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I'm petrified of airline travel, but instead of giving into the phobia (besides, flying is the only way I'm getting to Dayton, Ohio, for a certain writing conference!), I'm channeling my fears into something productive.

I've categorized the following types of airline passengers. Do you know any of them?

The Air Preparer: He's the MacGyver at 40,000 miles. Need a bandage, cough syrup, earplugs or screwdriver? He's your man.

The Air Armchairer: She makes a beeline to her seat so she can beat you out. Giving you an evil glare as you stagger innocently down the aisle, you notice her elbows hogging both armrests. Do you dare claim what's rightfully yours?

The Air Barer: Is this a 747 or a hot yoga class? She's so scantily dressed, her mother would make her put on a trench coat. Oh wait, that might be even more provocative!

The Air Scarer: This person makes your peanuts and pretzel packages stand on end with their tales of terror. On another flight they were recently on, the pilot had to release all the luggage to lighten the load. Still a different flight they had to drop all their fuel and ultimately all the passengers as well. Gasp. But the most horrific flight of all was when they ran out of Diet Coke.

The Air Prayer: This individual should never sit next to an Air Scarer. You can recognize one of these quite easily because their lips move silently in a constant state of prayer as they clutch their rosary beads until the plane touches back on ground.

The Air Affairer: The longing, seductive looks they give one another from business class to coach is their mark of distinction. They don't dare sit in the same section lest someone knows them. Watch for synchronized bathroom trips. (Being crowned King/Queen of the Mile High Club would be their ultimate frequent flier reward.)

The Air Solitairer: Yes, this guy flies all by his lonesome self. But that deck of cards is in continuous motion. Look! That red Jack can go on the black Queen!

The Air Marryer: No sooner does the pilot point out Mt. St. Helens when he directs your attention to a passenger seated over the wing who is now going down on bended knee. Will she say yes? Maybe he couldn't do this on the ground because he's counting on the diamond looking bigger under the little cabin book light?

The Air DayCarer: She has not just one, not just two, but three kids and she's brought enough provisions to put a preschool to shame. Hey! Will she share a handful of cheerios and that etch-a-sketch with your own cranky child? No she will not, stupid - next time, fly more prepared.

The Air Pairer: These two are lifelong friends going on a gal-pal weekend and they love to chit-chat with you seated in between them. Why didn't they book seats right next to one another?? Because one needs a window and one needs an aisle and talking over you is a stimulating challenge. Just read your book and shut up, okay?

The Air Error: This guy flies planes for a hobby and he's gonna run down the list of all the mistakes they're making. Think you can do it better? Get in that cockpit and take contol!

The Air Swearer: Salty vocabulary is an understatement and if he's seated next to The Air DayCarer, he better watch his language - she's gonna have her kids paste his mouth shut with their gluesticks during art and craft hour.

The Air Comparer: "Jet Blue has far more leg room than this cracker jack plane. Did you know United baked oatmeal cookies on a flight once? Wonder if Virgin Airlines would hire flight attendants as ugly as these?" Thank you for sharing!

The Air Despairer: This individual is absolutely petrified to fly and you've got the nail marks in your arm to prove it. What was that noise? Did you see that little red light blinking on the wing? What if the pilot just found out his wife is leaving him and chooses today to fall off the wagon?

The Air DentalCarer: Flossing teeth in public is yucky. But traces of blue toothpaste left in that itty bitty sink can only mean one thing. . . Someone's mouth is minty fresh during this flight for a good reason.

The Air Sharer: By the time you land, you've seen all their grandkids, know their favorite scene from The Wizard of Oz and split a hoagie with them. But you booked a red eye to sleep.

The Air Darer: He'll scamper boldly off to the bathroom even if the "Fasten Seatbelt" sign just came on.

The Air NonFootWearer: Yes, we know they need to let their toes breathe. But do we need to breathe their toes?

The Air Starer and Awarer: A very nosy individual, scrutinizing every passenger on the flight, the wheels always turning. Hyper aware of subtle mannerisms and nuances, taking notes so she can write a blog about it and later submit it to Erma Bombeck's humor site. Nah, those people don't really exist!

- Stephanie D. Lewis

Stephanie D. Lewis regularly contributes to Huffington Post as well as pens a humor blog, "Once Upon Your Prime," where she tries to "Live Happily Ever Laughter." She also writes an ongoing "Female Fun" column for North County Woman Magazine called Razzle, Dazzle & Frazzle and was named one of 2014 Voices of the Year by BlogHer. Her 2008 book, Lullabies & Alibis, is the tale of marriage, motherhood, mistakes and madness. As a single mother of six, she knows a lot about the madness. She's supervised potty training and driver's training simultaneously. Too many accidents. A live-in housekeeper? Nah, she'll take a live-in psychotherapist.