...of the details

Although I’d made it to Hawaii, it wasn’t easy. I didn’t physically freak out on the first flight; I just sat next to my friend and listened to her. The second flight, now that one, LOL…man oh man! I know I posted my journal entry about the breakdown, but let me give y’all overt details.

First of all, once we arrived at Narita airport, it hit me that this is it. I was about to embark on another aircraft, that was bigger which meant that if it crashed, the impact would be greater and that means that there is definitely NOT a chance of survival! Then again, I thought, since the majority of the flight would be over water there’s a greater chance of survival from the crash but I-CAN’T-SWIM! Or what if I froze in the ocean while waiting on the Coast Guard or whoever it is that does the rescuing over there! I’m telling y’all, flying is not good for me at all!

So anyway, I made a command decision to call Anton and inform him, while I was sobbing, that I would be board the Shinkasen to come back to Misawa because I just couldn’t get on the plane. I heard disappointment in his voice when he said, “Okay baby. If that’s what you want to do.” I told him that I’d call when I arrived back in Misawa. I cannot recall how I ended up on the plane but however it happened, it left no time for me to call Anton back to let him know that my plans had changed.

The screen on the headrest of the seat in front of me displayed the amount of mileage to Hawaii along with a map and the estimated flight time of 6 hours and 53 minutes! That’s entirely too long to be on a plane I thought! Panic mode…

As the airplane taxis, my heart rate increases. It takes its position at the end of the runway. While the pilot waits for take-off clearance, I tell myself that I’ve still got time to get off the plane. “They’ll let you off since you’re still grounded.” The impulse to spring up and yell to let me off almost overcame me. Aaaahhhh, it starts to move! While the speed of that huge-suffocating-man made-bird wannabe thing increased, so did my heart & breathing rate. I began taking short breaths and clasped the armrests. “Stop it! Stop telling me to scream. I can do this! Help me Lord, help me.” A mumbled prayer raced in my mind in hopes of calming me. My right leg is bouncing, now the left. “Calm down Larie, you gotta do this.” I told myself to shut-up. Repetitively I chanted,

“I gotta get off this plane. We not too far out that they can’t turn around and let me off.”

I really did try to control myself but my hands found their way first to my shoulders so that they could hold me and then to my head. Once there, they wrenched my head forward and I withdrew into the fetal position, (all while still in my seatbelt---I DO NOT KNOW HOW I DID IT SO DON’T ASK!), and I rocked violently.

Then I heard concerned, but calm voices asking what was happening. Because I did not answer, someone put a gentle hand on my back and head. I raised my head, the knees of my sweat suit had become soaked by my tears, and I think it went something like this:

Me: I’m sorry but you gotta let me off this plane.

Flight Attendant: Why do you need to get off?

Me: I-need-to-get-off-this-plane!

F.A.: Ma’am we need to know why you want to get off.

Me: I don’t want to get off I need to get off. Please turn this plane around!

F.A.: Can you tell us why?

Me: I need to go back home. Can you turn the airplane around please!

F.A.: We can’t just ask the pilot to turn the aircraft around; we have to tell him why.

Me: I can’t do this I gotta get off P-L-E-E-E-A-S-E!

F.A.: Is there something we can do?

Me: LET ME OFF THIS PLANE!

Another flight attendant began asking if anyone was with or knew me. Some guy told them who he’d seen me with earlier and just at that moment, “Sharon” realized that I was the one causing all the “drama” so she came up to my row and knelt down beside me. She began praying and I responded, (I am so ashamed to admit this, but I know I have to tell it, someone needs to hear it), “I don’t wanna hear dat right now “Sharon!” Still calm, she continued to pray. This is when the man who sat next to them offered to switch seats with me. “Sharon” pulled me up by the arm and with the help of two flight attendants, guided my “crippled” self to my new seat.

I was in terrible shape. My arms were drawn up into my chest, my head acted like it had a screw loose ‘cause it kept bobbing backward and to its side while my legs bent themselves at the knee, causing me to kinda hobble. My back had the nerve to hunch over as well! Oooooh, I got it, it seems like I was still in the fetal position although I was trying to walk!

They asked me if I needed anything once I sat down but I shook my head no and curled in a ball the best way I could and somehow, I fell asleep! Larie DOES NOT sleep on airplanes! When I woke up, the new screen in my view stated that our E.T.A was 30 minutes! YEEE-HAWWW!!!

I made it to Hawaii. I called Anton and said, "I'm in Hawaii." He praised God and congratulated me.

Yeah, it’s funny now, I laugh about it, so can you! It’s okay go ahead.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
1 John 4:18 NIV