Airplane Flight

In about a day I'm getting on an airplane headed for Albany, New York. I have mixed feelings about airplanes. I'm not one of those that gets totally freaked out about flying, but I do get slightly freaked out about it. I'm not crazy about heights. You know when you walk down that chute, or whatever its called to the plane, and right before you step onto the plane there is enough of a crack that you can see to the ground about 20 feet below? I don't like that. Therefore, you can imagine I wouldn't like being thousands of feet in the air. During the part when the plane taxis to the runway, I get a little anxious. When those engines rev up and the pilot really hits it, oh boy. I just close my eyes and do my best to retreat to my happy spot and forget we have lost contact with the ground. Its not easy to do, but I'm getting better at it. Once we're at cruising altitude, I'm pretty much OK. Although, and I don't want to be politically incorrect, but last time I flew I sat next to a guy who had a beard and a turban. Seriously. That didn't help my nerves any. And I don't care for turbulence. I'm praying for a non-turbulence flight.

I saw a DVD about the Grand Canyon. They told a story about how people hiked down and some were afraid of heights. They said at one big drop off on the trail, there was a person that went around a corner on his hands and knees. That would be me. I could see myself either doing that or thinking I would really like to do that. There were pictures of people standing on cliffs enjoying the view. What if you suddenly get dizzy, the cliff gives way, you suddenly loose control and hurl yourself off the cliff... Anything can happen. Not if you you don't go near the cliff in the first place, though.

I was at the Grand Canyon once a long time ago. I was standing my usual healthy distance from the edge. A mother was holding her child, letting him look at the canyon. He said, "Don't throw me over, OK?" That's my kind of kid. Deep down, I'm sure he trusted his mom, but better safe than sorry. Cover all your bases kid. Good job.

So, mixed feelings about this flight. The moving walkways at the airports are fun. The anticipation of the flight is kind of fun. And I really look forward to the beverage cart coming through so I can get a Diet Pepsi. And I like it the moment the tires hit the ground again and I'm back on sweet Mother Earth.