Sunset Flights and Date Nights

When my husband and I were dating, he would hurry from his role in Atlanta to a smaller airport on the outskirts of the perimeter a few nights a week for his flying lessons. I still thought for a few minutes I should get my pilot`s license as well so we could enjoy cross-country flights together and share some of the duty of the flight.

Those few minutes abruptly ended one night during my ground school lessons as I was working diligently on sailing and provision a flight with a hypothetical situation of passengers and their weights, a predetermined destination, an assigned type of aircraft, and airspace issues to consider.

My instructor peered over my shoulder with his head half cocked and simply stated, "Robyn, I guess you`ll get a much better passenger than you ever would a pilot. Let`s save you some money and only realize that decision at this point."

I was devastated.

And always so slightly relieved.

You see, my mother had always teased about how I was directionally challenged to the charge he joked, "sometimes I`m not certain you could see your way out of a wet paper sack."

I knew compasses, maps, weights and balances, air space concerns, and aircraft specifics were not my strongest suit, but was eager to make it my best shot to be capable to partake in the favorite hobby of my honest love.

And so I completed my flight instructor was right.

I do have a much better passenger than I ever would get a pilot.

Date nights of sunset flights ensued throughout our courtship and former marriage fueling the aspiration of one day life on enough ground to make our own airstrip where we could hop in a level at a moment`s notice to love the sunsets from a bird`s perspective.

Caring for a family, work, and farm chores quickly became reality and cutting out the spontaneity of that hop into the flat on a pretty afternoon.

But as hectic as life seems, unplugging from the charge to hera and thither and a must-do list longer than can possibly get through in a day to get time to love the sunsets, reminds me to enjoy the special moments of the dream I am living.