I've always wanted to fly

Ever since I was a kid, I have wanted to fly. Being able to spread my wings and soar up there with the eagles and blue jays. Wow, that would be cool I thought! My dad was always working on Saturdays, that freed me up to use his tools, our empty single car garage, and my mom would allow me to convince her I could do anything, any brilliant, imaginative five-year old boy could do. She would just say, "Okay honey be careful!" I would assure her I had everything under control!

One day I decided to build my own airplane. I employed my two-year old little brother to help me. We got very busy. I found an empty wooden peach crate, a mop handle from the pantry, a couple old boards and some cardboard, and that's all we needed to build our airplane. I found a rope - probably had something to do with a clothesline. I theorized I could wrap the rope around my propellor shaft, pull it real fast and the prop would spin. All we had to do next was pull it up into the big oak tree in the front yard, get it up real high! I could then get in my airplane and shove off from the big branches, and I would be airborne! I would of course need to keep spinning the prop shaft with my bare hands.

We tried every which a way to dislodge my plane with me in it from the tree limbs, but it was stuck and wouldn't budge. The lady who lived next door came over and asked we what we were doing. I didn't want to lie, so I told her we were about to fly. She called my mom and the two of them got my dad's ladder and lifted me out of my airplane (wooden peach crate.) Later that evening, my dad was able to bring my airplane down out of the tree. He gave my mom back her mop and hid his tools in the attic.

Over my lifetime, I have flown many, many hours with friends who owned their own planes. I took flying lessons, but never got my pilot's license, but didn't stop me from flying with friends. Now retired, my thrill of flying is fulfilled by registering my drones with the FAA and legally flying as a UAV hobbyist. I have been flying now for almost three years.

Looking back now, I am thankful the good Lord prevented me from taking flight as a too naïve little boy! I lived to tell this story.

Comments

Run Maggie Run

"Dixie" Over the years, I have had some great friends who were dogs! Ringo, Lobo, Chix, and now Dixie. Dixie is my Australian shepherd, border collie mix. She’s old, like me. We have our aches, and pains, and we can’t get around like we use to when we were pups. That’s life, what can I say? Dixie has a hard time with her hips and back legs. I do what I can to help her every day. I pick her up, and help her in her chair, and in bed at night, next to me. I love this little girl. She and I have been buddies for thirteen years now. We’ve taken our early morning walks around our pond, chased the crows and barked at the deer. I have comforted her when the lightning and thunder caused her fear, fed her when she wasn’t feeling good. She in turn, has given me peace when I didn’t feel any! They say a dog is a man’s best friend! So true! Chris Stapleton, a gifted country-blues singer, recorded a song about “his” best friend, Maggie a while back. He sings a poignant song that shares on

Some like it hot!

I'm talking about Salsa. Everyone loves salsa! Salsa is a traditional, Mexican side dish typically served at room temperature. I enjoy salsa at any temperature, just make sure it's spicy! My neighbor, Marylou, makes the best darn salsa in the world! She is Mexican and was born knowing how to cook all things Mexican I believe. Her husband was born in Honduras, so she cooks South American too. Marylou gave me a very simple, traditional salsa recipe I'll share with you here. I've made it and... oh wow! Delicious! You can make this salsa with jalapenos or Tabasco-style peppers. She uses the latter, so do I. 3 Roma tomatoes 3 tomatillos chopped small 6 small hot peppers 3 garlic cloves chopped fine 1/2 yellow onion chopped fine salt to taste a little water It's best if tomatoes and peppers seeded are grilled (blackened) - adds smokey flavor I like. Combine all ingredients in a blender on "chop" setting. Leave chunky is what I prefer. Cover and put your salsa i

Just plain folks

We live in the cities, the suburbs, on the farm, and out in the country. We live at home, and some of us live away from home. Some of us are wealthy, and most of us aren’t so much – some of us are just needing the basics of survival. We are still, in my mind, “just plain folks!” Wherever we live, we are “just plain folks.” We go to school, to work wherever we find it, in our homes, our industries, and in all manner of social services. I see people everywhere wanting to have a good life. We all deserve to have a good life – to be happy, healthy, and prosperous. Thank God we live in America where we have the opportunity to achieve that good life if we choose! I believe we are seeing hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of potential leaders who are called to see our great country return to her greatness – to help us achieve that good life we all want. Even now, in 2022, those leaders are stepping out and showing us the great American way. For a time, I was worried our future was i

What's Up Melton?

Search This Blog