Breakfast flight

Morning. Guess what I did before school today? Flew my plane and got current and checked out! Officially the coolest, craziest, awesomest thing I've ever done before school. Katel is all pissed off at me because I couldn't drive her to school today. I think it's cute. She's bitching about potentially having to get up at 5:30am, and I don't give a fuck. As Doug said "Ya'll some early bird movin ass niggas". True dat.

I think it's funny that I'm fucking around in a plane while all my least favorite people are just waking up. I also love how I nonchalantly ask my dad if I can fly before school tomorrow. Fly the shit out of this morning.

So yeah, many more flights are to come. Included will be a picnic flight, sunrise flight, paper airplane flight, SDF flight, fishing flight, and many more. Stoked. I'm at a level 16 stokeness for getting my plane back. Yeah, level 16, that's the highest in case you didn't know. I've never been at a level 16 since like...I don't even remember. I think 8th grade.

Put on the flying playlist and check this shit out:

5 years old.  I remember being yelled at by my mom for leaving the front door open. "But mom the passengers haven't finished boarding yet!", I'd yell back. Once the imaginary passengers were boarded and all passes have been scanned, I'd close the improv jetway door and go from gate agent to pilot. Walk outside, hop on my bike, do a quick 'preflight' and fly off to destinations unknown--usually my friend Nick's house.

7 years old. I had a good looking collection of toy airplanes, where I would turn my kitchen floor into an airport and get tiny travelers on their way around the world. I'd take the toy airplanes on a walk around the block, an have them land in the living room, imitating a long haul. The toy plane would be refueled, passengers would get off and a fresh set would get back on, the tug would hook up and push back, and I'd take it on a second trip around the block, this time counter-clockwise.

10 years old. I had turned the backseat of the family Dodge Durango into a cockpit. My panel: coloring some instruments onto an open manila folder and taping it to the back of the seat in front of me. My radio: a pair of headphones with a paper microphone plugged into nothing. My controls: my shoes placed upside down for rudder pedals, a pencil in the armrest for a throttle, and I honestly forgot what I used for a yoke (hell maybe I had AP engaged the whole flight). Every two hour drive turned into a 6 hour flight.

13 years old. I had been logging virtual hours after gaining experience in Microsoft Flight Siumulator. I was quite perturbed at any aircraft without autobrakes. You see, autobrakes were the only labeled knob on the 747 panel, hence it was the only thing I definitively could identify. I since a Cessna SkyHawk doesn't have autobrakes, and Boeings do, I made the connection that autobrakes are one of the most pertinent system on any aircraft that separates the crapcraft from the jetcraft. I logged 200 hours my first year. All VFR, all with spotty knowlege and experience. Regardless, I still acted like I knew everything, even more than my dad who by then had his Private License. "Well dad's plane doesn't have autobrakes, piece 'a shit that doesn't count."

18 years old. 2,000 simulator hours. Still use autobrakes, among other things. Last night I ran into my parents room and politely asked my parents permission. Most teens ask for permission to go to a party, permission to borrow money, permission to access the liqour cabinet, etc. "Hey can I go fly tomorrow before school?"
Dad: "No."
Mom: "Tomorrow? Before school?"
Dad: "No."
Mom: "Well how would you take the girls to school?"
Dad: "Doesn't matter Sandy. No."
I explained it was a checkout with an instructor and was granted my plane. I flew for an hour and 6 minutes, and drove to school.

When I have time to think about it, I enjoy reminiscing in aspiring to fly. I remember all the details of playing Captain. All throughout my early days I loved pretending to be a pilot. Only thing that's changed is that I no longer have to pretend.

I had a great childhood, and I'm having a great life.

BAM!