First Flight and Alone

I worked for a health agency and I was assigned to a small disabled child. He had to be hospitalized for a few days and I asked the agency not to schedule me to a new case. It seemed the perfect time to fly to Arizona to visit my daughter’s family and new grandson. Since it was a sudden decision and I had never flown in an airplane, I was a little apprehensive.

Making the reservation, I realized my husband could not get off work, so I would make this trip alone. I was fifty-eight years old and had never even been to an airport. The town in southwest Missouri where I lived had commuter plane—that meant I would have to fly to Dallas, Texas and board a jet to Phoenix, Arizona, where my daughter would be waiting.

I was unprepared for the tiny compartments with two seats on each side of the narrow aisle. The stewardess took my ticket and directed me to the back of the plane and a window seat. About this time my claustrophobia began to kick in. The airplane accelerated and I caught my breath, knowing I was in this for the long haul. Then I felt weightlessness and thought we had stopped until I looked out the window. I could see the city miles below and I began to panic. The roar was deafening as I viewed the wings outside the window.

“What am I doing? I know I am going to fall from the sky and never see my family again.” Tears began to roll silently down my cheeks until my seatmate laid her hand on my arm. “First time flying, dear? Just relax and we will be there before you know it.” She began to chat about her first flight and about her grandchildren she was going to visit. Before I realized it she had talked me out of my fear.

The Dallas airport seemed huge to this country girl, and I was sure I would miss my next plane. Checking my ticket gate number, luck was with me—the number I needed was close by. Lugging my suitcase, camera and purse, I hurried up the ramp to my plane. Since the airplane was larger, I felt more confident and found my seat. In the next seat was the same sweet lady who flew next to me from Springfield. God had sent this guardian Angel to let me know He was watching over me, even when my feet weren’t on the ground.