Auditioning for a spot in the Blue Man Group
Over the weekend, my husband and I celebrated our 11th year of marriage. We flew to Las Vegas and spent two days at a great hotel.
We’ve traveled to Sin City several times over the years, which is interesting because we don’t gamble and we don’t go to shows. We like the “bigness” of Vegas, yet when we get there, we do a lot of the same things we like to do at home.
And no, I’m not talking about the wild thing.
We walk around, people watch, work out and hang by the pool. We never make dinner reservations, which sometimes results in a cranky search for food after all the restaurants have closed. But most of the time, we spontaneously choose a place that has the best vibe and order food at the bar.
We enjoy flying out west. We like the desert. And we really like the Sky Miles that help get us there. But taking this type of trip is a small source of anxiety for me. See, I love to fly. And I hate to fly.
Let’s break it down, shall we?
Things I dislike very much about flying:*
- Taking off. The noise, the unsettling sensation of being suspended in midair, how it feels when the plane turns, and when I freak out for a split second, thinking we are crashing. (Which turns out to be comic relief for those calm frequent flyers.)
- Landing. (But then again, it’s better than the alternative.)
- Turbulence.
- Dashing through the airport and almost missing our connection. Funny how this always seems to happen in Atlanta on the return flight.
- Performing a balancing act in the bathroom at the back of the plane.
The things I like about flying:
- Airports. They are like malls, only better. Everyone is going somewhere.
- Hudson News. Flipping through magazines and catching up on celebrity gossip before the flight.
- Walking on the moving walkway. It makes me feel like a Jetson.
- When the flight attendant comes down the aisle with a drink cart. I take this as a good sign we are not crashing.
- The child three rows up who giggles hysterically during the bumpy descent. It makes me temporarily forget I hate turbulence.
And finally, the thing I love most about flying:
- The angels and the flight crew who get me safely back home.
What about you? Flying: Love it? Hate it? Somewhere in between?
I “LOL” when I read this because of the similarities we share about flying! The last time I flew was on a business trip with my husband to Atlantic City (short flight). He had a couple of meetings so, we had some awesome down time to walk on the beaches and shop ect. The night before we left I was laying in the bed with my little girl,Maddie and I was crying. My husband always say’s I worry about things that have not even happened yet. (I mean isn’t that what the definition of “worry” is?!:)) and that is exactly what I was doing. I was looking at my beautiful daughter thinking how horrible life would be if my plane crashed! When Rob (hubby) walked in the room, he asked what was wrong and Maddie turned to him ,with her pappy in her mouth and said, “She’s scared of da’ “airo-plane”! LOL All of the sentiments you expressed I can relate to! It is nice to hear I’m not alone in that! I know when I hear the landing wheels scrape the pavement, I become so much more thankful, I want to hug everyone around me but, most of the passengers look like they would rather I keep that to myself:) Thanks for sharing!
Suzanne, on the return flight, I make all kinds of promises about how I’m going to live a better life, appreciate everything more… just let me get home safely.
I used to fly a lot on biz and sorta built up a similar love/hate feeling about flying. It’s great if you have to go a long distance because it’s the only way to get there quickly. For anything around 12 hours of drive time or less, I will drive and avoid all the hassles,.
I hate the rudeness, security scans, smaller seats, yucky smells, missing connections, paying for everything that used to be free.
I enjoy travelling to a favorite place or to get on a cruise, the excitement of what’s to come outweighs the pain of flying.
By the way, even though we lived near San Francisco, we never did get over to Vegas, no special reason to go and we did go to Reno a couple of times for their big Hot August Nights Car Show. We don’t gamble either so you’ll have to give me some pointers on Vegas so we can plan a trip there.
The best thing about Vegas is the hotels. You could spend a whole day walking through them. We stayed at the Venetian, and it looks a lot like Venice inside. The only thing was the canal outside the hotel (for gondola rides) was drained. It doesn’t have the same effect when you’re looking down at a big empty pool.
Well I haven’t gotten on a plane since 1984! When I did that I was going to Mexico City for a Mission trip for a week. I know I need and want to go visit my relatives in Texas but it takes 22 hours to get there by driving. It is too expensive to fly so guess I will just stay home and talk to them on the phone! Ya’ll can have the airplane rides!
You should Skype! No need to go anywhere.
The worst thing about flying for me is hearing this: your flight is delayed due toa mechanical problem with the aircraft. So, they scramble to fix said problem, and that means I am part of the team that tests whether or not they did it right. Or, they don’t fix the problem, and I am stuck in that no man’s land of trying to get my toosh on another flight. Since the airlines are stuffing people on planes these days, that process is always tons of jolly fun.
All of our flights were oversold. We got lucky. On one flight, a couple had our same seat number. I was so glad we got there first. And I don’t ever want to hear “mechanical problem.” That happened once, years ago, and I lost my mind.
In my days when I was a flight attendant have I never witnessed anything but utmost diligence and skills when it came to mechanical issues. I always take comfort in knowing that the captain wouldn’t risk his own life for the sake of ‘testing’ whether they repairs were successful or not.
That’s good to know. I’ll remember that if/when it ever happens again. Also, one of my uncles and a cousin are Delta pilots, and I think about how many times they have flown in their lifetime… that gives me comfort too. I try to remember the odds are in my favor.
I’m with you — I hate flying, but I love traveling! Your comment about the giggling kid made me think of a trip w/ my 3 or 4yo son when he shouted “WHOA, BLAST OFF!!” when the plane took off. Everyone cracked up. It’s impossible not to get caught up in a kid’s excitement about being on a plane for one of the first times.
P.S. I’m sure you’d look lovely in blue.
That’s hilarious! That kind of comic relief is very reassuring. It’s like, “Well everyone’s laughing, so we must not be dying.” The Blue Men told me I needed to shave my head, so I reconsidered.
I seem to have a similar love/hate relationship with flying. I love the thought of being on the go – especially when it’s somewhere I’ve never been. I consider myself a citizen of the world – it’s just too big to go undiscovered, so flying is always an exciting bit of anticipation. HOWEVER – once the kids were born, I became paranoid. And I mean really, unreasonably paranoid. For example, when Heyes and I fly together I freak out a bit, thinking, what if we crashed, the kids would have no parents! Kind of like how the president and VP never fly together – same reason. Who would be in charge? Temporary panic until I realize (same as you, Angie) that the flight attendant is bringing drinks and she seems to be calm, so maybe I should pay that $10 (in exact change, thank you) for some cheap red wine and chill.
I echo that comment 100%. Dillon has to wear an eye patch for a couple of hours a day now, and I packed the entire supply (the kids stayed with my parents) “just in case.” That’s morbid! And hopefully, you’re not like me… I spilled my entire bloody mary all over my cute outfit and had to change in the bathroom!
If only I could fly first-class., I could live with all the other things. I just hate to sit beside someone who spills over into my seat or invades my leg-room space.
Then you would not want to sit beside me. See my response to Tina above.
I love to fly! I have never (knocking wood) had any really bad experiences. Well, we skidded on the landing that one time in Pittsburg, but that was all. I love people watching and eavesdropping on conversations and what better place for that than the airport.
I do get annoyed with rude people. I once called a man an ass not quite so under my breath cos he was had been horribly rude to the flight attendant, just because he could, he was smiling the whole time like he was enjoying making her miserable, then he was rude to a little 19 yo college girl on her first flight. That’s why I called him an ass. He looked at me and I gave him my gray haired, battle ax nurse glare and he chose not to engage.
I’ve never (again, knock wood) been bumped off a flight, but have had several delays, mostly in the evening in Atlanta. Usually on my way home when I’m tired and just want my very own bed. I had a flight delayed by an erupting volcano, but that was sort of cool because it changed our flight pattern and I was able to look down on Iceland and see the volcanic ash plume.
And I never was able to use the bathroom on the plane, I had a horror of the plane crashing and that would be where my body would be found, crammed in the loo. That all changed on the overseas flight to the Netherlands, I was able to convince myself that if the plane did crash, it would sink to the bottom and no one would ever find me wedged on the loo, pants around my knees.
I have had several dreams (four now, I think the count is up to) of Jason and I surviving plane crashes, and in my dreams, I always reference that this “is the second time we’ve crashed” or “the third time”, but I’m never afraid when I am really on an airplane.
Oh dear goodness, I’m going to print this comment and carry it with me on the next flight. I will laugh so hard I’ll forget to be scared. And I’ll never be able to use an airplane loo again without thinking about you!
Happy Anniversary! Yours and Andra’s must be close.
When flying on a day that is rainy or otherwise nasty, I love it when we are above the clouds and the sun is shining. It always moves my soul. I’m not a religious person, but I can’t help but believe somwhat.
Vera, thanks for reminding me of this! When I flew to London in high school — my first time abroad — I took tons of pictures above the clouds. And the airplane wings. I was fascinated.
First off, Happy Anniversary! How fun that you were able to take a trip together
That’s a rare treat when you have little ones at home.
When I was young, I was petrified of flying – so much so, that I had to get off a plane once before it left the airport. My husband has never let me live that one down. Luckily I had my panic attack in time, so I was able to abort the flight before they closed the doors!
I can laugh about it now because in the last 15 years I’ve flown more times than I can count and I don’t think any more about it than I do going to the grocery store. I admit, being on an airplane the morning of September 11, 2001, was a little unnerving. But I got right back in the air as soon as planes started flying again. Flying is the only way I get to see my son – he lives too far away to drive – so that’s really good motivation to overcome the fear!
My fear has subsided significantly over the years. A few years ago it was a lot worse. I just tell myself, it’s not my day to die. And even if it is, well, I can’t do anything about that. Because like you said, when I do fly, I’m more interested in living and getting where I’m going than avoiding the trip because of fear alone.
Happy Anniversary, Angie! I have never been to Vegas and, admittedly, have no desire to go, but I am glad you had a great time there! You have already seen from my reply to Andra that I used to be a flight attendant, I only did it for a few of years and probably spent about 2,000 hours on a plane throughout my life. I still feel very much at home in airports and on planes, but ironically I also suffer from a fear of flying these days. It has nothing to do with any bad experiences (haven’t really had any), it’s solely a manifestation of my irrational anxieties. Like so many people flying is the only way for me to see my family, plus I love traveling, so for most of the time I feel the fear and do it anyway. By the way, love that photo of you, you look happy and kinda cute
Oh, thanks! I was just being a dork.
We were also so sweaty after walking the strip. Ironically, my fear was not a result of September 11, but the result of a couple of movies that showed the inside of the plane as it was crashing. It took years to shake those images.
I completely understand that about the images. I have a photographic memory and coupled with my vivid imagination movies like that wreak havoc with my fears. It’s why I have never watched any at-length footage about 9/11. (All this is a touchy subject for me, as you can tell by all my comments!)