Preface

As I write this I await word from my new employer, Mesaba Airlines, on which aircraft I will start training to fly starting on December 1, 2008. Yes, I'm anxious to find out, but then again, I'm very anxious about a lot of things, not the least of which is the fact that I'm a late-40's, married, father of two, retired Navy submariner, ex-power plant supervisor, ex-election equipment company Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, about to embark on an entirely new career. How did I get here? What made me shuck a high paying career as a company executive to make about $24 per hour, only guaranteed about 75 hours per month? The answer will hopefully unfold as I tell my story with this blog, but in a nutshell, the answer lies in the one and only thing that I am NOT anxious about...the fact that I am a pilot, and more importantly, and pilot fortunate enough to have some very influential people in my life who encourage me to pursue dreams. We've all heard the phrase "money can't buy happiness", but I'm about to put my lack of money where my mouth is.

I should take a few minutes to expound a little on my background. I was born in Memphis Tennessee, raised in the South first by my grandparents. My grandfather was the main male influence in my life until he died when I was six, and I am the person that I am today because of those first six years. Had my grandfather not taken me hunting and fishing, taught me how to use a pocket knife, how to treat women with the respect that they deserved, how to be a good person, how to be a man, I can guarantee that the many negative influences that impacted my life in later years would have steered me in different, if not darker, directions. My grandfather also introduced me to aviation. He and I spent many afternoons watching airliners takeoff and land at Memphis International Airport, and then one fateful day he took me to an airshow at a small airport north of Memphis. I was only about five years old that day, but even now in my 40's I can clearly remember seeing and touching a midget Mustang, seeing a skydiving dog, watching a wing-walk act completely spellbound, and feeling something special being amongst the aviation lovers in the crowd, especially the pilots.

Following my grandfather's death my sister Lisa and I then lived with my mother and step father. I met my father for the first time when I was about 14, and once again found a male influence. My father was a hard-drinking, drug using, motorcycle riding, drag racing wife abuser that I thought was "cool", at least until I came to my senses, thanks to those first six years with my grandfather. Living with my father was a very traumatic experience, except for one fact, a neighbor named Ken knew that I loved model airplanes and offered to take me flying one afternoon. That was in 1979, and my life as a pilot started that day. Between that day and today, my life has taken me to many corners of the world, under the oceans and Arctic ice in nuclear submarines. I've become a father, experienced a failed marriage, moved to Canada, found love again and married the Love of my life Cathy, moved back to the US, and through it all, I've been a pilot. Always. I've flown in various corners of the world, introduced many others to the love of flying, owned aircraft, and just this year, I started flying jets. Just as it did on my first flight with Ken, my life took a turn with my first flight piloting a jet owned by my mentor Gene. It was that first flight in a Falcon 10 which led to my Falcon type rating and many hours under the tutelage of Gene and Ty (Gene's pilot), which in turn led me to the understanding that although I'm older than the typical airline applicant and that my life has taken me on many different paths away from aviation, if I am to live a dream that I abandoned long ago, the dream of being an airline pilot, I must act now. Gene, Ty, and Cathy, thank you for encouraging me. Daddy Bob, thank you for making me a man, and for instilling into me a love for aviation. As I chronicle my adventure which starts in a couple of weeks, these individuals will be the ones responsible for my successes, so they should be recognized before I even start. I've got a lot to do before I leave for training (my son Brandon returns from his second tour in Iraq soon and Cathy and I are on a trip to Fort Campbell Kentucky to see him), and each day additional anxiety sets in as December 1 approaches. Through this blog, I hope to deal with those anxieties, thank those who influence my life, and just maybe, inspire others to pursue a career in aviation. Let the fun begin!