"I'm talking to an inanimate object, I know," a colleague confided when he told me about a little routine he carries out before he enters an airplane. He touches the plane's exterior -- always with his left hand -- and wills it to be strong, like giving a dog an atta-boy pat on the head. Then he runs his fingers along the rivets that line the door opening.
Works like a charm.
Well, at least he hasn't been in a crash yet.
"Sounds stupid, but I believe in it," he said.
In my book, if superstitions bring comfort to the sometimes discomforting experience of flying, there's nothing stupid about them.
In fact, I'm betting there's a world of travelers out there who have their own special ways to help get the plane off the ground and to its destination -- by rubbing a rabbit's foot or holding their breath at takeoff.
If you're one of those travelers, I'd love to hear from you. Tell me your superstition and what might have prompted it. E-mail travel@startribune.com and include your name, phone number and the city in which you live.
