A duet with Bono

It's been nearly a year since I took the discovery flight.

Commitments at home (boy #2) and commitments at work (promotion) have left me in a state where even if I wasn't drop dead exhausted, I'd still have no time available for flying.

This reminds me of a few other turning points in my life: moving to a new city, getting married, buying a home, and starting a family. As the roadsigns of life warn you of potential curves or forks in the road ahead it is always easier to say "now isn't convenient" and stay on the path you are currently traveling. If I've learned anything from each of the turns I've made it's that you need to make a leap of faith sometimes. A parallel on this philosophy was made in a movie of my adolescent years "Risky Business" where the lead character says "Sometimes, you just have to say what the [heck]".

I lost my father less than 2 months ago, and I couldn't help but wonder what kind of regrets he had with his life. The time he changed degrees, sold his business before it boomed, opportunities missed or opportunities lost. Since then I've been trying to set priorities in my life. My family and finances are all secure; my professional life is still on a positive trajectory and satisfying; I've got a great group of friends and I am involved in community organizations (giving some back); so this leaves me with my personal satisfaction. Flying is something missing in my life. For 10+ years I've been involved in aviation only in the simulated world. I still love it, but it just isn't the brass ring. I've got to get off my butt, stop making excuses and just do it.

It started by ME picking up the phone. After a short conversation I was "booked" to meet with the chief dispatcher for the club paperwork, an orientation, and everything else I need to get going at the club with my PPL training. Wow - that was easy.

A few hours later I had "one of those moments": the windows were unrolled as I blasted down the highway through the Alberta foothills against a clear blue sky at 120 km/h. Everything was green, the sun was shining, and with the stereo volume cranked I was able to belt out "A Beautiful Day" along with Bono.

The stars were certainly aligned.