i thought i was going to die...

I travel a lot. I have to for work. Am I at more risk scooting here and there than walking down the road? Tough call. In my heart I believe when it's your time it's your time. Happy outlook huh? It's why I live for today and I try not to miss things. I was in Boston this week on a quick trip and wanted to come home. It was storming in New England. The highways I generally flew down were flooded. I hoped I could jump on an early flight. The kids had the flu. And it's almost Thanksgiving. The day before is the biggest travel day in the US. Get home now.
Well I missed the noon flight by a few minutes. Had a nice lunch and got ready to board the 2:25 which became the 2:45. When we got on the little jet the pilot told us about the weather in Halifax. I thought the folks on the flight I was supposed to go home on at 7:30 were going to be stuck in Boston. Glad I got on this one.
From the time we took off I knew something was up. We bounced around and just didn't seem to be able to climb. The pilot came on and said we made our altitude. I looked out the window again. I'd never seen clouds like that before. EVER! I fly all the time and I know about turbulence. It was like there was a layer of cloud and then on top of that there were huge atomic clouds. Looking ahead I realized we had to fly thru them. Then the banging around started. Up, down, left, right. Yikes. It was rough. It was going to get worse.
We started our descent and we really started shaking. Then the smell hit. Someone puked. The plane shook more and more people got sick. People were screaming. I'm looking out the window as it was getting darker and darker. Not that I could see anything on the ground! We were close to Halifax when things went nuts. I cannot explain what it was like. Imagine me without words! The winds at the airport were over 100 km/h. Not just one way but North, South, East and West. There was no way this plane was going to land safely in Halifax. Did we have cowboys for pilots? I could briefly see the ground (10 seconds) we were about 1000 feet off the ground. Then it was back to white. White from the clouds lit by the lights on the plane. Could the pilots see up front? The way the plane was shaking violently. How could we land without hitting a wing or being pushed into the ground? I overheard the couple behind me. I noticed them earlier they were in their late 50s and looked quite well to do and successful. He told her "You've been a wonderful wife and I love you". Thoughts ran thru my mind. What had I left unsaid? What could have I done differently? Will I ever see my loved ones again? Is this going to hurt? Some screamed, some were silent and I prayed.
The jets roared to life and we shot skyward. Are they going to try this again? Please no let's go anywhere else. We bounced to Bangor. Upon landing the cleaned up the plane and refueled. People got off. Some were going to taxi to Halifax. Some said they would never fly again. I was trying to book a hotel in Boston. Tomorrow's gonna be a long day. I will get home sooner or later.

A tune to think of...
"Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" ~U2
Tough, you think you've got the stuff
You're telling me and anyone
You're hard enough
You don't have to put up a fight
You don't have to always be right
Let me take some of the punches
For you tonight
Listen to me nowI need to let you know
You don't have to go it alone
And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you when I don't pick up the phone
Sometimes you can't make it on your own
We fight all the time
You and I...that's alright
We're the same soul
I don't need...I don't need to hear you say
That if we weren't so alike
You'd like me a whole lot more
Listen to me nowI need to let you know
You don't have to go it alone
And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you when I don't pick up the phone
Sometimes you can't make it on your own
I know that we don't talkI'm sick of it all
Can - you - hear - me - when - I
-Sing, you're the reason I sing
You're the reason why the opera is in me...
Where are we now?
I've still got to let you know
A house still doesn't make a home
Don't leave me here alone...
And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you that makes it hard to let go
Sometimes you can't make it on your own
Sometimes you can't make it
The best you can do is to fake it
Sometimes you can't make it on your own