I Can Do This . . . Deep Breaths

Great account of your flight, TIF! I never would have imagined that you were anyone other than a very cultured world traveler from your knowledge and appreciation of exquisite numismatic art. You’re a very unique person to be admired! Anyway, I remember when I traveled to Mexico City with my Dad. We flew on Aeromexico which was really a very friendly and excellent airline. When I thought that we were preparing to land in Mexico City I looked out the window and saw the ocean out both sides of the plane. I said to my dad “Mexico City is nowhere near the water! What's going on?” My stomach felt like it was in my throat by this time. My dad was his usual expressionless and cool self and shrugged his shoulders. I looked around the plane at the mostly Mexican American passengers and tried to read their expressions. Some of them looked a little anxious but not overly so. Finally I blurted out to the Mexican flight attendant in the aisle and several seats ahead of us—“Are we landing in Mexico City?” She smiled and said “No—first Acapulco.” With that my panic melted away and my stomach returned to where it belongs. [/QUOTE]

 

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Thanks again, everybody! I knew I could count on you to help me feel better!

I found some Lorazepam to take with me. Doc gave it to me. Hopefully it knocks me out for the flight.

We go from Ottawa to Toronto and then head to Deer Lake. Unfortunately, there aren't any direct flights to Deer Lake from Ottawa.

My dad is a Newfie, so we have family down there to visit. I was actually thinking of bringing a Widow's Mite with me to give to my aunt. She'd probably end up lecturing me on spending my money on 'fakes.'

Erin

 

Erin, my first flight was as a 9 yo, in CANADA! We drove up to Sault Ste Marie, hired a bush plane (I was with a friend and his Dad), paid $65 US, which was my share, and took off from a lake. It was a two seater with a sling seat (canvas) in the back. About an hour later, we landed on our lake up in Ontario. There were no roads to our cabin, and the cabin was on an island in the middle of the lake. 2 weeks of fishing, canoeing, hunting, exploring BLISS! I remember looking out the passenger window as we were flying and seeing the pontoon on the plane... it reminded me of the Star Trek engine (hey, it was 1968!) FANTASTIC first plane ride! Take-off and landing was INCREDIBLE on a lake! BIG fun! I remember it as vividly as if it were last week!

OH! I should keep this legal with a Horsey Ride!

Carthage Zeugitania 400-350 BCE AE 15mm 3.39g Head of Tanit left Horse galloping r SNG Cop 97

 

Way cool, Alegandron!

I don't know how I would do on that plane.

But, it sounds like it was an awesome ride!

Erin

 

I think its been covered, but I think you will do just fine (especially with the meds!). First time I flew I didnt have a problem. But after a few dozen I started to get a bit nervous. I'm now (for whatever reason) a nervous flyer. A few glasses of wine it usually good enough to calm my nerves, but you really need to time it right! More than a few times my back teeth were floating by the time we landed!

But, civilian pilots are great. When I flew with the Navy (usually on DC-9's), those pilots always treated them like they were fighter jets! Straight up on take-off, straight down on landing, all at full throttle. Those were wild rides!

Honestly, I really enjoy the landing the best. I am truly amazed at how gentle some of the landings can be on those big planes.

 

Dear Erin,
You’re my good ancient coin collecting friend. I value your friendship very much! I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't tell you what I think about using meds and alcohol to relieve your anxiety of flying. Everyone is different—no two of us are the same. Some can use tranquilizers or alcohol with no problems. I’m not one of them! Unless you know yourself extremely well I would advise you not to. There are better ways to get through anxious times. Using pills and/or alcohol is a dangerous road to travel. Music is great for settling nerves. Reading poetry is another one. I love great poetry. I can get totally lost and absorbed in it. Then last but not least is meditation and prayer. Like I said, you may be one of the majority of people who can handle pills or alcohol—but what if you’re not?

Just a few thoughts from a friend. —DR

 

Planes are safe!

This is my wife!

 

I wouldn't ever mix booze and lorazepam (or any other tranquilizer) but I see no problem with one or the other. I know where you're coming from @Deacon Ray; I don't drink because the costs were FAR outweighing the benefits. But because of back spasms (three back surgeries) I occasionally have to use some lorazepam (Valium).
Steve

 

I enjoy your posts and comments, Stevearino! I pray that your pain subsides and you recover fully from your back surgeries.

 

Likewise, @Deacon Ray !
Steve

 

Should I dig out my fighter and bomber pics?

 

Well, I don't have a fear of flying (my only phobia is that I refuse to swim in the ocean, because I will be eaten by a shark), so I don't have any personal tips. But my mother does have this fear, and she deals with it by listening to her favorite music during the flight. (Linda Ronstadt, for her; your tastes may vary.)

If you are awake during the flight, and can overcome your fear enough to look out the window, I strongly recommend you do so. I've had some incredible sights from airplane windows: the Grand Canyon illuminated by late afternoon sun, a fleet of illuminated boats in the Pacific just off of Lima during the night, the snowy Alps reflecting bright midday sun, and most memorable, a late night view of southern Germany with just wisps of cloud, with the lights of cities and towns looking like swarms of phosphorescent plankton floating on the waves of choppy seas.

 

Sure. I was wondering when you were going to chime in .

 

Thank you Deacon Ray and Steve for your concern, it's very much appreciated!

I actually don't drink. Alcohol was never tolerated in our house (pastor's house) and us kids, by the grace of God, have chosen to respect that.

I'll just be taking the lorazepam. I'm prescribed only 1mg of the stuff, so I'm trying to figure out how effective it will be and when best to take it.

Prayer is key and I'm definitely making use of it! Also, I always keep Isaiah 41:10 with me.

You all pwn, yo!

Erin

 

LOL, this old geezer had to look up pwn
Steve

 

Let us know how it turns out. I've often though about valium as a method, but I dont like feeling 'stoned' so I have suffered through my flights.

 

I do Sudoko. Buy a book with tuff paper so you can erase and use a 0.9 mm soft lead Pentel pencil.
You can read how and download free puzzles here -
http://www.sudokudragon.com/sudoku.htm

Caution, Sudoko can be can be addictive.

Best wishes for your trip.

You can try to make sense of this over strike.

 

I always felt safe and secure flying with my ex USAF boss Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole (George AFB, 1960s) and why not, for he was Jimmy Doolittle's co-pilot on the famous Tokyo raid ("Thirty seconds over Tokyo") in early WW2 -- I figured if he could get a starved for fuel B25 from Japan to mainland China under wartime conditions safely, I shouldn't be worried with him as Pilot of our Base T29 during our short trips around the United States west coast. Anyway, he used to like to repeat that old bromide: "There are old Pilots, and there are bold Pilots -- but there no old, bold Pilots".

BTW, I keep in touch with Lt. Col. Cole (who now lives in Comfort, Texas) and talk by phone with his daughter, Cindy (who acts as a go-between) periodically -- my conversations with her Father are painful for we are both deaf as doornails! He is the last surviving member of the Doolittle raiders and turns 102 on 7 September of this year. He recently suffered a fall. I spoke with Cindy on the phone this past week and she reports he is recovering satisfactorily despite breaking an arm and his hip (?). I hope he recovers from his fall in time for me to talk with him on his birthday -- and to live many more years.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-pres...esident-donald-j-trumps-call-lt-col-dick-cole

So do not worry about flying safely, Erin, old (non-bold) Pilots are safe!

 

Holy smokes, that's awesome! If you were buddies with someone who fought at the Battle of Zama or rode in the Charge of the Light Brigade I wouldn't be much less amazed.

http://www.doolittleraider.com/raiders/cole.htm

You can see him here with Doolittle and see him taking off of an aircraft carrier on a plane that was remotely designed to do that.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doolittle_Raid


What him do something similar to making a rooster lay an egg at 3:50.

 

Thank you @chrsmat71. I goofed up my original post -- I succeeded in deleting it during edit -- I don't know how. I have now recovered it and re-posted it.