Did I ever tell y’all that I took flying lessons when I was in college? No? Oh my…
My dad has been a private pilot for decades. Since before I was born, actually. He had (recently sold it) a Cessna 172 and you know, it would be mine if I learned to fly. I’ve always loved being in it and knew what all to do before actually taking the lessons.
Growing up we flew everywhere. To Disney, to wherever to eat lunch, “around” and to Garden Valley International – my uncle’s grass strip out in the middle of nowhere.
Once I was old enough, Daddy would let me fly the plane. Well, hold the wheel while we were in flight. I picked up on all the things I was supposed to do and when I was a junior in college, I thought I’d give it a shot.
The parents paid for lessons. I went to ground school. That was HARD, y’all. I passed but barely. Ugh.
I did hour after hour after expensive hour of lessons with the instructor and was one hour from soloing. I just had to get past the stall lesson.
When training to do a stall, the instructor shows you how to pitch up up up up up until the engine cuts off. You start dropping and have to regain control and start the plane back up. At least I think that’s what happens. It’s what my foggy memory tells me.
Well, one day my instructor made me do one. Or I should say, HE DID ONE. And that was awesome. It was a rush and I was READY. Let’s do this.
It was my turn. Up up up up up up …
Without even thinking, I pulled my hands off the controls and told him to take it. To land this f’ing plane and let me out. I couldn’t do it.
Just like that, I was done.
I was shaking, almost in tears, and I’m sure he wanted to laugh his ass off at me!
He took us back to the airport, I got out without doing the post-flight check and waved at him without turning around.
They mailed me my log book about 5 years later with a note saying they were cleaning out archives and came across this if I ever needed it.
I don’t.
*******************************
This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…
- Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.
- Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
- Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
- Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post. (in the sidebar at Fadra’s)
- Link up your post on Fadra’s weekly post.
- Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.
