I love airplanes.
I took a couple of flights this morning to get to Houston. My friend Lisa turned 50 today and we are celebrating this weekend.
Weather in Statesville was supposed to get bad right about the time I needed to leave for the airport, but it held off for a few hours.
Still, the skies were turbulent and for a time I had to close my book because it was impossible to focus on reading.
When the plane landed several of the passengers around me were taliking about being terrified the whole flight. They said they didn’t like flying, and were on pins and needles.
One woman looked at me and said, “Were you scared?”
I couldn’t lie, even to bond with the others.
“I wasn’t,” I said, “Yes, it was bumpy but I love flying.”
I also kinda love a bit of turbulence on occasion.
I’m also very familiar with accident statistics and knew my drive to the airport was a bigger risk (though not as big a risk as me driving a rental in Houston rush hour traffic, especially when the mapping programs didn’t take me to my hotel without a lot of manipulation.)
I know more pilots than most people (be it commercial, private, or balloon) and I totally trust them with my life. I know they will be assertive with poor pilots. They will speak up. They require standards be high, as does the FAA.
I haven’t always been a great flyer. I understand the barf bag was my friend when I was a kid. Though usually I’m fine these days, on occasion I get queasy. My body tends towards a bit of motion sickness. It certainly doesn’t enter into my travel equation – I go anytime I can.
Airplanes are a miracle to me. I woke up in Statesville, NC this morning and will go to sleep in Houston, TX (1,098 miles) tonight.
Airplanes have taken me to some of my best adventures. I hope I have many more adventures ahead.
Invest in those things you love. I’m investing in airplanes. (Maybe too much – but without regrets).
“Airplanes may kill you, but they ain’t likely to hurt you.” – Satchel Paige
In the Box, Out of the Box 