Well, it's not like I have a paralyzing fear of flying. The prayer thing really helps, though. It's not so much about faith, though I do believe in God, because I don't believe God owes me a gentle death at no younger than 80 (though I sure hope that's what I get!). It's more ritual acknowledgment that I'm putting myself in God's hands for the duration. And then, aside from being a little tense on take-off and landing and gripping my seat arms with white knuckles during really bad turbulence, I'm not scared. I read my book and/or amuse Annabel.
And while I'd hate to be responsible for an accident, I think the main reason I'm more confident in a car than a plane is I drive every day and fly maybe four times a year. Sure, something bad could happen when I'm driving, but I've done all I can by driving carefully and seeing that my car is properly maintained. I have to drive, so there's no point worrying about the things that could go wrong. Maybe if I traveled a lot for work, I'd feel the same about flying, but I don't, so for me it's a somewhat exceptional circumstance, so I haven't come to terms with the things I can't control in the same way I have with driving.
" squishy filling in a really thin metal creampuff hurtling around at 75 mph"
Whereas I'm "hundreds of pounds of steel! terrible momentum!"
Doesn't help that I like to drive really fast, I suppose.
Driving bores me, because I can't read or do stuff during it, and I fear the idea of being responsible and alive in an accident, but I don't have any in-process anxiety except when people start acting up, or I'm driving canyon roads.
Fuck, I hate canyon roads. Which is a damned shame given where I live, but now my commute's trivial and can't involve them. Before they were an option.
Now, if someone else is doing the canyon driving? I love it! They're so pretty, especially as you're heading to the Pacific Coast Highway. I just really don't want to be the one in control there. I'm pretty zen about being killed by my friends.
I am actually flying this Xmas for the first time since all the liquids restrictions were put in place, and I'm reading the list of things that one can/can't bring along and it is b-a-n-a-n-a-s.
I like flying, except for the airport inconvenience and I don't even mind that too too much. Love driving, even long distances. Love trains. The only transport I hate= bus.
I just got ROYALLY FUCKED by my job. Apparently the 6 weeks I took as maternity leave were paid incorrectly. And I owe them $4000. Which is better than the $12000 they were convinced I owed at some point.
But I basically feel like I just got fucked up the ass and that I will not be able to pay for childcare next year. What I owe them is equivalent to 30 weeks of childcare. Interestingly, that's about how much childcare I use.
I think the only snow emergency Utah would call is if the Mother of All Avalanches was coming down off the mountains and aiming for downtown. And I'd think we'd already know the Snowpocalypse had arrived.
Now, if someone else is doing the canyon driving? I love it! They're so pretty, especially as you're heading to the Pacific Coast Highway.
books trip to drive ita up and down PCH
I love driving Highway 1. I'm learning to love it on the bike, but I'm still kind of white-knuckly on the grips.
I love airports. Esp. with moving sidewalks.
I just got ROYALLY FUCKED by my job. Apparently the 6 weeks I took as maternity leave were paid incorrectly. And I owe them $4000. Which is better than the $12000 they were convinced I owed at some point.
Well fuck.
In sum: people who like control fear flying and like driving; people who like to not be responsible like flying and fear driving. Interesting.
Or there is just statistics. I know precisely one person who has been killed in a plane crash. I wish I could say the same for cars.
Of course, I enjoy both and fear neither.
I am so sorry, Kat. That sucks.
