A Personal Triumph

I flew in an airplane. This is huge news. Because of a frightening airplane experience about 8 years ago, I have not travled in an airplane for 8 years. Interestingly, the reason I haven't flown is not exactly because of the scary plane thing like most people think - though, that could be reason enough to justify my fear.
The reason I have refused to fly is because of the flight AFTER the scary flight.
I was on my way to a family reunion with Paul and the kids.

We booked a flight.

No problem.

We boarded the flight.

No problem.

The flight took off.

Problem.

Honestly, I had not even given any thought to the "bad" flight since we arrived home safely and got on with our lives. However, my body knew something my mind did not know. Somewhere down deep, I must have been scared. First, I had a little trouble breathing, then I was hyperventilating, then I was shaking in my seat. All the while I am thinking - this is ridiculous,
but sometimes logic doesn't reign. I was in a bit of a panic.

I was mortified.

I was terrified.

And then, eventually, I was fine. (Kinda)

Still, it was kind of a freaky incident. That I couldn't reason my way out of it, just bothered me in a way I cannot describe. The fact that I could not predict whether or not it could happen again, or if I could stop it if it did, was enough for me to resign myself to road trips indefinitely.
I love road trips anyway.

Well, it was time.

And, it WAS time.

I reserved a flight that was my ticket to doing something I really wanted to do.

I booked the flight.

No Problem.

I boarded the flight.

No problem.

The flight took off.

No Problem.

I told myself that I was on a very large bus. I took a book, but instead chatted with a friend the whole way. At times my bus was a little fast, tilted, and bumpy, but I really tried not to notice. Once I looked up from my seat, and my bus really resembled an airplane. I got a little nervous and scared, I won't lie, but then I returned to my conversation and forgot about it. My bus landed, and I was in California.

Triumphant. Isn't the mind a wonderful thing?