Trauma Counselor? A Brush with a Bumpy Landing!!

Few things inspire awe quite like an African sunrise. But on this particular morning, the spectacle of the savanna was eclipsed by a far different kind of drama. Our small plane was moments from landing at our destination when a series of unsettling grinding noises filled the cabin. The pilot, a stoic man with a weathered face, announced a “minor landing gear issue” over the intercom.

My heart thumped a frantic counterpoint to the grinding. Glancing at my clients, I saw a tapestry of fear etched on their faces. Wide eyes, clenched jaws – the usual safari chatter had evaporated, replaced by a suffocating silence. As a flight attendant hurried forward, the pilot, our only beacon of calm amidst the rising anxiety, assured us of a delayed approach. But silent prayers and white knuckles betrayed the helplessness we all felt.

The plane banked sharply, the grinding resuming with a bone-jarring intensity. Then, a welcome voice on the intercom. “Landing gear engaged,” the pilot announced. Relief washed over the cabin, palpable and immediate. As the wheels touched down, a spontaneous eruption of cheers filled the air.

We had cheated fate, and in that shared moment of terror and triumph, a strange camaraderie bloomed amongst us. The savanna awaited, but the memory of that adrenaline-fueled descent would forever be etched in our minds, a stark reminder of the raw power of nature, and the unwavering professionalism that sees us through.