So if you care to find me

Look to the western sky!

As someone told me lately:

"Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly!"

And if I'm flying solo

At least I'm flying free

To those who'd ground me

Take a message back from me

Tell them how I am

Defying gravity.

-Broadway Show “Wicked”

I’ve wanted to fly planes since I was a little girl. Cliched? Perhaps, but growing up I wanted to be an Astronaut. I still do!  I remember after the Challenger accident people asking me “What do you want to be now?” my answer was the same.  “An Astronaut”.  “But, it’s not safe!”.  It’s not about safety. It’s about passion.  They never understood it.

I had a discovery flight when I was 17.  My Dad was earning his private pilot’s license at the Athens, GA airport where I grew up. (Athens, not the airport *wink*) I remember the CFI telling me how to taxi and putting my feet on the peddles and steering the plane to the runway.  I was hooked!  As soon as we landed I ran over to my dad and asked when I could start my lessons.  Unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be financially.

Years passed and I kept putting it off, well, because it cost money.  Money I was spending on other frivolous things.  Then in 2007 my cousin, 45, died in her sleep.  Sudden, young and devastating.  We’re only 14 years apart.  Yes, that’s a lot, but it’s also very little.  I sat down and did my research.  I called the local school for a discovery flight.  Dad and I went down to the airport, met Mary and took off in a Skyhawk 172. I was committed.  After landing, when I asked when I could start my lessons I was told “tomorrow”.

So a long explanation of how I got started and the why of it all.  I will share my stories in my blog, the climbs and descents and everything in between.  So strap in, do your run up and take-off!

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