Of all events that stand out in my mind, August 1967 is the one. It was, by all events, a rather terrible year; there were race riots in several cities across the country, Vietnam was really becoming a polarizing issue...I never was a part of the protests and to this day, I'm not sure if I'm proud of that of ashamed of it (even Iraq today still cannot compare, though it bears disturibing similiarities). What took place in August, far away from all that, has made it a happy time for me...it was the month and year I proposed to my wife Maritza!
I had just taken her back to Minnesota with me (we met at MSU) to meet the family. This was my Father's farm. He had passed away two years ago, but my Mother was a strong woman, and she carried on (to great success in the 80's...a hard decade for farmers).
As we came back, I pitched in...that was what you did on farms. My longing gaze at my late Father's Piper Apache did not escape my Mother's notice (but then, not much did).
The last few years, a cardinal family had developed a penchant for nesting in the left engine. Frodo (my Mother was a big fan of the Lord of the Rings books), always would bark at them, but they never went away...my dad would move the nest when he flew, then replace it when he was done. He said it had to do with respect for nature, and that it was for good luck...
My dad had flown during WWII and Korea. After the latter, he never spoke about his military service, and though he wouldn't have stopped me, he did
not want me to enlist when I turned 18. He did love planes and taught me to fly when I was 11.
At about 7:00 or so my Mother told me to take Maritza for a flight. Even though there were still chores to do, I know never to argue with my Mother so I did what I was told.
Maritza was an avid photographer, and had gotten me interested in the hobby...so I took some shots (you see the ring on her finger...)
My Mother was also a bit of a shutterbug and got a few of us as well...my Father built this strip, he tried all the tricks he knew to get rid of that mud puddle...it just wouldn't go away...
Frodo was in the cabin the minute I opened the door (there was no refusing him), he loved to fly too!
We went over Lake Superior. All the stormy events seemed so far away.
As we turned back I turned the panel lights on. My Mother had lit the torches as well for our return!
I had to slow us down and get lower...
My Mother caught us as we came in...
It was one of the happiest days of my life...
My Mother passed away almost 10 years ago (1996). She lived on the farm till the day she died. The Piper had been sold in 1992 (after we moved to the West Coast, there was nobody to fly it). Though I never became a pilot I still fly and Maritza and I are still married, despite the odds. We also have a daughter, Alyssa 34. She lives in Maine now and I understand that she has met someone.
In all this I find myself wondering what became of that plane...
Pages: 1
