ne thing that always gets me nervous is the take off of a
plane. I fly on the average of three times a year and I always get nervous.
Very few things run through my head during the process; engine failure, death, and Janet
Fila.
I always think of Janet Fila. Janet is a friend whom I met in High School. She was in the same shop class as I was in. Probably one the most prettiest girls around and received preferential treatment from everyone; well, at least from all the guys. Everyone had a crush of some sort on Janet. And, she was always one of the most modest and sweetest persons you’ll ever meet.
Some of the students of this shop class belonged in the AIASA organization headed up by the teacher Mr. Gruber. Once a year the organization would attend a statewide conference to compete would other charters of AIASA. One year, this conference was held in Saratoga Springs, New York. None of us had ever really heard of Saratoga Springs, but we all realized that it was really far away. We all had to get our permission slips signed and plane tickets had to be purchased.
There we all were loaded up in the plane and the plane was starting to move. I remember looking over to Janet, and seeing her face being flushed over with fear. As we taxied toward the runway, she gripped the armrests so hard that the veins in her forearms began to pulsate. The plane positioned itself and came to a stop at the end of the runway. I looked over again, and she was now gripping the people’s arms at both sides of her. Her eyes were closed and if one listened closely enough, you can hear a prayer being mentioned over and over again. I remember a quick jolt of acceleration and my one hundred and ten pound body sunk into the seat. I heard a slight scream and I turned my head. I remember seeing the saddest sight. I have never seen her cry before that day. And, I realized that she was human just like the rest of us.
Today, Janet Fila is Janet McCarthy, happily married to Jeff (the lucky guy), and they both have a lovely daughter named Emily. The McCarthy’s reside in Brooklyn, New York. "Janet, keep the faith…"
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