any help, honestly. My husband has been dealing with aircraft maintenance/engineering his entire adult life, and I can safely say that understanding how the stuff works makes me more anxious about it. I like flying alot less now that I know how many little things can go wrong. Before, it was just like happy magic lol.
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June 12th, 2009 at 9:38 am
I’m with you. I’m not a fan of flying. I do OK when the weather is good and when it’s daylight, but flying at night or during bad weather usually scares the bejeebers out of me! And it’s definitely something that’s developed over time…when I was younger it never bothered me a bit! My husband works in avaiation though, so when he’s with me when I have to fly, I feel a little more at ease because at least when I hear a weird noise or feel something strange, he usually knows what’s going on!
June 12th, 2009 at 10:39 am
I HATE flying with a passion. We went to Ireland two years ago and took a direct flight from San Francisco to London. Ten hours. In a plane. 35,000 feet in the air. NOT fun for me. I try to remind myself that the bumps and jiggles are just like riding Muni in the city. Just like Muni, just like Muni, just like Muni…
And for me, know how it works doesn’t help at all.
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June 12th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Tabitha, I literally could have written this post. No joke. I have flown my whole life, but something happened about 2 years ago, and now I am terrified. The Air France crash is my worst nightmare.
I am flying to NYC next month, without Adam, and it terrifies me to think that something could happen and he’s not with me. I will be taking drugs.
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June 12th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Hate flying…always will I think.
BTW…
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June 12th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
I love flying, or the act of it. Even though it gets you to your destination a heck of a lot fast than driving, I still don’t like the sitting and traveling part. But flying itself, love it!
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June 12th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
My only concern with this post is you never confirmed whether the captain said it was okay to operate electrical devices, like a laptop. We must be very careful, recent tragedies, not to disturb the highly sensitive flight operating equipment. I am always very nervous when I see emboldened passengers whipping out their electronics during the flight.
June 12th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
I really don’t mind flying, once we’re in the air, or strangely enough, when landing. I guess it is usually way shorter than driving, which is a bonus in my book! A few years ago though, I took a trip to Taiwan. Chicago to Tokyo – 12 hrs…. was never so happy to be off the plane!
June 13th, 2009 at 4:42 am
I used to fly a lot and either loved it or didn’t think about it – it was just a form of transportation faster than a car. But now, years later, having to fly Transatlantic (in coach class!) frequently, I don’t so much love it as endure it. Now I’m very picky about aircraft and seat placement – for my comfort and convenience.
Watching a huge military aircraft, a C5, does not help in understanding the physics of flight (which I do). Imagine an elephant walking through air. I still am in awe of modern innovations!
Enjoy your time in Utah!
June 13th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Ugh. Ugh, ugh, ugh. I could have written the exact same post the last four or five times I was on a plane. It never used to bother me. Now I’m nuts every time I fly. I find that distraction helps me too. I can’t ever write though–the people next to me usually make me too self-conscious.
June 14th, 2009 at 12:30 am
A high flying post! I think that’s COOL!! You overcame enough to write and I think that’s fanTAStic!
June 15th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
LOL, well, I’ve flown so many times I just think its boring. Its not fun or scary, just boring! But I know someone who said they would bring a good, enthralling book and read it before and during the flight and that seemed to help.
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June 18th, 2009 at 1:53 am
I actually like flying, but I don’t like seats on the airliners. Not enough leg room and not wide enough either. I hate the way they cram in as many passengers as possible. I hate the entire process of flying commercially, especially these days. Still, it is the best way to get somewhere if you want to be there today.
March 20th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
this happened to me too! ever sine my children were born. all i can think about is crashing. even though my girlfriend, who is an airplane engineer (there is some fancy word for it, but whatever) and she says if the plane doesn’t blow up within the first 10 minutes of flight- it won’t. i’m not sure how true that is but i try to remember it when i fly to keep me calm.
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