I travel by air a couple of times a year. As a control freak, I have never liked the idea of turning my life over to the pilots. I know they are professionals (and they usually hit the ground first), but I would rather "drive" myself. (I have always been the "Driver", but that is another blog). There are a LOT of people that have a fear of flying. It seems like every flight I am on there is someone that looks terrified as we take off. I am aware of the dangers, and would rather stay on the ground, but sometimes if you want to get there, flying is the only way. One of the ways the fear of flying has been addressed is by analogies/comparisons. Hearing one of my favorites was the basis for this blog.
You all may have heard that "more people die in donkey accidents in an average year than die in plane crashes".
Now, I don't know about you but that statement does nothing to help ease my concerns about getting in a huge metal tube with hundreds of other people and thousands of gallons of aviation fuel and heading into the sky. What is does do is absolutely TERRIFY me of donkeys. Who are all these people that are travelling on such an unsafe mode of transport? I wonder, are there head on collisions - donkey to donkey? Is it a footing problem? If you are like me, hearing about someone travelling on a donkey brings up a vision of a narrow ledge with a path on it, leading around the mountain. I can understand that, but more people than planes? Wow.
I have also heard that more people die in bathing accidents. Yes, bathing - like bathtub. (that makes one wonder if donkeys are involved...) I know the tub can be a slippery place, but I do not ever remember feeling as though my life was in danger while lathering up. Let's be glad they do not have bathing facilities on airplanes!
Another favorite comparison is with lightning. I know lightning can kill. But again, who are these people that are outside when lightning is striking. I know about the freak accidents on golf courses and sports fields. I know there are millions if not billions of souls that work in their fields and may be caught outside when a storm hits - BUT MORE THAN PLANE CRASHES!?! (I see the hands - hoofs? - of donkeys again.) Every child is told to get inside when a storm comes.
Lastly, we have all been told that we are safer in the air than we were travelling to the airport in our car. More people die in car crashes than any other accident. Now I am terrified of driving to the airport! Unless you live in a city with rail transport to the airport, an automobile is the only way to get there. Telling me I am going to die getting to the plane is not going to ease my mind about getting on the plane. (this brings to mind the joke about the blond that heard that most accidents occur within five miles of home - so she moved)
I guess at an intellectual level I know that airline travel, statistically, is one of the safest ways to travel. I do love the comparisons however. I guess I am done. I hope I gave you something to think about. Hey, it looks like a storm is coming. I think I will get on my donkey and head out to the airport.
Bye
You may get this more if you read (or re-read) these older posts: "A Serious One" from 4/6/08 "Alphabet diseases" from 11/13/07 and "Questions" from 1/20/08 I am still trying to get answers to the Questions asked in the post above. I have not found any that are worthy of printing. I have come up with more questions: How does one handle seeing the continual decline of their spouse and not being able to do a thing about it? How do you take the inability of your 53 year old wife to get out of bed, or in and out of the shower unaided? How do you answer questions that beg not to be asked, like: will I see Bailey (our daughter, a rising senior)graduate; will Hannah (our granddaughter - almost 3) remember me; or will I see Landon (or grandson - 6 months) walk? How do you comfort your bride of 35+ years when she looks at you with tears streaming down her face? Most of all, how do you offer support and help when you are so damn mad at the world and the situa...
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