First off, I’d like to say this…I am NOT afraid of flying.  I have no problem packing a bag, going to the airport, and getting on a plane.  I like airports. They’re fun! I used to like air shows.  About 10 years ago, I lived in a small suburb of a large metropolitan area–approximately half a mile from a little airport that had air shows every year–and I could sit on my front yard and watch them.

But recently, air shows have begun to  freak me the Hell out.  It all started about two weeks ago when I was getting ready to leave for work, and footage of an air show where a plane crashed was on TV.  In this case, the plan dived straight down into the ground. The camera showed the entire thing-including the impact and resulting explosion.I don’t know why this bothered me, but it did.  Maybe it’s because it wasn’t a movie but someone actually dying and being shown blatantly doing so on TV that bothered me.

Flash forward  to our recent Gran Prix mandated trip.  The Brain and I just happened to be in Cleveland on Labor Day, where we went to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  If you’ve never been (I’ve been twice–so there), it’s a beautiful location on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland. While we were there, there was an air show going on.  So, the waterfront was a CLUSTER to find parking, etc.  The planes were flying RIGHT OVER OUR HEADS. I was in borderline panic mode every time one made a swooping move over our heads and then careened past the office buildings. I just wanted to get inside because I was afraid that one of them would crash–and I would see it happen.  Of course, while inside, I also harbored a fear that one would crash INTO the hall of fame while I was in it–but that bothered me less. Besides, once your inside, you can only hear the controlled environment–no outside noise pervades.

So, on television this week, there was plane crash at an air show.  One where the plan crashed into a stand of people, resulting in casualties. And I freaked out watching this on the news. And it bothers me to write about it now. And I’m not even sure why I am. I just thought it should be said.

 edited 9/19/11 Oh yeah–I found out last night that there was ANOTHER air show crash this weekend in WV where only the pilot was killed.  This is CRAZY.