My mom, Cynthia (Cindi) Inman Graham, had a fear of flying. As the plane took off, and during its descent, she would clench her fists and grit her teeth. When my brother Adam and I were little she would squeeze our hands and quietly sing John Denver’s “Leaving on a Jet Plane.” The song was for us, and also for her.
All my bags are packed
I’m ready to go
I’m standin’ here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
Cindi’s airplane anxiety is notable because she spent years teaching and learning abroad: an Israeli kibbutz; Nairobi, Kenya; Vientiane, Laos; and 11 years in Australian…
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