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It seems like only a couple of years ago that I met Dave. This guy came into our store to show us some pieces of folk art which were ready for framing. We talked about the value of collectible art and the possibility of some appraisals and marketing for this body of art that his artist friend had created.
The customer and I just clicked, or you might say we hit it off. Within a few minutes, Dave was telling me that he was about to get his private pilot license. My mind wandered as he talked. I was hoping that he hadn’t noticed that for a moment or two I wasn’t really listening to him, but to the dream that was bubbling up on the inside of me. His enthusiasm for flying was rekindling a life-long notion that I had all but forgotten.

It had been at least 20 years since I had even been near a flying machine. A friend once shared his birthday gift of a flight with me down in Texas. We flew over the Texas City oil refineries where I was working at the time. Then out over the sandy beaches where I could see the shrimpers as they cut spiraling patterns on the muddy floor of Galveston Bay dragging their nets for the catch of the day. That afternoon flight has been re-lived numerous times in my mind since. But those bright memories were always darkened by the thought that it was impossible for me to fly because it was too dangerous, too expensive, and too hard to learn.

As we talked, I was thinking about asking Dave if he would take me for an airplane ride someday. But, before I could get the words out, he offered to take me flying.
Within a few days we were at the airport and I watched intently as Dave performed the pre-flight inspection of the aircraft. I was impressed as he methodically went over the checklist. Spending extra time out in the cold to make sure everything was in place and working properly assured me that it would be a safe adventure. I had never heard Dave raise his voice before, so after another checklist inside the plane, he startled me a bit when he yelled out the window, “CLEAR PROP!” just before the engine came to life.

The machine was just like the one in Texas, a Cessna 172 Skyhawk! It was different this time up, however. Not just that it was wintertime in Indiana and the ground was blanketed with snow. It wasn’t that the lakes were frozen and the ice fishermen huddled in groups for their catch. It was different this time because I was different! The dream was being nurtured. Meeting Dave made me realize that I really could learn to fly if I wanted to. Three months later I started my pilot training.

The flight back in Texas seems like a lifetime ago and the first ride with my new pilot friend seems like just hours ago. We still like to take turns flying the airplane, while on cross country trips to new places, as we remind others that dreams of flying can come true.