Real World Friends

While on I my recent trip, which I’ve dubbed “Goin East” I had an opportunity to meet a woman I’d gotten to know quite well, by following her blog. She told not of travels, but of her life. I cried with her, and celebrated, and learned from her comments on life. She started her blog as an outlet for her need to write, and write she does. Her posts are warm, funny, and powerful. How could I not stop and visit in person, especially when she extended an invite?

Not being the first person, I’d gotten to know online, I was comfortable with and looking forward to our visit. Not disappointed. She invited me into her home, introduced her husband and dog. A husband who trusts his wife’s instincts enough to welcome a stranger into his home, is quite a guy. He also makes a mean breakfast, and provided boots to take me exploring the Mississippi river behind their home.

My hostess (You’ll notice that I’m not mentioning any names, or places as this lady needs to keep her privacy.) took time out of her busy schedule to take me on a driving and walking tour of the big city near her home. I marveled at art in the public parks..



and grand homes in the historical district.

But as much as I enjoyed and appreciated all I saw, my fondest memory of the stopover is an unexpectedly warm, soft moonlit evening when we all sat on the front porch and talked.

We’ve all read the horror stories about people using the internet to do mischief. So I feel the need to mention that being careful is important, but don’t let fear stop you from reaching out to others. Maybe all you’ll do is become email buddies, but maybe you’ll be as lucky as I have, and make new friends that you can meet in the real world.

Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of your life, my new friends.

Another 15 Minutes.

While visiting with Joyce in Indiana, a local reporter came out to interview us.

Lydia Beers was a delightful young woman just starting her career who showed a lot of interest in flying and asked good questions. Joyce and I enthusiastically introduced her to airplanes and flying and ourselves, sharing our flying stories with her.

It had been our intention to take her on a flight as well, but she was unable to meet us at the nearby airport, and we didn’t feel a take-off from a short grass strip with tall power lines at one end was an appropriate introduction to flying. Rule one is, of course, never scare the passengers.


I just learned that the article has appeared in The Pilot News. How could a newspaper with that name not cover our unique story?