Peopling

Last night I was hesitant to go to the Burger Burn, and Morgan came with me. We walked down to Jordan’s C-47 and hung out there for an hour until Lumpy arrived with a van and picked all of us up and took us to the house he’s staying in where they host the event. Because he picked us up, we were super early and people weren’t there yet, so it was a little awkward while he went to go shower and the rest of us kinda stared at each other. lol But then the folks started coming, and miracle of miracle, I knew a lot of them, and I was sitting at a table with Morgan and Jim Z, and Jordan sat next to me, and Jeff L next to him, and Lumpy, and then Doug and Kim R, and suddenly I was at the cool kids table. ;) It lasted quite awhile, and then they started getting up and talking, but other people came over to talk. I just had to sit there and most people came up to talk to me instead of me having to wander around and look and feel awkward about breaking in on conversations and stuff. It was a great way to have a party.  Then I did get up to go talk to Mark N, who flies Doc (the other B-29), and we talked for a long time, I talked to 3 of the Gunfighter pilots for awhile, and the wife of one, hugged the daughter of another, and all in all it was quite productive, AND I felt more comfortable than I expected since I knew so many of the attendees and it was all friendly. 

My favorite parts of the night were…

I was sitting at the table and it was a quiet moment, and Kim P looked over and said “Hey Laura.” When I looked at her she said “Do you need a rescue?” I loved it. I smiled huge and said “No thank you, I am good, but THANK you!”  That is one introvert looking out for another. If you see someone feeling trapped or awkwardly alone or feeling weird, she was willing to come over and get me out of there if need be. But fortunately I was with people I knew and liked and I was all good and I told her so. But I’m going to remember that, and I appreciate it, and I may have to use that line for other people too.

Sitting there with 3 of the 5 Gunfighter pilots, and Doug R, and Jordan starts talking about how he wants to do the C-47 type rating, and we’re going to do me and Matt Younkin at the same time. Doug will be check pilot, and they were working it out. We’ve talked for years about me doing the C-47 thing, and we never have, and I quit asking, but if I’m doing it at the same time at Matt the airshow pilot Younkin, then I’m thinking this might ACTUALLY get done.  And that’s exciting! I may actually get my DC-3/C-47 type rating, first type rating I’ve ever had to get. Kinda cool!

Also neat, I asked Jordan about the B-29. See, the Fifi pilot last tour stop again suggested I join up to fly it. I’ve heard that from a few people up there now, but I had some concerns and uncertainties. I also know that between the two B-29s there is some bad blood, and I know some of the pilots for Fifi left to fly Doc, and most of the pilots I do know and like have moved over to Doc, I don’t know the Fifi ones that well any more, and I didn’t know what politics I was stepping into the middle of.  So I asked Jordan, said “they talked to me about flying Fifi, and” and he interrupted me and said “You should definitely do it.”  I asked about the politics, and Jeff L who was there and listening told me a few of the things, but nothing I think that should be too bad for me. He also said “You should absolutely do that. I think it would be fantastic, and you’d be great.” That’s good news on multiple fronts. It doesn’t mean you have to pick and choose. He also said if you’re on tour and you can fly the T-6, or the Beech, or Fifi, you can hop in as needed. Gunfighter is the same way. Jordan and Jeff both fly the B-29 and they both do other things too, so… so can I.  Jeff also told me that there were two women who flew B-29s during WWII, which I knew, though I didn’t know it was ONLY two.  And that there have only been two women SINCE who have ever flown a B-29. So four women have ever piloted a B-29. He that he thinks it would be really cool if I did it, and thinks I would be great for it. I said I wasn’t an airline pilot and I have no experience with anything close to that heavy, and he said he thinks airline pilots are actually at a disadvantage and I’d actually be a perfect fit with my background. So I’m a little nervous about this one, because it seems so big, so much. The systems, procedures, mechanics, all of that intimidates me, to be honest. The FLYING doesn’t bother me as much, as I figure I can figure it out with good instruction, but the rest of it does a little.  But I think I’m going to go ahead and reach out to the head of it and signal my interest and ask what I need to do and how it works and such, and see if that ball rolls.  I think I have to make time for that opportunity. It’s pretty unique and special, and if it can happen, then…that’s pretty wild. It doesn’t cost me anything other than getting to Texas for training annually, for the most part. The training, the touring, none of that costs. So that’s kind of an exciting thought too.

One of the people at my table for awhile sat down at the end and didn’t talk, he looked familiar but I couldn’t place him, but when he was done he came over and shook my hand, and said he was Gerald Oliver, and I instantly knew him. We had met in Music City when I took the PT-26 down there to help out CAF HQ. That was the trip my engine driven fuel pump failed right before takeoff. I spent the time with him and his son David—the #2 in the entire CAF organization. (Those two also told me I should fly Fifi back then.) Well, last night when he introduced himself again and we started talking, he said “Laura S, best instructor in the organization!” I laughed and said “I don’t know about that”. He said “Well that’s what David says”. I said “David’s never actually flown with me, maybe he shouldn’t say that!” His response was “He hears things. He knows.” Gulp. After that I thought, well gee, no pressure there!!  :o

So anyway, this is why it’s good to go to events and people and try to be a more social human being than you might feel like sometimes. It’s hard for me, but I DO like the people or I wouldn’t be trying, they’re good dudes. And whatever comes or doesn’t come, it’s an interesting ride, ya know?

Now, on to today’s airshow with the Snowbirds. Should be a good one from the campsite, before our steak dinner tonight.