In a Holding Pattern

IT WAS not too long ago that I was on a plane, headed to a destination where I had to speak. And as we got closer and closer to the destination, I noticed that we were not headed down toward the runway, as we should have been by that time. The pilot came on and informed us that we were in a holding pattern. We were circling the area.

We had not been given permission to land. We were told that we were going to have to wait until such time as the control tower gave us permission to land. I remember that I began to get very frustrated at the fact that I was in a holding pattern over which I had absolutely no control. I don’t mind holding patterns that I control—because then I can land anytime I want to.

But when other folks are in the cockpit, and I am in the dark and in a holding pattern, that can be a very frustrating position. It’s not a good feeling to be on hold and not know how long it will last.