i'm writing a book - right here!

[crankcase]

... another way of saying "God is my co-pilot"?
Happy landings
CC

[AAC Cadet Leader]

Originally Posted by crankcase

... another way of saying "God is my co-pilot"?

or it's another way of saying, "we hope God is your co-pilot"

[AAC Cadet Leader]

Mom's Log
Day 101
Monday, September 5
Indiana to Ohio
M continued her flight with Al Hurlbut in his 1940 Funk, today from Shelbyville, Indiana to Marion, OH, to Ashland, Ohio to Stow-Kent Airport, Stow, Ohio.

[When we landed in Ashland, Ohio, I called my long-time friend, Nancy Raymond in Kent, to let her know that in about a half of an hour, we'd be flying into Kent State Airport (my old home base, where I learned to fly).
Nancy quickly called up my old friends and got them to come out.

At 12:15 p.m. Al and I landed at Kent. A really funny thing happened as we were taxiing up the slope from the runway towards the airport office. We spotted all my old friends standing together on the ramp along with three or four newspaper and TV reporters with cameras aimed our way. I was thrilled!

I looked over at Al and he looked panic-stricken, but I didn't have a clue why. He suddenly stopped his Funk in the middle of the narrow taxiway about a hundred feet short of the ramp. He said in a very serious tone, "This is as far as I'm going. You're going to have to get out right here."

He was serious. I was shocked. He was sunk down as far as he could get in his seat, trying to hide behind the instrument panel.

"What's the matter Al? Why do you want me to get out here?"

"I don't want to be on the news. Just get out here and try to be quick about it. Please!" he said half sternly, half pleading.

I unfastened my seatbelt, opened my passenger door into the idling prop wash - that's right - he didn't even shut down the engine while I got out - and I unloaded my bags out of the backseat onto the taxiway. Once I got all my stuff out, he said, "Bye!" then closed the door, turned a 180, going off the taxiway then back onto it, then scurried back down to the runway, as quick as he could.

My friends came down to where he left me off, and helped me carry my bags back to the center of the ramp where the reporters were. As Al took off off and flew over, I waved goodbye to him as I did with all of my pilots. One of the photographers, Gary Harwood caught that shot. It's one of my favorites. They put it on a KSU Alumni newspaper several months later along with a three-page article about my journey, written by Susan Rogers.



Why didn't Al want to be on TV? Not sure. I could only venture a couple of guesses. I do hope he's okay with reading about it and seeing me waving at him, here though, twenty years later.]

[AAC Cadet Leader]

Mom’s Log
Day 101 continued...
TV Anchor WAKC Phil Hoffman interview Ch 8.
Martha had lunch in Stow at Lawson's Restaurant with her friends, Nancy & Karl, Beezer, Kim & Lloyd, and Donna & Bill.

At 2:30 p.m., pilot Robert Richardson from Chagrin Falls flew down to Kent State Airport in his 1943 Stearman and flew Martha to Valley City Airport on Grafton Road.
At Valley City Airport, a small, grass airfield south of Cleveland Hopkins airport, our relatives and friends greeted them when they landed and came to our house afterwards for a small reception.

[AAC Cadet Leader]

A Fork in the Path
which way to go
where there’s a fork
should i go
this way
or that way
guess I’ll stay
here for now
consider the options
‘til the right path
becomes clear

At times during my journey, I struggled for days just trying to find the next direction. As I write this book, I’m being challenged with new decisions to make that will guide the direction of my life and the lives of my children.

Lesson learned: There is a reason for every struggle along the path. With each I’m forced to be patient and believe that when the end solution finally comes, I’ll appreciate it more, even if it comes with new challenges.

[AAC Cadet Leader]

i apologize to everyone i've disappointed by not following through on my commitment to add around 500 words daily to my book writings. i'm still stuck in the mire, but i do think i'll pull out of it soon. please keep checking in. thanks. ~martha

[airknocker]

Chin up, it"s a winter thing. We're waiting patiently, Just picture those golden brothers!!

[AAC Cadet Leader]

ha ha ha ...yes, those golden brothers...it might only be forty degrees outside, but does feel like spring when i watch them.

[JohnReid]

Forty degress!!!! Here it is seven with snow banks ten feet high, but I must admit it is sunny,thank God.

[AAC Cadet Leader]

guess i should be thankful for forty.

actually, hate to tell you this, john, but it might hit go above sixty here today. yeehah!