Really need a pep talk about airplanes.

[Sevaede]

I am still incredibly frightened to go on, be on, and travel on an airplane. Everyone tells me that taking off and landing is the worst part but touching back down on the ground is my FAVOURITE (giggle!) part!

Last summer, I took six flights. Dallas to Vegas, Vegas to Portland, Portland to Pendleton. Then I stayed with my parents for a week and went from Pendleton to Pasco, Pasco to Portland, and Portland to Dallas. I was extremely nervous (cried for the first half hour of the Dallas-to-Vegas flight, which I am sure was incredibly unpleasant for the woman next to me) about everything involved. By the time the Vegas to Portland flight, I was okay with things and just went with the flow.

Then, on the Portland to Dallas flight, there were some clouds and there was some turbulence (pretty mild compared to the things that my mind conjures up). It was weird though because we had been flying, intermittently, through clouds for about twenty minutes prior and it wasn't really bumpy at all. The older gentleman sitting next to me explained that while we were going through the clouds, we were hitting air pockets, but we would be just FINE. Then, the pilot announced we would be starting our descent and etc etc. While we were pretty much touching the ground and all that jazz, he had explained over the announcement system that we had gone through a thunderstorm and I thought I heard him ask if anybody heard thunder. I didn't. The weather was excellent every which way except that last little bit from PDX to DFW. I, also, went on a couple of flights (Shreveport-Portland and vice versa) when I was about four. I only remember that I was amazed that the pilot could turn the plan on its side and my cup didn't spill!

It still has me shaken up. I absolutely, positively, need to get on this plane but my husband may end up having to drag me kicking and screaming (well, crying anyways ). I am so petrified. This is pretty much my second or third worst fear (the others being Troy dying and not being able to say goodbye and whatnot). I do not want any of us to crash and die. I guess I could talk to my SIL, too. She recently went on a trip and the weather was infinitely worse when she left and she made it to Minnesota on time, even!

I was hoping any PTer who frequently travels by air could give me a word of advice, a comforting word (to assuage my literal quaking ), etc? I need to go on this plane but I am so, so, so frightened.

Troy and I will be travelling together (first time in an airplane *together*). He has travelled " a bunch" (six or seven times ) and keeps telling me that I have nothing to worry about. Every single person tells me that but I guess I would feel a lot better if I knew that would be what someone who travels frequently would say (because they're more exposed to such risks, etc etc). Plus everyone keeps debating and weighing logics with me and I don't know. I'm just really frightened and scrambled right now. I don't know why my mind won't listen ESPECIALLY considering that most people I've talked to, that have travelled frequently, AND encountered one incident and their weather/turbulence was SOO much worse than what I experience.

I don't know. I am weird!