Flying

I hate flying.  I'll just be honest and get that out of the way.  So, with that in mind, let me tell you about our flight to from Dallas to Seattle.  First, we arrived at Love Field.  Everything went smoothly.  Made it through security with no problems, found our gate, got some lunch, etc.  When it was time to board we got in our line.  They were boarding families with young children.  Technically, our children aren't considered "young" anymore, but the boarding guy waved us forward to board before our group.  Cool!  Still, everything is going great.  Josiah and I sit on one side of the plane, with Josiah at the window, me in the middle and Casey and Ethan sit right across from us, Ethan by the window, Casey in the middle.  It's going to be a full flight, so I know someone is going to be sitting next to me....so I'm watching to see who it's going to be.  A lady in super high heels walks up, she looks at me and then smiles really sweet and speaks to the people right behind me.  In a super sweet voice to the people behind me she says, "May I sit there."  She takes the middle seat right behind me.  Soon a rather large guy, not huge, but not smallish either takes the seat next to me.  Josiah begins introducing us, of course.  His name is Bert.  He's a pilot for Southwest.  He's flying to Seattle to pick up a new plane and fly it back to Dallas.  He lives in Maryland.  See, we got to know Bert pretty well!  I tell him right up front that I'm a little nervous when it comes to flying.  Fair warning.
Take off.  Or blast off, as my boys call it.  It was a little bumpy, but Bert explained to my why, because of heat off the ground from the sun and such.  So, we're good.  If the pilot next to me isn't concerned I guess I shouldn't be either.  We are headed to Alberquerque (is that how it's spelled), it's only about an hour and twenty minute flight.  About twenty minutes into the flight a lady (probably in her late 20's) starts to have a panic attack or something like that.  I don't know exactly, but the flight attendants finally asked if there was a doctor or nurse on board.  Somebody came back and helped with the situation.  I got up to use the bathroom and just saw the poor girl hunched over and crying.  I felt  bad for the poor thing.  She was at least under control.
Then about 40 minutes into the flight we start hearing this stuff very loudly, "Land this **** -**** plane right now!"  Bert and I look at each other and I thought, wow, that's not good.  Then my seat starts shaking.  Yep, the lady behind me, remember the one who almost sat beside me, is FREAKING OUT!  Great.  When we finally landed she had passed out, but before then she had shook my seat a little, yelled out lot's of the F-word, and kicked at a stewardess.  Bert told me she was getting off in Alb. even if her ticket was for Seattle.  That made me feel better.  And, thankfully, Josiah seemed oblivious to the whole thing and never seemed to notice the outbursts.
So, we start the descent and boy, is it a rough one.  My stomach was not feeling well at all.  Bert said it was normal because of the mountains and blah, blah, blah.  Have I mentioned how grateful I was that Bert was sitting with us?  It was great!    We land and everyone is asked to wait for the paramedics to come on board.  Yep, the lady in the very back is off first.  Then, everyone else got off (at least 2/3 of the plane).  Then, the police come on to escort the lady behind me off the plane.  She is totally passed out by now, so it takes a few minutes.
Only a few more people join us for the flight to Seattle, so Bert moved up to the seat in front of us but told Josiah if he had any questions he could still ask.  We are ready to go, but the bags in Alb. can't get loaded because the ambulance and firetruck and police vehicles in the way.  So we wait awhile.  Finally, we take off, and it is rather smooth.  The flight was quiet, the landing was great. NO DRAMA!
We say goodbye to Bert.  Josiah tells him that he is a really nice man.  Bert says that he enjoyed getting to know Josiah too.  He even had shown Josiah pictures from the cockpit and what they see from the "front" of the plane.  It was pretty cool!  The important part is that we made it!