I'm rather freaked out.

[peachykeen]

Okay this is going to be a bit pathetic and all so feel free to not read it if you're just going to tell me how pathetic I am, because I already know. But.

Those of you who were around at the end of last summer might remember I posted once before about how I'm afraid of flying. But I had to, you know? Well now I have to again, on Friday.

I'm really, really scared.

I know it's not entirely rational, except, you know, the whole world is kinda scary right now. Being a bit afraid of flying between London and New York doesn't seem entirely irrational either, considering.

Sometimes I can think about it and be okay with it, but mostly when I think about it - and don't tell me to just not think about it, lord knows I've tried - well, you know that expression, of feeling your blood run cold? That's how I feel, and my stomach churns.

Ack. I hate this. I'm not the sort of person who is normally anxious or afraid of stuff, but I am about this.

Ack.

Ack.

 

[huskie]

Oh God how Pathetic!!!! J.K.

easy answer to your problem. Get real drunk.

 

[peachykeen]

Oh God how Pathetic!!!! J.K.

easy answer to your problem. Get real drunk.

mmm, that is pretty much my plan. One atavan and six red wines.

 

[huskie]

mmm, that is pretty much my plan. One atavan and six red wines.

That should do it. then you can sleep most of the way. It's about a 5 hr. trip, right?

 

[Olivianna]

There's a 50/50 chance that your flight will turn out fine - it will either happen or it won't.

 

[Olivianna]

P.S. Where are you going?

 

[peachykeen]

More like a little over six, but yeah. I leave London around four and get to Newark just before six I think. Yeah I'm definitely much calmer about the whole thing when I'm passed out. I also don't have any caffeine or booze in the 48 hours before the flight (makes the highs too high and the lows too low, if you know what I mean), and I practice yoga and meditation anyway, so I draw on that for some deep breathing and relaxation techniques to help me out at the outset...

Oh god I just hate it though.

 

[hogjack]

Not sure if you could drive to London though

Flying is safer than driving

Roads 65 times more dangerous, study says
January 16, 2003

If you want to be really safe while traveling, fly. And when flying, go nonstop.

In the United States, driving is 65 times more dangerous than commercial air travel, according to a University of Michigan study in the current issue of American Scientist magazine.

"For flying to become as risky as driving, disastrous airline incidents on the scale of Sept. 11 would have to occur about once a month," author Michael Sivak said Wednesday.

Sivak is head of the Human Factors Division of the U-M Transportation Research Institute; coauthor Michael Flannagan is a research scientist there.

The study had similar results to one conducted by the authors in 1991. The two were prompted to redo the study after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, which reduced air travel by 18 percent, and because many Americans still are reluctant to fly.

Their study examined passenger deaths on domestic flights of 10 major airlines from 1992 through 2001, including those killed Sept. 11. Those statistics were compared to fatalities over 719 air miles -- the average length of a domestic flight -- of drivers on rural interstate highways in cars, light trucks, vans and sport-utility vehicles.

Although not statistically comparable, the gross numbers are stunning. In the 10-year span, 433 people died on domestic flights. By comparison, about 42,000 Americans died in traffic accidents in 2001, about 1,500 of them on rural interstates.

"Basically the study showed that it is enormously safer to fly," Flannagan said.

The danger of auto travel increases with the length of the trip, the researchers found.

With air travel, the danger increases geometrically with the number of stops because 95 percent of accidents occur during takeoffs and landings. In other words, the potential for a fatality doubles with one stop compared to nonstop flights, Sivak said. With two stops, the danger triples.

"I fly a lot," Sivak said. "And I do try to fly nonstop whenever I can for safety reasons."

"It should be added," Flannagan said, "that both flying and driving are extremely safe. The risk is so low in either case it should not be a worry in people's lives."

 

[peachykeen]

P.S. Where are you going?

home to the NY area for a couple weeks; Mr K and I have some real estate business stuff to take care off, plus see some friends and family.

Also going to the lawyer to make out wills seems morbid I know but to be practical, if anything happened to one or both of us, I would hate to have my family to have to go to the whole probate thing.

Obviously I'm not actually expecting anyting awful to happen, on this trip or in general, but I am just...anxious.

 

[sexy-girl]

im flying on sunday peachy so you can think of us flying together


i promise i'll have good thoughts for you friday


sometimes i get a little air sick and i was little worried about that ... lisa promised to take me into the toilets if i need some comfort

 

[Olivianna]

When you get really anxious during the flight, just think of Hogjack as the pilot. Or, maybe you shouldn't do that.

 

[huskie]

home to the NY area for a couple weeks; Mr K and I have some real estate business stuff to take care off, plus see some friends and family.

Also going to the lawyer to make out wills seems morbid I know but to be practical, if anything happened to one or both of us, I would hate to have my family to have to go to the whole probate thing.

Obviously I'm not actually expecting anyting awful to happen, on this trip or in general, but I am just...anxious.

NY???!!!??? are you staying in the city??? you should be freaked out!!! there aint enough beer to handle that!!!

We're much warmer down south and us men down here have manners well most of us anyway.

 

[hogjack]

Fly the Hogjack Skies

When you get really anxious during the flight, just think of Hogjack as the pilot. Or, maybe you shouldn't do that.

My credentials as a pilot are immaculate.

 

[marksgirl]

Hang in there Peachy you will do fine I'm sure, you are one tough cookie!

 

[J.B.]

all will be well.

 

[peachykeen]

thank's y'all, I know I know I know. In my head. But my gut still says, ack.


So, you know, at the Lit together on Sat nite, I will probably be the first one to be drunk off my ass and dancing on the table, in celebration.

Provided I have not perished in a fiery plane crash, of course.

 

[curious2c]

Take along a walkman and a few CD's. Listen to your music and relax. If you can get relaxed enough...you may be able to sleep most of the way. (Unless you have children along...maybe hubby could watch them if necessary though. I know how bad flying can be for some people. I hope you have a great flight both ways.

 

[Olivianna]

Re: Fly the Hogjack Skies

My credentials as a pilot are immaculate.

We've yet to let you out of the laboratory, though. Of course, we do hope the experiment has been successful.

 

[peachykeen]

Okay I'm leaving for Heathrow in a few minutes. Got my pills, have emptied my bowels, and I'm almost nearly not quite entirely a mass if twitching nerves.

Yesterday I was in a shop and as I was waiting to be served I noticed that the music was Bob Marley, and he was singing "Don' worry, about a thing, cuz ev'ry little thing, gonna be alright." I'm making that my theme song for today. Well, trying.

eep.

 

[MissTaken]

Have a safe trip.

Take care and bring stuff to keep your mind occupied.

(No, a vibe might not do it. )

 

[Lost Cause]

I love to fly....

Enjoy it, don't think of the shuttle, flight 800, or anything like that. It's great! Have fun!

 

[kotori]

Good luck, peachy. Remember me to Journal Square.

 

[T.J. Jackson]

Re: I love to fly....

Enjoy it, don't think of the shuttle, flight 800, or anything like that. It's great! Have fun!

LOL, instilling confidence.

 

[Lost Cause]

It would've helped......

If she gave us the flight number, or the airlines. That way, we could have monitored the flight status over the internet, sort of flying with her. I'm not sure, but I think it's bad luck not to give the airlines.

 

[k¡tty]

I'll be thinking good thoughts for you on your flight out and on your return flight.


Best of luck to ya doll.