Grounded

When I wasn’t spending quality time with the family, including celebrating my mother’s birthday, I was out doing yard work: the first in a long, long time. I do my best thinking when I’m mowing the lawn. Given enough grass to cut, I could figure out a way to rule the world. 🙂

Anyhow, during the many times I paused to empty the mower bag, I stopped and took in the beauty that is fall in North Carolina. It was a stunningly beautiful day, with a crystal blue sky providing a backdrop for trees bursting with brilliant fall colors. Perfect day for flying, I thought to myself as I imagined the view from Up There. Every now and then, my jealous ears would hear the sound of a plane passing overhead. At times I got a glimpse of it: the biplane was out again. Lucky bastard.

It made me realize that flying is one of those things I was really set to do, but never let get off the ground. Without debating why I’ve delayed it, I reaffirmed my desire to one day get my wings. I really, really, really do. Like anything.

But our current situation doesn’t allow for it. Flying is an expensive hobby, one that most certainly isn’t in our budget at the present time. I would have to get a substantial raise in order to even think about it. The odds of that happening anytime soon, however, are pretty slim. And that’s where the conflict sets in. It’s one I’ll have to solve or go nuts trying.

Given the desire, there isn’t anything I can’t accomplish. I can be amazingly focused on topics that engage me: the PBX thing, for instance. I feel the same push to climb into the cockpit; to eat, sleep, and breathe flying. The competitive spirit in me has been roused by my officemate Greg, who recently began his lessons.

I cannot let go of any more of my dreams. It has to happen, and I have to figure out a way for it to happen. But until that magic puzzle piece falls into place, the closest I’m going to get to the runway is Observation Park. And that sucks.