I did this once. A stranger asked me to hold her hand as we landed. It was the height of COVID and I was kind of wary, but I used some hand sanitizer before and after, and grabbed her hand as we hit the usual turbulence and bumps on approach. I figured if she was scared enough to ask a stranger to hold her hand, it would be meaningful to her to do it. We didn’t really talk before or after. Once we landed and started taxiing, she let go, thanked me, and I said you’re welcome.
I’ve experienced some scary shit, for me – nearly lost a limb (thanks be to medicine), cancer scare, etc. Life shit.
The simple human kindness of reassuring touch is so trivial at the time until you’re really in the depths of the fear in the spinning, wild, no-no-no-no part. Then the triviality of reassuring human touch - platonic, but there to say you’re not alone - is a fucking lifeline. Just for a moment.
I did this once. A stranger asked me to hold her hand as we landed. It was the height of COVID and I was kind of wary, but I used some hand sanitizer before and after, and grabbed her hand as we hit the usual turbulence and bumps on approach. I figured if she was scared enough to ask a stranger to hold her hand, it would be meaningful to her to do it. We didn’t really talk before or after. Once we landed and started taxiing, she let go, thanked me, and I said you’re welcome.
This is such an important realization, I think. It was a little bit awkward for you, but imagine her internal process.
I’ve experienced some scary shit, for me – nearly lost a limb (thanks be to medicine), cancer scare, etc. Life shit.
The simple human kindness of reassuring touch is so trivial at the time until you’re really in the depths of the fear in the spinning, wild, no-no-no-no part. Then the triviality of reassuring human touch - platonic, but there to say you’re not alone - is a fucking lifeline. Just for a moment.