I have never been a huge fan of flying, having a big fear of heights. Over the years there have been numerous columns about this extreme phobia which I have slowly overcome almost a little bit. And until this past month, I had never flown alone or navigated an airport alone. I never had a career which called for this and the thought of attempting such a thing for pleasure seemed like a vacation to anxiety.
But, life plays out in its own crazy way and one thing led to another, prompting me to hop on a plane for a surprise visit to an old childhood friend. Sometimes various things surface in our lives and friendship is needed on both ends to work out the kinks in life. I told Amy that if she could get me a direct flight to Denver and a direct flight home for a certain amount of money I would come see her.
Within ten minutes she had it all lined up for me, and I was kind of too surprised to say no at this point. For a very low price I could hop on a plane with one carry on bag and see her within three hours. What a small world. A small, bit more complicated world. When I went on to confirm my flight all these options began popping up. Did I want to board first? Of course I did. Would I like a preferred seat with extra leg space? Why not. And would I like to bring on a second carry on larger than the size of a purse. You bet. By the time I was done my very inexpensive ticket was not so cheap after all.
And on top of that I had signed up for extra foot room because it was by an exit door. I had to answer a questionnaire as to many criteria in order to afford this extra space. Could I speak English? Could I hear? Could I see? Could I fit in the seat with a seat belt? And the one catcher was could I assist everyone else off the plane in case of an "unexpected landing." And we all know what "unexpected" means. Well, those of us who have a horrible fear of flying surely know what it means. And all I could think about to gain the extra space were the technical words… I can. I can go to a wedding without eating wedding cake. Do I? A very different question.
I explained this to my friend because it was my best intention to be truthful. She then said, "That's good because they are going to come around and look you in the face and you have to verbally agree that you can help all other passengers off the plane in case there is an "unexpected" landing. But then she assured me there would probably be some big strong guy agreeing to do it next to me also. An immediate plan came to mind. I would open the door and shoot down the slide and let him toss all the people down my way. Teamwork.
But a crazy thing happened when I boarded this plane. The first plane I had ever boarded all alone after navigating an airport and security all alone which both going and coming I was chosen to be searched. When I sat down on the plane in my special little extra leg room seat nobody else on the plane opted to sit in these rows. So, the nervous flyer overcoming a phobia all alone was left alone for three hours to agree with the staff that "I Can" help everyone off if there is an "Unexpected Landing."
I guess it is time for my fear of heights to be challenged. Like not wanting to go on an elevator above the 10th floor, but after you overcome this "flight of passage" your friend hands you her room key to shoot up to the 7th floor and when swiping her key the elevator goes nuts and took me up to the very top 21st floor three times until some man got on and assisted my panic. He looked at my key and said, "Honey, this is a Sam's Card." The universe was not laughing at me. It was laughing with me once I caught my breath!
