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Dropping out of the sky from 36,000 feet has not ever been my idea of a good time.
This was the reason I decided to turn down many trips to far away and exotic destinations in my lifetime. I had completely
written off the idea of traveling anywhere unless I could get there by foot, car, train or boat. Then came the year 2006.
My Father's 60th birthday. He had mentioned that he wanted to do something very big for it. He wasn't sure if he would do
something alone, or with all of us. Then the ideas started flying. Literally.
My Father mentioned that he was thinking of taking a cruise. That sounded fine to me considering we could drive or take
a train to wherever the boat was launching from. Then the ideas started to get bigger. What if we took a cruise.....in Europe?
I immediately and without question turned it down. If that is what he wanted to do, then I was all for it, just not with me.
I mean not only would I be flying, but I would be flying across the Atlantic Ocean for hours. No thanks. My father said he
was going to continue to brainstorm on ideas, and that nothing had been hammered down yet. But I started to see how large
the ideas were getting and started to realize that I may not be able to participate in this momentous occasion whatever the
idea was unless it was on the Eastern seaboard of the United States.
One night I decided to stay late at work, I had to rhyme or reason to, I just did. Out of no where an e-mail was sent
to me that would change my life. It was from my brother Michael and it read like this:
Dad let me know about you not wanting to fly for his 60th. I understand your feelings and I know you most likely won't
change your mind. I also know that if you do change your mind you may then back out of it leaving it in a costly predicament,
so I don't encourage you to change your mind, unless of course you are steel certain.
However, I will say that you could simply goto a doctor and get a zanax prescription for the flight. This is what people
who fear flying do, because the drug makes it ALL OKAY for about 6 hrs, after which you're asleep anyways.
Dad mentioned flying to Spain to cruise around Europe. Let me tell you that people kill for these opportunities, including
your wife. Obviously the puzzle isn't complete without you, so without you it would be very hard to go. I know that puts
pressure on you, and I don't fully understand your fears, but I do know regrets suck, and I do know life is to be lived, and
unless you plan on taking a 2week boat ride to Europe, a 8 hr plane ride is the way there.
If we died, at least it would be all 6 of us! Think about this, Dads 60th is once; this opportunity is once, for all
of us. I will respect your answer, but you need to respect the fact that we may still go, and that Patience would certainly
want to go.
I am sorry if this email upsets you, but with I guess I just wish you would try, you spoke of fear of flying class, and
never took it. So how can you say no, without trying?
Mike
The next day I began to google the term: fear of flying classes.
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