Plane-spotting

My name is Aileen and I am a plane-spotter. It's been hard to come to terms with this label, but if I am honest with myself, I have to admit I might have a plane-spotting problem.

I never saw it as a problem, I mean there is nothing wrong with looking up if you hear a plane, right? But on several instances I have nearly cycled into a car while trying to work out if it is Lufthansa or Icelandair flying overhead. Then I thought, well I should just stop looking up. But I tried and I can't.

Everyone who has a problem blames it on their childhood and I think there could be something in it. My mother used to take us to the local airport to watch planes (back in the days when the parking was free). It kept us entertained for hours and it was cheap. On top of that, my father worked abroad, so going to the airport to meet him was definitely a positive experience. And ever since, I just like planes and airports.

At first I managed to hide my problem. I managed to convince everyone I was just really nice by offering to drive them to the airport. I think in Boston I once managed to pick-up or drive someone to the airport 5 times in a week. I used to know what times all the European airlines arrived at Logan airport. I was quite proud about this knowledge but I still remember the day that someone hit me with the bomb by telling me "that's sad".

I am not sure how I convinced Dr. P to move with me to a house under the flight path leading into Heathrow. I can lie on my sofa and every 90 seconds I can marvel at a new plane coming into land. It is so fantastic. Maybe I still have a problem, but at least I won't cycle into a car anymore.......