I used to be terrified to fly. Like drug-taking, listening to the pilot radio channel, constant watch on the flight attendants, horoscope reading, arm rest clinching, heart racing, talking to my Mama on the phone until boarding terrified. TERR.A.FIED. But something changed. It had nothing to do with the amount of flights I took but rather my attitude towards flying. Disclaimer Alert! I am about to wax poetic and talk a little crazy. Continue at your own risk….
First, I think I have become very happy with my life in the last few years. I really think that helps. I am not afraid of missing out on anything anymore. If I were to pass before my time well rest assured that I have lived a great life to date. See, told you it would be deep. So that helped. Secondly, I fell head over heels over the band Drive-By Truckers. I could write a series of posts on how I feel about this band. Mostly I feel connected to them like I feel connected to home. They are extremely talented musicians and very talented song-writers. They are very relevant to me. So when I first heard this song “Shut Your Mouth and Get Your Ass on the Plane” I thought it was silly and fun. It is a great song to dance to at the end of one of their shows. Once I had a chance to really listen to the lyrics, and to quote Cellar Roomie “Hand to God”, it changed everything. Almost instantly I was no longer scared to fly. This song just made sense and resonated with me unlike anything else could. Check out some of these lyrics from the song:
We’ve been this close to death before, we were just too drunk to know it, Guess the price of being sober is being scared out of your mind
When it comes your time to go, ain’t no good way to go about it
Ain’t no use in thinking bout it
You’ll just drive yourself insane
There comes a time for everything
And the time has come for you to shut your mouth and get your ass on the plane
And the clencher…
Dead is dead and it ain’t no different than walking around if you ain’t living
Living in fear’s just another way of dying before your time
That Mike Cooley is awfully clever! So I make it a chance to listen to this song every time before I fly just to remind myself. Works like a charm. I have shared this technique with Drunk Mama who is a nervous flyer and I think it has helped her too.
Tomorrow I am getting on the plane to go Home! I haven’t been there in nine months. It is time for me to shut my mouth and get my ass on the plane.
Cellar Mama said:
Yah! You’re coming home.
I have yet to fly unafraid, however, the line in the song about being drunk – well a little drink before flying never hurts. I agree with the person who said he wasn’t afraid of dying, just afraid of getting dead. Your song is right on though.
wineamongfriends said:
Yeah! That is hysterical. Yeah, I am definitely afraid of the processing of getting dead.
mudp1e said:
Not only does Cellar Mouse listen to this song before boarding, she makes sure her travel companions do as well. I am sure you are safe on the ground now since the news hasn’t informed me otherwise : ) Enjoy your weekend!
drunkmama said:
Thank-you for introducing me to the Drive-by-Truckers AND especially for that song. You’re right — I’m an extremely nervous flyer, but that song has helped. Of course, my new Valium prescription doesn’t hurt
Now that you’re back we need to hang out so I can hear about your trip — and share a delicious bottle of Gun-Bun that travelled all the way from California…