How will I ever get to Florida to see my family now???

[NorahSethsMommy]

Okay...IDK if I have a little OCD or what, but when I feel like I have to do things that are scary or otherwise uncomfortable to me, I come up with these little rituals or ways of doing them that bring me comfort.

For example, flying. I HATE to fly. (Did I say HATE? I meant HATE HATE HATE HATE!!!!!!!!!) I never flew until I was 34 years old. It scares the hell out of me, but I do it because I can get to my family in Florida in less than 2 hours (with no layover) as opposed to two days if we drove.

There are three things I do when I fly that bring me at least a little comfort.
1. I carry a small bible with certain passages marked in it...I dont always even open it, but I have it on me.
2. I (or one of my kids) wear this little pin that my dad got me the first time I flew of an airplane with an angel on the wing....I know it does nothing and I am not superstitious at all, but it's a comfort.

and...the big one

3. I always ALWAYS fly US Airways. I have never flown any other airline. I did the research , they are small planes and don't have the best customer service but they have an excellent record as far as crashes.

In fact, twice, in a pinch, I attempted to not fly US Airways and the flighs didnt work out. I was so scared to fly another airline and it didnt work out. The first time was SkyBus...it went out of business a week before our flight. The second was last Summer...we had tickets on Delta and Doug's boss insisted she did not remember getting his slip for his vacation and we had to change to our flight...to a US Airways one!

Guess what happened today?

US Airways crashed! They crashed....into the Hudson River right after take-off (they say geese flew into the engine)! No one died, but still...they crashed. If I was in a plane crash...even if everyone lived, I could never get on another plane ever.

I know I am nuts, but I am really distraught over this. I was going use some our tax return to buy tickets to go see my family in Florida this spring!

A three day trip on a dirty stinking Greyhound is almost looking appealing right now!

[sweetheart4171]

Jan. 15, 2009 at 8:22 PM

never flown in my life and we are off to disney next month....we are flying, UGH!!!  This has heightened my anxiety a bit!!! 

[miss372]

Jan. 15, 2009 at 8:33 PM

same here I have never flown and I will be flying for the first time ever this april going to florida. I am very nervous about it and we are not even flying us airways, I think air tran or something. I will be 35 and my first time, and first time flying for my hubby and parents as well!

[MusikMama]

Jan. 16, 2009 at 7:31 AM

Yeah, but Bettie, apparently that was one hell of a skilled pilot to SAFELY land that plane in a RIVER. And he did NOT leave that plane until he was certain himself that EVERY passenger was off safely. I'd take a lot of comfort in that. It was a freak accident, not pilot error, and that pilot in a HERO in my book!

[mistibreuer1978]

Jan. 16, 2009 at 11:20 AM

God was watchin over them and the pilot on that day...And i have flown with them every time we used to go to Germany..So i guess i will still use them if i had to fly again...

[NorahSethsMommy]

Jan. 16, 2009 at 11:32 AM

True...that pilot was amazing. I was just so freaked out last night. I am calming down a bit now. They obviously have outstanding pilots.

(Original Poster)

[mshaiku]

Jan. 16, 2009 at 11:43 AM

Shit happens. The birds belong in the sky, the planes are manmade :). Try not to think about it, cause it'll just make you nuts. Stay inspired!

[irishhillbilly]

Jan. 16, 2009 at 4:17 PM

I agree with musikmama and Michelle, the pilot was very skilled which should give you lots of comfort and try not to think on it cause it will make you crazy.

I've flown twice and really loved it. It is amazing to me to see the clouds underneath me. There are so many things you can see that you can't from the ground.