Oshkosh

Day One. It was so bloody hot last night, nobody could sleep. The trailer was stifling, even with the windows open.  The humidity was so high you were just coated in moisture at all times. So unpleasant. I figured I’d end up with a headache, and it was close, but I successfully did manage to avoid it at least. Not Morgan. She had a bad one from the get go today, took half the day to kick it.

We got up early and got ready and went to the T-6 forum in Warbirds, which is a pretty good hike down there. The forum this year was held by Evil, Ben, who did a great job talking about operational stuff, not just maintenance stuff. He also called me out like three or four times, which was sweet but made me nervous. I like to be incognito there, just be seen, not heard. But he was asking pilots for input on various things, and he said “Laura, you’re being awfully quiet back there” and I said “I like to be awfully quite back here”, and he asked if I had any input on what he was talking about, and I said no, he was doing great. He then asked for my opinion on some training issues, and I piped up and answered that question loudly. And later he talked about how everyone should do recurrent training in the T-6, and how I (Laura) do it, and had me stick my hand up in the air, and named a couple others. Afterwards, two guys came up to me to talk to me about flying with either them or a friend of theirs. So I went from a pariah in the T-6 forum to whatever that is. Which is…interesting.

Afterwards, Morgan and I walked all through the main area. Got a drink at Fighter Town, walked down the main strip, through Boeing Square (Aeroshell Square), around the Fly Market. We got accosted at the Fly Market by salesmen who wanted us to stop at their booths (I hate that) so we got picked up and headed back to camp for awhile.

I tried to take a nap to counteract the low sleep night, but the airshow was going on, so it kept me awake anyway. Still was nice to lie in the air conditioning for awhile.

Morgan and I got ready, and hesitantly drove Chuck’s car (with a constant tick) to Gunfighter’s Burger Burn. We waited until 6:10 so we wouldn’t be too early. Last year we arrived with Lumpy and Jordan so we were the first ones there, awkwardly. We couldn’t leave until the last person did, either. This year we had our own car, and we made it at a reasonable hour, and we left when we wanted, about 1.5 hours later. It was much better. I felt a little awkward. I hadn’t actually gotten an invite this year, but Steve had, so I could assume I was also invited. He wasn’t going, because he was taking a group of campers to Wendts’ for fried fish.  Jordan also didn’t say anything to me about it this year, and every other year he’s come to pick me up. And they obviously chose to go a different path with their fellow rides pilot. But on the other hand, I know Jordan is a friend, and Lumpy is always friendly, and Greg the photographer was going to be there, and Eric our mechanic, so…I went. Besides, I was afraid if I didn’t go, they’d think I went only when they were looking at me to do something for me, and didn’t go once they picked someone else. Didn’t want that thought to even cross their minds, so I went, even though I honestly would have been fine not going this year.

It started raining. We were all crowded under a small tent, then in a house, nowhere to sit, trying to eat standing up, shoulder room only, hot and damp and humid from the rain. I got cornered by someone about the recent drama with the B-29 group, and I probably flubbed it because I was not prepared and I am not good at drama anyway.  So I think I made her a little mad at me too, but I think she’s in the wrong in the first place, and I don’t know what else to say to be true to myself while not offending her, so… *sigh* So be it.

I hit all the boxes. I talked to all the people I needed to talk to. And then I found Jordan there, and he was standing next to the new guy in Gunfighter, and we were talking, and Jordan asked if we’d met, and we joked about that, shook hands (we knew each other, yes, from the WASP T-6), and then Jordan said “To be honest, Laura’s the best T-6 pilot I’ve personally ever known”. And the other guy’s face was a little shocked. He flies T-6s too. Jordan said he came to me when he needed to prep for Stallion 51, and reiterated that he thought I was the best T-6 pilot he knew. I thought that was sweet. Probably not correct, but sweet. I appreciated it, actually…

We headed out after there was nobody left I needed to talk to, and came back to change clothes, start a fire, and hang out. The rest of the crew is still at Wendts’, and we’re sitting in the sunset glow, watching the fire burn, in companionable silence. I’d post pics but Google isn’t letting me. It was a little stressful because of people, but also good day. Tomorrow I have nothing on tap I need to do. Nobody to meet. It’s nice. It’s vacation, I do believe, finally. :)