If you think long distance dating is difficult, try being married to an airline employee. It ain't easy. Because working for an airline is not just a job, it's a lifestyle, a very unusual one. Even now, seven years later, my husband, a man who travels more often than I do, doesn't completely understand how things work in the aviation industry and will often times get frustrated whenever we're discussing our travel schedules. That's because my schedule, much like a pilot's schedule, can change at a moments notice, making it difficult to create long term plans. I work holidays and weekends and I'm away from home for days at a time. Not many people can handle that.

Pilots, for the most part, are type A personalities. They're logical thinkers who remain calm, cool, and in control as they command the aircraft. Think Captain Sullenberger. There's no room for emotion when faced with ditching an airplane into the Hudson River. Flight attendants, on the other hand, tend to be caretakers. We can pretty much make do in just about any situation. There's a reason why so many flight attendants end up on reality television shows like Survivor, Amazing Race, etc. Now they say opposites attract. I believe it. So is it any wonder that many pilots and flight attendants wind up having relationships with people who are completely different from themselves? Quite a few pilots tend to choose nurturing types like flight attendants, nurses and teachers, while a lot of flight attendants seem to get involved with pilots, police officers and firemen. Makes sense.

In my last post, The Bachelor - pilots, fashion & a few pilot fashion tips, I mentioned that I'm a fan of the reality television show The Bachelor. Well it just so happens that this season the man in command of the rose ceremony is a pilot named Jake. I truly believe that Vienna, one of the final four contestants, will be the last woman standing. What can I say, I always go for the underdog. Also, I admire strength in the face of adversity. Oh, sure, Vienna's a little immature, sharing intimate details of her dates with Jake that would have been better left unsaid, but she's young, thinks she's in love, and excited about what the future may hold. No one is perfect. So why would I choose the wild child who rubs everyone the wrong way, the woman who snuck into bed with the captain of her dreams only to be turned away and sent back to where she came from? Two reasons: 1. She has the type of personality that can handle life as a pilot's wife. 2. The psychological effect of fear.

In college I studied psychology and wound up taking a class on human sexuality. That's where I learned all about the power of fear. It can paralyze a person. I can't tell you how many passengers I've met over the years who are afraid to fly, who completely freak out at the mere hint of turbulence. Fear can also save a life. It's called your sixth sense. One should always trust it. You may be surprised to learn that fear also has a lesser known, more interesting effect on humans. It has been shown that men find women more attractive when they're scared.



Remember Jake's one on one date with Vienna? More specifically, remember the bungee jump nervous breakdown? Jake, it turns out, is afraid of heights. But he's a pilot! I know. How can a pilot who spends a majority of his time at 30,000 feet be afraid of heights? Simple. In an airplane Jake is in control. But jumping off the side of a bridge is a completely different story. So when Vienna, quite naturally, found herself comforting Jake as he tried to catch his breath before taking the giant leap, I thought to myself, perhaps she's the one. Finally, hand in hand, Jake and Vienna took the plunge. That's when I knew she had an edge over the other women in the house. Then, as the two of them bounced a few feet above the ground, face to face, embracing each other tightly and kissing passionately upside down, I felt like she might be the one to walk away with the final rose. I'm glad, because I think Vienna is perfect for Jake.

• GIA: Smart, sweet, and drop dead gorgeous, Gia has it going on. She's the perfect woman. If I were a man, she would be the one. If Jake weren't a pilot, I would root for her. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Gia ends up one of the last two women standing at the alter. But because Gia admitted in the last episode that she doesn't always feel secure, which is not a good thing when married to a person who isn't always around to boost the ego, I don't think she's the perfect match for Jake.

• ALI: No doubt about it, Ali is the most outspoken woman in the house. At times she comes off as a you-know-what. Instead of focusing on Jake, she's chosen to put all her energy into hating the competition, Vienna. Not a good sign. Marriage is work. It's not easy to remain focused on the positive, on what made you fall in love with your partner in the first place without life distracting you from what's truly important. Can a person prone to jealousy and negativity handle a life with someone who is constantly surrounded by adoration from both men and women? I doubt it.

• TENLEY: Sensitive and sweet, she's a likeable girl with a big heart. I can see why Jake would be attracted to her. But in the long run, she might be too fragile for Jake's lifestyle after being involved in a failed marriage to the one and only man she's known intimately, a man who abandoned her for another woman. Jake's a pilot. Each and every month he will have to leave her in order to go to work. Is Tenley strong enough to handle all those nights at home alone? I don't think so.