Taking Flight

Sara hates to fly.  Since we dated long distance for over two years I thought her fear was not that bad because she flew at least once a month to see me.  But I was wrong and I didn't find out just how wrong I was until we started flying together.  She completely freaks out and actually sweats so bad it feels like she wet her pants.  She grabs on to me tightly and her whole body shakes.  Any noise that she deems "unusual" causes alarm and quick looks towards the attendants to see if they are reacting.  According to Sara, flying has always been uncomfortable but it's gotten much worse in the last few years as now she has more to lose...i.e. me.  Awwwwwwwwww. 

So we should just avoid flying, right?  Incorrect.  Sara loves to travel and experience new places and that is way more important to her than the fear of flying.  So in an effort to help ease her fears I've tried different tactics, like showing her a statistic that I got from my cousin Matt (who got it from the History channel...which doesn't lie): To statistically guarantee being involved in a fatal domestic airline crash you'd have to fly once a day for 21,000 years.   Every day for 21,000 years!!  Wow!  But, it didn't help. 

Sara, on the other hand, has her own ideas on how to get past the fear.  Jump out of a plane or go hang gliding (preferably in the Swiss Alps).  I don't see how this would be a good idea, but Sara believes if she can skydive then flying will be a piece of cake.  In my mind skydiving, or hang gliding, is a risk you don't have to take as opposed to flying or driving (driving being way more dangerous than flying) which you have to do if you want to get around.  Plus, I'm too fat to go skydiving or hang gliding with her (seriously, I'm above the weight limit).  So that sucks on a couple different levels. 

While Sara may still pursue skydiving or hang gliding, we have found an alternative in the meantime that we can both do.  We are going to each take an individual private flying lesson which includes 15-20 minutes of hands-on airtime...probably in one of those small Cessna-type single engine planes.  Our friend, Francisco, found a deal on one of the social coupon sites (like Groupon) and we signed up.  We will probably schedule the sessions for later in the spring when the weather's nicer but before our trip to Europe over Memorial Day weekend.  When the time comes we will be sure to post our thoughts and pictures.