Crossing the Rift

I would like to sit

And ruminate...

on the vast endlessness__________________________________ of the deep blue skies

It seems you could easily (hold) that which (surrounds) EVERYthing you've ever seen

The intangible creates a looooonging to somehow grasp the skies that sep-

arate us from space

But if I could cross the ||rift||

that keeps us on the ground, then we could freely SOAR the pristine air

T-h-e     u-b-i-q-u-i-t-o-u-s     s-k-i-e-s     s-t-r-e-c-h     a-c-r-o-s-s     t-h-e     e-a-r-t-h.

However, the GRAVITY of earth is intransigent and will not baRgAiN with me

Nothing I proffer interests him

But when I finally diss~~emble the %barrier%, we could              float              amongst the clouds

No cynicism[sp] could pull me _down_

The *c*r*y*p*t*i*c* flight of the bird has ??baffled?? men for centruies, but not until now, has it been

FOUND

I wrote this poem when I was 15, three years after I was called to be a pilot and a year and a half before I passed the Private Pilot Written Exam.

A New School

I'm five weeks into my first semester at Middle Georgia College! I'm focusing on a few academic courses this semester and plan on starting full blown A&P (aircraft maintenance) training next semester. The photograph is MGC's Piper Seminole overlooking campus. The dorm is just a few yards upwind. My bedroom window is literally less than 100 yards from the taxiway! The school uses all piper aircraft so that's a departure from my Skyhawk experiences. If I get a chance to learn one it can only help my career. Finances providing I may look to get my tail-wheel endorsement for experience and to keep my flight proficiency these next two years. I'm missing Liberty, marching band, and all my friends in Virginia, but I know this is just another God-ordained opportunity to connect with more people and learn new things in a different environment. If nothing else this is a chance for me to shine my light in a school that isn't quite as 'salty' as Liberty.

Meeting a Legend

At Oshkosh this year I had the great pleasure of meeting Steve Saint. His father, Nate Saint, was a pilot with MAF in the 50s in Ecuador and was martyred by the Waodoni tribe in cold blood. As a boy Steve returned  to the tribe with his aunt and much of the tribe have since converted to Christianity. Steve is now close friends with  some of those responsible for the killings of his father and coworkers. Steve Saint has led the tribe to creating the only current certified flying car; the Maverick. The idea that fueled its progress is a notion that an indigenous tribe could operate this vehicle off-road, beyond roads, and above areas where roads don't even exist. Why hike through the Amazon all day when you can take a 5 minute flight? It was a joy to meet this aviation AND missions legend. If missions aviation is an interest to you, reading a book about Nate Saint or watching one of his movies would be worthwhile.

Instrument Rating

I earned my Instrument Rating on June 18, 2011! Tomorrow I'm headed out to visit Oshkosh, Wi for the annual Airventure Fly-in. There will be a memorial brick service on Sunday in honor of my late grandfather and flight instructor Jerry Cooper Even though he didn't see me earn my Instrument Rating he had full faith from the first flight that I would be a career pilot.

KEEP THE BLUE SIDE UP!

What's Up With Alex - July 2011

What's Up With Alex 07/2011