With so many teary Oscar acceptance speeches this week, I thought I’d examine another emotional spectacle: Crying at 30,000 feet. For some people, it just comes easier. It’s even an expected part of the sounds of take-off: engines roar, wheels retract, bins shuffle, and babies cry. And cry and cry and cry. It’s the ear pressure, the strange environment, and probably a little of mommy or daddy’s nervousness, but, for the most part, when babies cry most passengers accept the noise without too much aggravation.
But, as you might have noticed, babies aren’t the only ones crying on the plane.
In my personal experience as a fairly frequent flier, I’ve noticed that some adults do, too. They try to hide it, but they’re the ones clutching at their Kleenex, shoulders silently heaving, and turned into the window wiping tears off their faces hoping no one will notice. Or, they’re the ones with the headphones on watching the movie all wide-eyed and gushing into their cocktail napkin.
It makes sense though, right? So much of travel is poignant and brings up so many ends and beginnings. There are long good-byes and emotional reunions. There is the call of the familiar and the fear of the unknown. There’s the presence of strangers in somewhat intimate proximity. There’s the fact that we’re all by ourselves sitting in aluminum tube way up in the middle of the air and are removed from the people and places that bring us comfort.
And as adults we so rarely find ourselves in a vacuum with little to no distractions. It’s no surprise that when we find a little uninterrupted time to think, life’s emotions start to play out with a little more force than they do on the ground.
There are some theories that explain the “crying and flying” phenomenon from a purely physical standpoint. Our eyes are already working hard to produce extra tears and moisture in a dry environment, so it’s no surprise that our tear ducts are overactive.
Do you find that you get more easily emotional on the plane? What do you think this is all about?
Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member Owen Lipsett.
Comments
Feb 25, 2009
Oh man, I'm kind of bad about this. I once burst into tears upon leaving Atlanta, Georgia for New York City. I was so tired of living in NYC and so ready to be back in the South.
I've also been close to tears during turbulence. I'm a VERY nervous flier, though I fly all the time.
Feb 25, 2009
I am ALWAYS crying on planes! Seriously, I weep through the movies I watch, even the ones that aren't particularly poignant. My brother is the same way! When we used to fly together a lot from New York to London, we'd be the ones sobbing in row 23.
If it's not the movies, then it's something else. I'm always saying goodbye to people in airports, and that brings the tears on too.
Feb 25, 2009
Well, this is a bit of a confession but yes, I choke back tears on the plane but only when I say goodbye to my mom and dad when I fly back to NY.
I always turn around one last time before I disappear in the sea of people to look at my mom. After I've settled into my seat, I picture my dear ol' ma with her sad eyes standing there at the security gate waving goodbye. She's such a heartbreaker..
Feb 25, 2009
Oh, yes. I have been this way for years.
The first time it happened I was 15 years old and was convinced that I had just met the love of my life on a family vacation to Disney World. Darrell and I *were* in love. We held hands and looked into each others' eyes and shared our adventures at the various theme parks every day for a week. When I was flying back to WV and he was flying back to AZ, I was completely distraught about returning to my dark, loveless life. I probably went home and wrote some dark emo poetry about cutting, too.
For better or worse, I remain a plane cryer. Emotional moves, funerals, weddings, and renunions with friends ensure that I have plenty of material.
In all the crying I've done on planes, I find it very interesting how polite everyone is about ignoring me as I fall apart in my seat. I've never been asked what's wrong--the is fortunate, because I'd probably tell the poor person what it was, too.
I'm glad to know there are others like me out there!
Feb 25, 2009
I cry if there is turbulance. I get so scared. Also, once when I was reading The Lovely Bones on a plane I got extremely upset and was sobbing and gasping for breath. If you plan to read this book I suggest you do it in private.
Sep 24, 2009
I rarely cry, but will if it is something i relate to in my own life.