Well, I lived.
Xanax is such a wonderful drug. Most people who suffer from panic attacks or anxiety disorders get prescribed anywhere from .25mg to .50mg and take one as needed. My doctor gives me 1mg per flight, and today I took two of them (one per flight). It’s amazing how quickly they calm you down and make situations seem not as urgent. For example, about ten minutes before it was time to board my flight, I had a sudden urge to use the restroom.
No Xanax: “Oh boy, better hurry, don’t want to miss the flight, hate losing my seat here.”
One Xanax: “I’ve got plenty of time. Might just leave my coat here. If someone takes it, I’ll buy another.”
Two Xanax: “Bathroom’s pretty far … maybe I’ll just pee in this potted plant here.”
Three Xanax: “Why is this chair so wet and warm? Feels good …”
(For the record I’ve never taken three Xanax.) But that’s how it works. With none, just the idea of getting on a plan gives me butterflies. With one, things are bearable. With two I’ll be smiling, drooling, sleeping, or some combination of the three.
So anyway, first flight took me from OKC to O’Hare. I landed on one side of the airport and had 2 1/2 hours to get to the other side, so I had plenty of time to check out the stores. I passed two or three McDonald’s just along my route. I saw a Johnny Rockets, which Dad and I visited in Vegas and loved. No Oklahoma locations yet, but a few in Texas and a few in Illinois, so maybe we’ll eventually get one. I also saw Edward Henry “Butch” O’Hare’s airplane (I had no idea who the airport was named after) and a Brachiosaurus dinosaur (on loan from the Chicago Field Museum).
After a two hour layover it was on to Baltimore. Not much to say about that flight, mostly because I don’t remember much of it, hah. Landed in Baltimore and picked up my rental car, a Chevy Cobolt. Reminds me of my old Neon, but with less leg room. Plenty of pick up for in town driving.
Grabbed some Quizno’s, got to the hotel (50+ miles from the airport), plopped down on the bed around 5pm and woke up when Susan called around 9:30pm. Oy vey; Xanax strikes back. Went and grabbed some McDonald’s around 11pm; downed a couple of cheeseburgers, and getting ready for bed. Again.
Tomorrow morning I’m meeting the customer somewhere in Maryland; from there we’re driving to DC to do a couple of things before turning around and driving another hour. No idea what to expect tomorrow, which makes it even more exciting!
What, you never saw the Butch O’Hare mail forward? It’s a good story but unfortunately it’s rather embellished. Search Snopes for O’Hare if you’re curious.
Everyone who ever knew I liked airplanes forwarded that stupid thing to me. Regardless, he was a hell of a pilot. Kind of unfortunate that nobody knows what exactly happened to him.