Flying Solo and Facing my Fears
I cannot believe the morning I wake up from a horrible dream of being passenger to a crashing airplane that my husband would say he is no longer joining me next month on a trip to Florida … this being a trip that requires - airplanes! For months now we have planned on meeting my family down there for vacation. After Sam's revelation I completely freaked out. I hate flying. I know having family in Alaska and also attending college out of state from 1999-2001 may of fooled you into thinking that flying would be a breeze for me. My many trips taken on so many airplanes over the years surly would have jaded me to the prospect of being trapped in a metal flying machine thousands of miles above the ground.
Not so.
Flying has never been easy for me. If there is any ounce of turbulence while in the air I begin to shake along with the plane and images of burning aircraft wreckage fill my brain. So, one can assume that when Sam related I would be flying alone with our two young children, that my reaction to this news would be anything, but calm.
My husband's reason for not accompanying us on the trip was noble. He realized that his vacation days from work were dwindling fast, as Edwards Brothers has been experiencing a slow period. In recent weeks Sam was forced to use some of those vacation days when upon driving to Ann Arbor he was greeted with an empty work load. Couple those days of being involuntary sent home with the time he took off after Cole's birth and you end up with hardly any vacation time left. Edwards Brothers fiscal year does not begin again until October. So, if my husband were to use his last remaining vacation days on a trip to Florida he would have none left for 7 months.
I understood his reasoning, yet I chose to ignore his points and pleaded that he still go with us. I couldn't imagine facing one of my greatest fears alone while also caring for Cole and Audrey. Not to mention all the vacation events I would have to experience without him. After going back and forth for a few hours Sam and I came to a compromise. He would fly down to the sunshine state with me and stay from Saturday night to Tuesday night. Then he would head back home alone while I stayed for another 5 days. Ultimately this would mean I would only have to fly as a solo parent once and would also give us 3 days to experience a semi vacation together. Our finding of middle ground would in effect only take away 3 of his vacation days. I can say that I am pleased we were able to give concessions on both sides, but at the same time I am still anxious about that trip home. Airports can be so confusing. I miss the good old days before 9/11 when you could leave your shoes on when walking through the metal detectors and a family member or friend could help you to your gate.
I have a funny story about the first time I flew after the terrorist attacks. I walked off of the airplane and sat down at the gate waiting for my parents to greet me. I remained in that spot, all the while becoming more and more irritated that no one was there to welcome me. I eventually went to a pay phone (before cell phones were prevalent in my life) and called my sister's future MIL as I was in Florida to be bridesmaid in my older sister's wedding. That's when I was informed my whole family was waiting for me beyond the metal detectors and X - ray machines. I had been so used to being picked up at an airplane's arrival gate that I forgot all about the changes made after 9/11. Silly me … I must have been waiting impatiently at that gate for at least 30 minutes.
Not so.
Flying has never been easy for me. If there is any ounce of turbulence while in the air I begin to shake along with the plane and images of burning aircraft wreckage fill my brain. So, one can assume that when Sam related I would be flying alone with our two young children, that my reaction to this news would be anything, but calm.
My husband's reason for not accompanying us on the trip was noble. He realized that his vacation days from work were dwindling fast, as Edwards Brothers has been experiencing a slow period. In recent weeks Sam was forced to use some of those vacation days when upon driving to Ann Arbor he was greeted with an empty work load. Couple those days of being involuntary sent home with the time he took off after Cole's birth and you end up with hardly any vacation time left. Edwards Brothers fiscal year does not begin again until October. So, if my husband were to use his last remaining vacation days on a trip to Florida he would have none left for 7 months.
I understood his reasoning, yet I chose to ignore his points and pleaded that he still go with us. I couldn't imagine facing one of my greatest fears alone while also caring for Cole and Audrey. Not to mention all the vacation events I would have to experience without him. After going back and forth for a few hours Sam and I came to a compromise. He would fly down to the sunshine state with me and stay from Saturday night to Tuesday night. Then he would head back home alone while I stayed for another 5 days. Ultimately this would mean I would only have to fly as a solo parent once and would also give us 3 days to experience a semi vacation together. Our finding of middle ground would in effect only take away 3 of his vacation days. I can say that I am pleased we were able to give concessions on both sides, but at the same time I am still anxious about that trip home. Airports can be so confusing. I miss the good old days before 9/11 when you could leave your shoes on when walking through the metal detectors and a family member or friend could help you to your gate.
I have a funny story about the first time I flew after the terrorist attacks. I walked off of the airplane and sat down at the gate waiting for my parents to greet me. I remained in that spot, all the while becoming more and more irritated that no one was there to welcome me. I eventually went to a pay phone (before cell phones were prevalent in my life) and called my sister's future MIL as I was in Florida to be bridesmaid in my older sister's wedding. That's when I was informed my whole family was waiting for me beyond the metal detectors and X - ray machines. I had been so used to being picked up at an airplane's arrival gate that I forgot all about the changes made after 9/11. Silly me … I must have been waiting impatiently at that gate for at least 30 minutes.