A KODAK MOMENT

My husband is moving into a different office.

Same job, same building, same everything - just somebody higher up the food chain wanted his office , which is located next to the barber shop and across the hall from the cafeteria.

Personally, I believe someone with the odd combination of trichotillomania (hair compulsive behavior) and binge eating wants it for pure an simple convenience.

Anyway, I went over today for the first time in literally YEARS.

It's a half-hour drive (which, granted, my husband does twice every workday) on a military post. Which means I have to show my military identification three times, sign into the building, and then must be escorted.

And this is just to get to my husband's OLD office. Getting to his new office takes two ADDITIONAL security procedures to get into.

Which is why I don't go up there very often.

His new office has a door (a huge difference when the grand majority of employees are in huge low-ceilinged - if that isn't a word it should be - cubicle farms), and more impressive furniture (something with a credenza) and TWO big tables each with a glass covering

Although I've never understood the glass cover bit. The only reason I can see for that is a place to stick memos that you are supposed to refer to regularly. Or pictures your kids have drawn.

But I ohhed and ahhed the appropriate amount of time, met probably fifteen people whose names I am never going to remember, and allowed my sweet husband to escort me outside (since he had to walk me through the checkpoints AND sign me back out, it was almost on his way).

And as we were were walking across the ten acre parking lot, I happened to look up and saw some hawks. Well, admittedly, they have been large crows, but they weren't ACTING like crows, they were acting like hawks - and why am I making such a big deal about this?

Testing my husband's (admittedly) limited patience, I stood there and watched the two birds perform an intricate dance of flight for a good five minutes, using the brisk cool wind and their obviously familiarity for air travel to move in a perfect duet, gracefully, elegantly, and precisely mimicking each other's actions.

They never landed, never moved more than 20 to 30 feet in either direction the entire time I watched them.

One of those times I wished I had a video camera - or understood how to use my cell phone as one - it was beautiful.

PANIC IS NOT LOGICAL

I don't like flying. I'm not scared of flying, I just don't like it.

The seats keep getting smaller as my butt gets wider, the amenities one by one are being taken away (you used to get a meal on almost ANY flight... not that you necessarily would wanna eat it, but you could get one), and the only place you get a movie anymore without going international (actually, you get TWO) is flying to Hawaii

Plus I have a not-quite-pinched nerve in my back (slightly- tweaked-nerve?) that generally does not cooperate when I sit for extended periods of time. And the flight time to Hawaii is seven hours going and six and a half hours coming back (wind resistance).

So I end up standing in the back with the flight attendants and scaring off people who need to use the restrooms - they see me on my feet, assume there is a line, and go back to their seat. I probably cause more passengers to race to terminal restrooms the moment the plane lands than anyone in history. Especially after a seven hour flight and multiple fluids.

But back to not liking to fly. Like I said, I'm not scared of it, but I have a daughter who is TERRIFIED of flying - her flying, me flying, anyone flying.

No, it's not Harmony, you sillies. Harmony isn't scared of ANYthing... well, actually, she is scared of a couple of things but I am not going to list them publicly.

But Joy is literally freaking out because her brother flies back to college early tomorrow morning, and I leave Sunday for (how did you guess it?) Hawaii again.

But hey, this time I am going for a REASON, not just for FUN. I am going for a JOB... involving my grandchildren. But it is a SERIOUS task - honestly.

Anyone have any suggestions for combating something that is purely and solely emotionally fed and intellectually illogical?

And yes, she is already on medication to just deal with daily life.

But really, any ideas? Besides locking her up in a padded room until I get back home?