Wishing upon a dream...not if I can help it

I have had quite a summer this year.....what some might consider a lost one.  Not me, it was a time to be grateful for all those things that mean the most...it was a time for a true "dish it out" life experience, I worked on focusing on being grateful, with my predicament this was easy and difficult at the same time. 

I have so many things that make me happy, of which truth be told it sometimes gets lost and pushed back in the former back of our mind until life decides to set you back.  I share this with you in raw fashion only to give you a glimpse of how it forced me to hunker down and enjoy the moments of life that are a daily gift we often times ignore. 

Time as measured in milliseconds, minutes, hours roll by quickly even though I'm not ready...It's been hard to fathom that seven weeks have gone by or I just blinked and summer is over.  My life gave me a "blip" in the road and I'm working to get better and when I think it's so close and I'll be ahead, my laid out destiny takes a few steps back.

I was in a car accident; my first in 52 years, my first ride in an ambulance, my first ER visit, my first concussion, busted teeth and those closest to me saw the spark of ME dim.  I would dig deep to show bravado, to be playful while mostly I struggled, truth.

I do believe that struggles aka life lessons are needed for us all... While it doesn't mean I have to like them while in the throes of it....it simply is what is.

How I envision it; it's my life, the walk on my path and while it's hard right now, I must forge ahead and grin and bear it...it's life baby.

So, tonight while I set here I am looking ahead to my favorite month  September, where I am a wanderer, I float above the green earth, I search for nothing in particular, I am simply me, alone with my thoughts, no demands, no duties, no rules, smiling large I am at the most peace forging towards surprises, new experiences and awe through my own eyes.  I cannot spill out what colors my mind, that is mine alone, just as your view is yours alone.

I normally have a "plan" of where Girly Plane and me will go and I organize my itinerary in general terms and continue to fine tune over the summer months, while this year I had not been well enough to plan, yet, I dreamt of it in the recesses of my mind while I rested and rested and rested.  Can you taste the palpable distaste of this "resting" I mention? I am not one to rest, I run through life living large, boastful of razing, playful as a wild child with my innocence and curiosity spilling forward.

I needed to keep the trend of my journey this year and plan to explore a place (s) I had never been. Even if I am not able to take this trip I had to look on the map, plan a route of some sort that I could simply envision and have a target to dream and reach for.

I came up with a short challenging trip of what my mind might see, would the sights look the same up close and personal? I really didn't care, I prefer the element of surprise, the wonderment of what might be ahead.  I'm excited to plan, and thinking of what we might see, who we might meet....me and Girly Plane my cohort.

I push ahead focusing on getting my own pilot self to be current, to be sure I'm ready for any of the weather my long cross country is liable to toss at me.  It's been some time since I've been PIC in my Girly Plane, yet I feel she will embrace me, squelch my nervousness as she has a way of doing that.

While emergencies fester in the back of my mind, I will be ready to tackle them if they arise.  I plan on packing a few items for unexpected issues...tools (and they always come in handy), first aid supplies and such within reach.

I have looked over the flight planning, marked fuel stops, reviewed airports, looked at lodging and depending on flight conditions I always have a back up plan, it's a must.

I'm giddy, setting here thinking of what I have planned...it's a month away.  I'm exciting to collect sunsets, piling them up next to some thunderstorms, with racks of rainbows, baskets of full moons and how my eyes see the light reflect all around  me will be the calmest of calm.

It is flying that is the essence of my spirit, nurturing my soul in its awesomeness splendor.  Emotionally my being will fill up and I will slip into the nirvana only I am able to feel...what a splendid idea to look forward to. 

FRIENDS, Warbirds and LOTS of LUCK

I have some really good friends......really.........I'm a little late in the post, at the time when I started this post, I was on vacation and enjoying my time off and dropped off the "net", a good thing....we all should drop it and live in the moment with no posts, no likes, no contact except for who is setting next to you.

My oldest friend, Gene Breiner 89 years old works for the FAA and he knows I have an addiction to planes, and anything to do with flying.  He inspects experimental aircraft and gives them their certificate and he asked me if I wanted to see a Gruman Avenger on May 27th 2014 that was temporarily based at Hagerstown, she was to leave for her home base in Culpeper VA. I said sure, I'm always up for anything having to do with aviation...now who could I ask to join me.....hmmmm...my bud Pat wasn't sure...my bud Matt...couldn't.......I decided hell I'm going solo no problem I had to see her, I have a love for old flying Warbirds, how can you not?

Early Tuesday morning at the crack of dawn, cause that's how I roll,  I got to the barn (our hangar) and pre-flighted my Citabria known as "Girly Plane"...all set to go and the storms would give me the morning free.....and my bud Pat contacted me asking...you have a seat open?...in my wicked humor..nope, no room!! HAHA...we headed west and talked of how cool is this going to be, to see a Warbird and hear her roar up close and personal.

We landed and could not see her, the tower directed us towards where the Fairchild planes were manufactured and as we turned towards the buildings there she was setting, a stunning 1945 TBM 3E Grumman Avenger...the most awesomeness airplane..I parked Girly Plane near by and was so excited to be able to get close to the Avenger with no ropes to hold us back, no one to tell us to not touch her, and in fact we we were able to climb the ladder, climb in and set in the pilots seat...how is it we can be this lucky...yes we have pictures...

While we were walking around her a T-6 came cresting the corner our second favorite all time plane.......really?? Like two kids, we quickly circled the pilots and asked questions of them and the T-6 pilot said sure climb up and set in her...I kept looking at my bud Pat saying "can you believe this" we both had the biggest smiles.

Here's the deal the T-6 pilot Fran brought John Fuentes to fly the Avenger to her home base in Culpeper VA.  After the check was delivered to Gene, he would sign off and she would head off.  While roaming the Avenger, Gene scrambled and yelled for me to come over to them.......asking me
"look there are two seats open, do you want to ride in the Avenger and Pat can go in the T-6"? , the only thing is you will need a ride home from Virginia? I quickly said noooo, I don't have a ride, storms are approaching and we would probably be stranded....did I really just say nooooo??? WTH is wrong with me?

I called my hubby Barry and told him...he actually laughed and said "hun, you have to do this"!! 

I actually walked away and sighed, then practically started stomping my feet...I walked towards Pat and said "we have to make this happen", I quickly thought through my options and it seemed simple..all I needed was a car, drive back from Culpeper..how hard is that?  Lady Luck was making this difficult...no rental car to be found...resigned to the fact this was not going to happen, I walked over to both pilots and thanked them for waiting for us to try to make this happen.  I then walked over to Gene and Joe and explained where we stood, no where...and Gene, saved us,  tell you what, we will drive down and get you......now you know why I said I have "good friends".

I climbed in the hatch of the Avenger and was told I was in charge of the 30 caliber gun and torpedo drop...yea man, I can do this. After we lifted off I could climb up to sit in the co-pilot seat...and sitting in that seat, I really couldn't stop smiling...You know how you can remember a memory to all of the minute details of that moment? I'm setting here again smiling..... Meanwhile, my bud Pat was smiling ear to ear as he hopped in one of his favorite airplanes, the T-6...at that exact moment we loved our lady luck.

So, I setting in the belly and wondering how many young men have sat in this very seat...looking around the inside of her I was seriously humbled I was doing something very few people have the opportunity to do.

We departed Hagerstown Airport and headed south west down to Culpeper and I kept telling the pilot, John that I couldn't wipe the smile off my face and he shared with me that his passion was having the opportunity to fly these warbird's. Here he was living his passion....how many people get to do that? It was a beautiful flight and she lumbered through the sky and we landed to a small local crowd in Virgina. When I crawled out, I saw the glint of spark in Pat's eyes...I don't think I have ever seen him smile that big.  He insisted in giving her a kiss and then I had to ante up, while only reaching the prop...cause I'm short stuff, an no I didn't care about any bugs.....;-)

Our ride of Gene and Joe showed up and we were chatting, rambling and giddy as kids.  We continued this awesome day and headed up to see Kenny Hyde's place where the Wright Flyer is built....you see sometimes, these old timers have a plan and Kenny's place was 10 miles up the road, but we didn't mind at all.  Pat and I agreed it's the times like this of time slowing and us getting the opportunity to get an inside look see into special places due to Gene's connections, that we never rush through.  We were not permitted to take any pictures, however, the tour, led by Kenny showcasing his #59 original Wright engine was one of the highlights...seeing the planes, wood props, and meeting the employees and interns is forever engrained.

Just about now, we were all hungry...eats, ice cream and off we went heading north back to Hagerstown airport where Girly Plane was waiting for us and we all agreed with the weather and storms moving in we needed to make a decision in Frederick.  The closer we got the sky's darkened and rain was close and the winds were expecting to get wicked and I made the decision to head back to the barn and leave Girly Plane in Hagerstown and when we got back the wind sock was as calm the sky was clear as could be and I looked at Pat and we were both thinking...WTH, how's that weather forecast and wicked wind working out?? I coulda...I shoulda...oh well better to be safe than sorry.

13 hours later I pull into the driveway at home and while I'm glad to be home I am glued to the puter (what I call computer) watching the forecast and see more storms moving in for the next few days and I might have a small window to get her out early tomorrow.......I am lucky to have a good friend that fly's a jet and text him, are you around tomorrow early....he is off and farm boys are always up early.  At the crack of dawn I text him it's now or never.....Matt picks me up within minutes, we highjack another buds plane and head to get Girly Plane home.....as we arrive the sky is getting dark and it's raining.  I ask Matt to stay close and we roll out quick.  We hit some rain showers and as soon as we crested the mountain we were in the clear.  I did my signature fly-by over Pat's house (yea I have a habit of doing that to my closest buds, just to say "hay guys I'm flying", gosh I love to razz them, wing-girl style).

I don't have anything real special or poignant I can say about that special day....it's in the memory bank, we laughed so much the four of us.  I had to tell them the next day that riding around with them two was a treat for both of us...and Gene in his way, said "I didn't know we were the entertainment"?

I love that I have close flying friends who understand my addiction and while they might not admit it, they dig the passion I exude......they will be forever engrained in my heart, mind and man I treasure them..just don't tell them I said any of that mushy stuff...would never live it down....still smiling......#flyingbugforever#

Plane Jane and the Goodbye

It is at the strangest time, usually late at night that I sometimes suddenly wake to the quiet of the house and I find myself thinking of days gone past..is this what we do as we get older or simply a case of reminiscing?  What does it cost to take pictures of a plane or tell its story and share it with everyone...the answer, it costs nothing, but could cost all a great deal if we don't share...amazing stories sheltered in our mind and not shared...well I needed to spill or share...

I have a good friend named Gene Breiner, whom I've been lucky to have known for over 25 years. We spend a lot of time with him at our hangar aka "barn" located in Pennsylvania, a grass strip ~ Bermudian Valley Airpark - 07N. Just recently we were reminiscing about a trip we had taken, a memory that my emotions ebbing and flowing through various stages, hey it's life baby, let me explain what I mean...it's worth the read, at least I think so.

I remember when he asked me to be a part of her last trip....I was rather pensive at first, that I would be delivering her to her last resting place and she wouldn't be heard rumbling, stumbling and coughing as only she could sound. She often would make her presence heard during the early summer evenings, when she flew the most.  For some reason now it bothered me that a few years had passed and she was still in the back room at the Udvar Museum...not out showcasing her beauty, her history and the amazing sight she was for the world to see .  There is a beautiful strength in the nature of a fabric airplane that perhaps can be said to mimic our lives and connects us to them in amazing ways. I have known many aircraft owners to have a symbiotic relationship with their planes, I know a few close friends that do.  It's almost hard to put to words how we "fly-babies" feel about our planes.

It was around this time three years ago when I accepted his ask of me,  I really should say for us, my husband feels the same way about Gene's flying lady. I discussed with him what would be entailed and we both agreed I had to say yes. I had a seat open and there was only one person who would be the perfect co-pilot... My husband and thankfully he said yes!

Her name is Plane Jane NC8689 a Reuben Fleet Biplane Model 2 and my friend Gene has been her caretaker since 1975 and he has lovingly cared for her the last 30 years.

The decision made and now I needed to sharpen my skills and get Girly Plane ready...back to 2011. This was going to be a great challenge for me to lead our party of four aircraft (nordo radio and negative transponder except for me) flying into Dulles airport to the Udvar Hazy Museum. I had to get busy, we only had two months...We practiced formation flying, I had many calls with ATC on the entry into this special airspace - {SFRA-Special Flight Rules Area}, and filling out forms, sharpening my communication skills, etc... Truth be told at times my focus of what we were actually doing slipped my mind as I was learning and all of my energies were soaking up this new experience that I was undertaking.  I had many glitches while preparing, radio issues, communicating with ATC of the special approval that was required, knowledge of {SFRA} airspace to be learned, formation flying, but, let's get back to focusing on the gift the museum was receiving.

The day arrived and while we wished for the day to be raining, it was almost perfect...we all departed from our home base and headed to Frederick MD where we would look to depart on the flight plan I filed as agreed with ATC for this special formation flight into Dulles.

When we arrived at Frederick Airport and everyone fueled up Gene lumbered into Plain Jane for her last flight....I mentioned to my hubby, how emotional that must be...it was tough to watch, yet I realized all of us pilots will walk a very similar path such as this one day.

As we had practiced, the four of us embarked down to Dulles in a diamond formation...Fleet on my left, Waco on my right and C-120 on the tail.  My hubster would check our parties location to Girly Plane as I was focused on my task to get us safely to the final designation. I can vividly recall being handed off to the Dulles tower - Citabria 7507F cleared to land "party of four" 19L....I mean we're talking Dulles, baby!!!

We touched down and we taxied to the museum where the officials had a podium set up for the donation of the Fleet - Plane Jane...a part of our airport family.  Gene had written a speech and spoke about her history and what it meant to his family realizing we were saying goodbye to her for the final time.  Many of us had teary filled eyes, we might have looked away from each other but the emotions were tangible in the air.

The sun was slowly setting and it was time to depart and make our way back to home base, now a party of three and I led us out to 19L and was advised to intersect the runway with 5000 feet remaining which at the time made sense as the remaining party were capable of departing on that distance.......what was unbeknownst at that moment was we would set for over 45 minutes my two wing-men and me...while I called the tower twice the 767 and RJ's inbound kept us grounded, waiting.....here it was June 18, 2011 and a very warm day at that, engines running etc..the story takes a turn here.

Finally, we got the go ahead Citabria 7507F cleared for take off maintain 2500 cleared as filed and since the other two had no radios they had to follow me out of Dulles back home...we three lined up and I throttled forward and within seconds I realized I had a problem. I normally climb out at 2600 rpms, and she was only indicating 1700 rpms and I wasn't sure we would clear the trees and buildings looming ahead...are you kidding me??

I had to vocalize to my co-pilot (my hubby) hun, I'm not liking this.......He said I'm not either.....within one second here is what happened - 

ME - "Dulles Tower - Citabria 7507F party of three, we need to land" 

Dulles-  are you declaring an emergency?

ME - NO - we need to land we are not climbing

Dulles - Citabria "cleared to land 19L, party of three" 

ME - Dulles confirm party intact please 

Dulles -yes, party of two following

Dulles - Citabria do you need services 

ME- NO

It was at this time, on a the downwind leg that I told my I hubby, hun "I got this - don't worry" and he simply said okay....I slipped Girly Plane well before base and we three landed with Fire Trucks racing towards us...

We taxed as a group to the Signature FBO and proceeded to get out of our planes and I was apologizing to the guys..and the bottom line was we were okay and acting as PIC I did what I felt had to be done...and my buds all agreed.

 A few hours later we were able to get my two wing-men back in the air while my hubby and me stayed.  I knew we just needed to clean the lead out of my spark plugs, I needed two items a 1/2 inch driver and 7/8 socket and we could fix this.  We called everyone, no one had tools, and finally a mechanic in another shop came in for coffee and I asked him if he could help us, and the stars lined up and he offered to help us with the tools we needed and my hubby and me cleaned the lead loaded spark plugs...good to go and the sun was sinking fast!

Finally, it was close to dusk and we had to go...I re-filed party of one and they said are you the Citabria that made 2 767's go around..niceee....hey shit happens....I lined up on the runway and they kicked us out of Dulles.  

We finally crested our home base at sunset and our two Fischer buds had our hangar doors open with two cold brews on hand.

We slid Girly Plane back in her spot in front of our Stearman and slumped in our chairs and we talked about the emotional day, which is forever etched in our minds and I simply stated we just said goodbye to a wonderful piece of history, Gene's plane"Plane Jane", and saying goodbye is hard, period.

He asked me, I said yes, and for some reason I remember that summer event now and that day is forever engrained in my mind and I simply had to tell my story today...perhaps because I recall how the summer of 2011 was so much fun with my buds and well today things are different...life ever changing.

Between what was and what can be, lies what is.  I always try to focus on seizing the moments of life with conviction knowing that my future is greater than my past and I move forward.

I do know that when I'm on the ground sometimes things just don't feel the same, is that wrong? I don't believe so, I simply trust without wavering, that the sky is where I am meant to be.

"Flight is the essence of spirit. It nurtures the soul.  It is awesome often ethereal, glorious. Emotionally wondrous and all pervading, intangible".  Louise Thaden

67 DAYS

Not that I want to rush my life ahead, yet I do this every year around this time.. I countdown to SPRING , longer days, warmer weather, and more time at the airport.

Yet I must admit winter does have beauty my eyes have seen, snow drifting down from our heavens to paint our drab colors of the resting of natures brown colored ground into a spectacle of awe.

This year we are fortunate that a few of the planes based here have skis and we have such a group here, that will say what's mine is yours. Flying with skis is a challenge and flying above a fresh white snow is peaceful..we are lucky to have a great airport gang that will brace the cold to help tame the winter weather to share in flying on skis.

While we also spend allot of time in the airport lounge this time of year being lounge lizards, we have a 1000 piece puzzle we are putting together, hot cocoa, and our friends always stop by knowing we will be there. Hangar talk is always rampant, as it seems the winter engages the imagination more so among us pilots. I mean just yesterday my bud told me his Chief files as high as 40,000 feet... Really??..☺

My Girly Plane goes in for annual soon, and that in itself is something I look forward. My mechanic and me tear her down and I always insist on doing most of the work. This helps me understand the mechanics and gives me more knowledge, you can never have too much.  Afterwards,I will be assured that she will be ready to embark on all the adventures I have planned come spring time.

So go visit your airport , pull your plane out if you can (some are grounded due to weather)...try something new such as flying on skis, or simply catch up with your fellow pilots and tell stories over a beer if you can't fly.

The camaraderie itself should be enjoyed..nurturing of friendships is the very root of life.

Happy flying and countdown with me!!

1. Taking off on skis, 2. My bud landing his Chief on skis, 3. My friend Gene (89) after having landed his J2, 4. Our grass strip downwind, 5. Our winter digs, lounge where we are lounge lizards.

It's A Guys World Here

I came on the scene twenty some years ago.....because my hubby wanted to share his passion of flying with me.  That is how I came to find the place I belong, aviatrix, bud, devilish trouble maker, instigator of fun and the entertainment keeper of our barn aka hangar at Bermudian Valley Airpark.

He encouraged me to learn to fly, knowing I would eat it up before I even knew...How did he know I would? Because he said you like challenges and it's fun, hun...hey that rhymes...

It's a guy's world at our airport...I changed the stereotype of our home base, the first woman and only woman that wanted to be by my hubby's side and he still loves having me by his side...at least I'm sticking with that ha! I say that as we are unique in our almost 30 year marriage of being best friends and we share and have the same passion, flying ..I am one of the "guys".  That is what I like the best...no one cuts me any slack and I wouldn't have it any other way.

The first few years and first 300 hundred hours of flying or so - I was mostly skeered to death....I would stare at the wind sock and if it was just blowing the least bit I would say "maybe tomorrow", you see the wind was a challenge to me...I would see my buds flying and it would bother me as I wanted to be flying with them.  So, little by little I would move the line of comfort a bit and while I would grip the yoke of our Aeronca Chief in a death grip I would force myself to fly. If you could imagine this, surrounded with guys (my friends mind you) and they would egg me on....and well I had to be their equal, I wanted this as the raw beauty of our world from above was mine to snag....peer pressure at its finest not meant to be mean, just how it rolls at our home base.

We decided in 2003 it was time to think about buying a plane with electric start for me.....and behold my partner in crime ~ named "Girly Plane" by my buds a 7GCAA 150 hp Citabria.  She was brought home to join our family and once again I had another goal to learn how to fly my new plane........and the ante was raised as my buds would raze me about it's ability and yet I was still timid and a newby pilot with a cool plane.

I stumbled with Girly Plane, it was faster than my 65 hp Chief and the first few years were a challenge but, I wanted this! Then one day it just clicked. I was a pilot, I felt as if we were one, she held me carefully and let me test my self imposed limits, I busted through and rose above in the air to meet the joy which was unseen, yet I tasted it. I belonged here, my free fall into freedom...I could fly.

I would love to go to the airport and practice, practice, practice....my hubby would always say to me, you probably have the most landings of anyone I know.  I wanted to be good, I needed to prove to myself I had the ability to be a good pilot....when the bar is raised you need to rise and meet it.

Our barn is where I find arms that wrap around me and instill in my deepest part a peace that sometimes is hard to describe, although I feel it deep and my breath is shallow while my eyes take in the view that I never tire of seeing.

It's a guys world at our airport ...AND I'm okay with that....I like hanging with guys, we raze each other and in fact my hubster is one of the worst....but, I dig it...I have my own strong willed confidence and it can't be shattered. It's a struggle for some of the guys...I am even steven and when they throw out a challenge, well I'm IN.....I love to smack them down...yes I admit I have an ego and well, it works here....no tiny tears baby girl, just forge ahead to who you are...be true to yourself and ride the wave. Those that tag along snag your enthusiasm and those that fear it run...stay true..be you.

Why do i like to fly?....it is the freedom thing of getting in the air and being free to do what i want with my plane...I do as I please and it's a confidence builder, although those that know me well, say I have too much confidence, it's not something I really understand, what is too much confidence??? It's simple, I am ME.

The view, my gawd the view out of the window is spectacular at all times and no matter what the weather, it never ceases to amaze me what I am seeing...how lucky I am.  It is exciting on each flight and to be able to share this excitement with a chosen few is a favorite part of my life...my hubby and my close buds... I don't have many I let into my inner circle who understand my flying "language" the GAGA I bestow upon those that will listen, it's a special place I harbor my deepest feelings as being held by the air is understood by only others of like sickness.

I am most comfortable with flying...I feel comfortable with the people, airplanes and well our "barn"  is home to me...I relax the most when I am at the barn, but more so when I am in the sky where I forget the everyday issues and wander the sky where I feel most at ease in the raw beauty gifted for me to see.

While this flying world might be dominated by men....its a mans place here and I belong here, fit in here and I am home here...and the best compliment is when I hear them say...she is one of the "boys" and it doesn't hurt when I hear in the confines of this mans world, by my close buds, a good stick....respect.

It is for me I float above, it is for me that I want to share this amazing flying art, it is for me that I strive to explore, it is because of him that I found home and he happens to be setting beside me....how lucky I am.


I have lifted my plane...for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth into the air without knowing the uncertainty and the exhilaration of first-born adventure.
Beryl Markham

Special Day - A Keeper

If you just opened this, please read it and "LIKE" as I was late to the Ladies Love Taildraggers contest and need votes...as you roll your eyes..c'mon!!!  I'm desperate...;-)

My story is about the people that are part of my life journey relating to flying.  I have so many memories that lay embedded inside me and like a photo album only I can see the visions that I have created and only I can picture these slots of memories the way, I remember them...I want to share this special day with you.

This year, it came upon me fast, my vacation over Thanksgiving 2013.  For for some reason this time I wanted to have company.  Most of my vacations are me and girly plane flying solo, yet I found myself in a funk this time....being at the airport just wasn't the same lately.  I knew it would be best if I could spend sometime with my buds as our time together always encompasses laughing, busting on each other, and appreciating the wondrous act of flying. They get my extreme passion, call it an addiction and they understand my excitement for flying, it's who I am;  My longing to be at our hangar no matter what the weather throws down, this place always seems to wrap her arms around me and I instantly feel at home.

This trip was all Gene's idea. Gene happens to be my oldest friend, 88 years old, a force of nature who is tough, has great life experiences, great stories and whom I love spending time with. He mentioned he wanted to visit Anne Fichere who lives at Kentmore Island Airport a small grass strip located near Bay Bridge airport and in his great fashion to sway me, he said Anne mentioned me and said she was hoping I might visit again...Gene is smooth tugging on my weakness.."flying" and it took me all of 30 seconds to say "I'd love to take you". Our pact made we agreed on an early departure from our home base at 07N Bermudian Valley Airpark.

Gene is not as nimble as you and I might be and after a bit of me pushing on his ummm... rump, yes I said rump, contouring his legs around the stick we were set on this cold yet severe clear morning to take to the sky. Headset - check, stick clearance - Gene " hey - you're hitting my belly, easy" - kinda check LOL...well suck it in Gene. Yes, I actually said that, and he laughed his great laugh. Lastly, Gene asked for my map, he likes to follow along, so I handed it over and plugged in my tablet with the flight plan and Gene yelled out the time and we took off over a truly amazing morning where just a  slight mist was still laying low over the ground.

Flying with Gene is a good time for me to be reflective, focus on the course, check the amazing beautiful sky, as we are comfortable in our silence, that's how our friendship seems to flow. Gene, yells out - we've been up 42 minutes, "what's our ground speed"? 81mph Gene, winds are out of the East, as soon as we get around Aberdeen we will gain airspeed, and we sure did, up to 115 mph.. and we were on track to be on time for our lunch date.

We decided to try to find a few grass steps along the way, Gene has diabetes and his legs bother him quite a bit, this helped him/us to pass the time..Gene would shout out a few markers to look for and we actually found quite a few... must be my lucky passenger.

We landed and taxied right up to Anne's house... sweet Anne...I was introduced to Anne two years ago when her husband Joe a spry 92 years old had just completed Anne Morrow Lindbergh's 1929 Bird and Gene was helping to certify the Bird at the time, he had asked me to fly him down so he could help Joe with the paperwork.....sure I said, twist my arm.....make me fly you.

I can remember vividly how they were so excited to show us the Bird the first time.  Joe insisted I sit in Anne Lindbergh's seat..oh I don't know?...his eyes lite up and the joy of seeing him share his love affair of restoring her over the last 10 years, was captivating and I was truly spellbound.... I mean how unbelievably cool to have a love affair and be able to share his story with us and eventually he would fly her. I was most happy that he was able to complete what he had dreamt about for years before he was called to the heavens in early February.....I can still see him smiling with a twinkle in his eye and telling me again to climb up and sit in her seat...as I slid down into her seat, I could not get over that this Bird was one of the most beautiful artistic planes I have ever seen...a real genuine piece of history.

Anne Lindbergh and her most telling remark was to believe "if you surrender completely to the moments as they pass, you live more richly in those moments". 

It was whispered that perhaps the Bird was heading to a museum this past summer and Gene mentioned he thought Anne would love a visit, so I called Anne and asked if I could bring a few buds to see her...a resounding YES, please come visit!! In my fashion of always organizing our "boys" flying trips,  I rounded up the troops and it is one of my favorite memories that I treasure, for various personal reasons.

Anne told me that she was planning on being in the Bird when it arrived in Blakesburg.  The plan was for her to hop in the front seat in Ohio and fly the last leg to Blakesburg with the pilot..,. I said you have tooooooo!!!!  she laughed, I suppose I do, don't I?

The Bird took off from Kentmore for the journey to Blakesburg this year and upon reaching Ohio, it ground looped upon landing, thankfully no one was hurt, but the Bird was damaged... and now she is sitting in a hangar...a project that once again needs to be repaired.

So why are we here today, you might ask? To visit sweet ( just turned 84) Anne and hear the real story about her Bird... We drove to the marina for lunch, Gene and I had our hunger focused on oysters and Anne shared the story on the Bird.  Here I was with two people in their 80's listening quietly to stories of days gone by and memories of their own spilling forward and I am reminded that they were young once with dreams, goals of their own....making me realize that I had this very moment to live and I shouldn't waste a minute.  This journey for each of us is a one way trip on the train of life and we should live it fully...we each have our own dreams and no one should have to give up anything to forsake their own journey.

When we sit down for lunch, I let our guest order first... she says "I'd really like to have a glass of wine", but it's only 11:30am.. my response - go for it! I love the way Anne thinks !!

As we head back to Anne's house I notice a table with all kinds of goodies.... Anne - I think I need to come back for some of these homemade treats....she insists on bagging up them up and I promised to stay in touch and visit again.

Now it's time to venture back home our bellies full and I tell Gene of my plan to fly up over the Bay Bridge, over Martin State directly home bound, and truth is he wasn't too keen on that idea.... That is allot of water he said...AND you know all the engine noises we hear over water...gheez Gene!?!....he had to say that didn't he...... I remembered the first time I went home this way by someone else's suggestion... I was nervous, although I would never admit that to him... now it was easy peazy...I told Gene it will be fine. We could almost see China flying home and it didn't hurt we had a tail wind all the way home....ahhh home base, doesn't that sound cool rolling off your tongue, when you see out in the distance the tree marks which surround the grass field that house's my serenity, my barn, my joy where my heart belongs.

This past weekend Gene delivered a thank you note from Anne, along with an invite to return to Kentmore to see her.. it is something I will definitely plan on this Summer...c'mon Summer I have plans..

I am in awe of many things....Yet the deepest part of my soul is most satisfied sitting above our world in quiet splendor flying.

Pictures:  1. Delaware Canal  2.  Bay Bridge  3. Inner Harbor, Md  4.  North of Inner Harbor, Md   5. My favorite picture - me and Joe and his Byrd

The Goodbye

I am not a good friend he told me and this time it was true....

I have a deep rooted passion for flying my plane, actually any plane, talking about planes, and most of all hanging out with my buds at the airport.

It's something my hubster digs. He says it's so cool that I love to be with him at the airport.....I am one of the lucky ones, a girl to boot- that fits in with the crew...what a crew we were.

You must have broad shoulders to be at our airport, be able to laugh easily, have equal ability flying and willing to learn and ask questions of the mechanics of flying...my buds love to share their knowledge...and well I found where I belong and love to learn.

This year brought a lesson to our airport that was not expected.  I am not accustomed to losing friends and this year I lost someone I held in my inner circle with high regard.  Life has a way of presenting trials to you when you least expect it and your expectations often have to adjust......something I have problems with and well frankly I didn't like about 2013.

Being forced to re-evaluate behaviors and actions of someone whom you thought you knew well is a hard task and can be gritty to the core...probably one of the hardest "life" lessons I have had to deal with.

The "crew" is no more and trying to move on with the realization that it is what it is and there is really no chance of turning back...is not something easy for me...truth - it's weird and sad at the same time for me to understand how we got here.

It's simple, I miss my 'once' good friend...forcing things are never good....I'm sorry this friendship had to end...a word we both agreed we would never say....I don't deal with drama well, I am not fond of elephants showing up at my hangar and I can't tap dance for the life of me.  I am and will always be one who shows all she is on her sleeve, a straight shooter and exceptionally strong willed and loyal to a fault.

I'm also slow in learning life lessons because I want what was, a weakness of mine...it takes me awhile to figure things out...this friendship really ended a year ago....when he was told to end our friendship because we were buds, I really can't understand this, but, that's my problem.....The end.

"Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It's not something you learn in school.  But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything." Muhammad Ali

"I think if I've learned anything about friendship, it's to hang in, stay connected, fight for them, and let them fight for you.  Don't walk away, don't be distracted, don't be too busy or tired, don't take them for granted.  Friends are part of the glue that holds life and faith together.  Powerful Stuff." Jon Katz