A long-term reader wrote yesterday that our dark gray font was hard to read. After reviewing past posts, I agreed with the reader and contacted our web people. By this morning, our font had been changed to a regular shade of black. I wrote back to our dear reader, Linda, to thank her for bringing this to my attention. In the past, I took our font for granted and never questioned it. Hopefully, all of you will find this darker font easier to read.
Also, this morning, I stumbled across an article about the “fear of flying,” thinking we’re long overdue on addressing this critical issue that plagues many travelers and is often ignored when it may bespeak a lack of travel experience, self-control, and self-confidence. Many of us prefer not to appear so vulnerable by admitting to such a perceived “flaw” in our travel experience.
Displaying my fear while on a flight was a fear unto itself. After many years, my dear friend Carol, a retired captain with Delta Airlines who worked for Republic Airlines when I met her in the 1980s, knew I was uncomfortable flying. Knowing this, she agreed to fly with me on a shared flight to a mutual end location. The following interaction on a flight finally freed me of my fear of flying.
While we flew together, Carol explained every sound and change occurring during the flight, which incredibly put my mind at ease. As Tom and I began traveling the world, flying on countless flights, some as long as 17 hours across the ocean, I found myself more at ease. It was only during takeoff and landing and severe turbulence that I’ve become uncomfortable since. Overall, my fear has been combatted.
We hope you can find ways to reduce your fear of flying if this has been an issue for you. If not, good for you! Continue to enjoy traveling wherever you may choose to go.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, August 12, 2014: