Turbulence

Please fasten your seatbelt as we expect some turbulence on our decent.

It was a rough landing to say the least. As I squeezed my friend's hand and closed my eyes, I once again realized I placed my life in the hands of a pilot I had never met.

Every time I get on a plane, I wander down the aisle to find my seat. I shove my things beneath the seat in front of me, fasten my seatbelt, and wait for take off. I grab the free magazine in the seatback pocket and pretend that it is interesting to me. I read it just long enough to distract me from the takeoff process; the defiance of gravity. I find the crossword or the sudoku that some previous passenger had attempted to solve and imagine what he or she might have been like. I find the map of the world and look up my destination and also consider which other corner of the world I may like to visit someday. I dare not read the safety instruction card for fear of jinxing the flight. My friend, however, picks up the safety information and laughs at the animation. I quickly realize how my silly supserstitions can cause my imagination to get the best of me. I sit back, relax, and enjoy my flight.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the captain has turned off the fasten your seat belt sign.

We landed safely. It was an amazing trip, as usual. Will the few moments of turbulence that ignited fear prevent me from flying ever again? No. How can I ever see what I want to see or do what I want to do without taking a chance to get there? Enough said..... -M