I'm sitting here watching election results along with probably a lot of other people right now. I spent the day way too busy to think about it, but once I got home around 9 pm, then it was time to turn on the TV and see what's going on. So stressful, it really is. Even though it's not in general like me to be stressed about things I can't control, these last couple of elections have really been...stressful. Sitting here listening to all the talking heads is annoying. Not listening, I can't do for long, because I start wondering. The good news is, my morning canceled, so I can stay up late if I want to. ;)
The morning started in the Twin Beech. I put on a flight suit, filled out a manifest, and did it the way I'm supposed to. I haven't flown it since JULY. So I took my time. I went over emergency procedures in my head, I went through the checklist one item at a time, slowly. No rushing. It felt good and made me a little nervous at the same time, because I had a full load. Plenty of fuel, and six on board. Me, Steve, Jon T, Dave H., and Dave & Ginny Edwards. We were taking it to MIE to have a transponder check done. Jeff Apple had already tested it and it was fine, so we expected to go there, eat breakfast, have fun, and then come home around noon at the latest. Instead, they said the transponder was weak so they put in another one. Then they said the coax cable was bad, so we were trapped there while they said they "hoped" to have it done by the end of the day. Gah. So John Routt came in his 421 and picked up me, Steve, Dave & Ginny and took us back to Kokomo around 2 pm. Jon & Dave stayed there because we didn't have enough weight available in the 421 for all of us.
We got back to Kokomo, and I got the T-6 ready for an hour flight. He wanted to go up and see his farms from the air first, so we did that, and circled over his house, and his son's house. Then he wanted to try going upside down, so I did a couple wingovers and a roll, and that was good enough for him, but he did really like it. I had him do the flying for awhile, and then came on in and landed. As we were taxiing in, he said "You know, I hear all over that you're the best pilot around." I made some self deprecating remark, and he said "I'm serious, I hear it from all sorts of different people, all over the place, that you're one of the best pilots around. You lived up to your reputation. Thank you for a wonderful flight." That made me feel pretty good, actually. And glad I didn't bounce the landing or something. ;)
After he and I were done, I got in the 172 with Zach F, who flew me back to Muncie so I could pick up the finally finished BOB, and Dave and Jon. This time I left the manifest from before be the one standing, even though that wasn't accurate any more, and I left my flight suit in my car, so I didn't have that either. So...I only followed the CAF rules 50% of the time today. Whoops.
We had a nice flight home, and when we got back, Jon and I put everything away, I ran home to do Ann's eye drops, and then we met Kaylee at Foxes Trail to have dinner and talk. She had some spiritual questions, and we all just had a really nice conversation. She's a good kid, I tell ya. Good head on her shoulders. Not perfect, but who is? We're pretty proud of her, actually. I tell her often that we have faith in her, her judgement, etc. I want her to know we believe in her, which I think helps a person when they are making decisions, to help live up to expectations, to know that people have faith in you.
These are photos from today. It was a long day where a lot didn't go as planned, but still, how bad can it be when the sun is shining, when the skies are blue, when the temperatures are warm again, when you get to fly a C-45, a T-6, and a C-421 all in one day? When you get to do a roll and watch the world go around. When you get to make someone else smile--and yourself, too. When you get to have dinner with your family and connect. It's a good day.
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