Fear of flying

Keep in mind that I dislike flying. Near-panic sets in while I am sitting inside that huge piece of metal and my common sense tells me it is just too heavy to get up in the air and stay there. I usually get around my unease by reminding myself over and over that many thousands fly each day with no problems and that flying is safer than driving on the freeways. So we boarded the plane yesterday to come home. All was fine, on time, good seats. We taxied a little ways towards the runway, stopped and then headed back to the gate. Uh oh. Once there the pilot came on the intercom:

"Folks, we have a little problem. One engine started up just fine but when I tried the other one it wouldn't start. I have spoken to maintenance and they say it is a valve that won't close. They are sending someone over to hit it with a rubber mallet and then we will be on our way."

Was he kidding? Well, the rubber mallet didn't work. We deplaned and wondered for a few hours if we would be spending the night again in Seattle. Four hours later they found another plane and we boarded again.

Sitting right behind me was an older couple who chatted non-stop throughout the entire flight, even though the flight attendant made it clear that due to the late hour the cabin lights would be dimmed so that passengers could sleep. They started out during the taxi by loudly discussing the crash of a 737 in SLC back in 1967 and debating how many hundreds of people were killed. About that time I was wondering if the guy with the rubber mallet was flying with us. Probably not.

It's good to be home. The Northwest is beautiful and we are hoping to return again soon.

$20.15

(A crumpled $20 bill found on the floor in a deserted gate area at the airport! Yippee!)

Photos were taken in the morning at Pike Place, an incredible Farmer's Market in Seattle. We could have spent hours there.