Don: “What role does fear play in your thoughts about dying?”
Ben: “I’d like to say not at all, but I don’t want to lie, particularly being so close to the end. I don’t think it’s the actual dying that scares me – it’s the fear of the unknown. Give me a video of the five minutes after I leave Anne, the house and my old desk so I know what’s coming, and I believe I’ll be okay with whatever is waiting for me.”
Don: “When were you most afraid in your life? Did that experience have a similar feeling?”
Ben: “I’ve been a pilot and flight instructor for most of my life. It’s been one of my greatest joys. One time in particular, I flew into a pretty mean storm. I hit turbulence and my little Mooney was going all over the place. My head kept hitting the side window. I needed a football helmet! I wasn’t sure which way was up and which way was down. Was my fear more about crashing or dying? At the moment, I was too busy to contemplate my emotional state, but afterward I was certain my fright came from not knowing what would happen to me after the crash.”
Don: “My guess is, Ben, you will have a peaceful landing regardless of where this last flight may take you.”
Ben: “Can you put that in writing?”