Hurricane Wilma

I am happy to report that hurricane Wilma did not sweep me or any of the aircraft at Flight Safety out to the Atlantic Ocean as it passed through as a category 2/3 hurricane. I appreciate that many of you called, concerned that I would be in Florida as it passed through. Thankfully I was not.

The craziness began the Wednesday before when discussion of evacuating Flight Safety planes to Lakeland, FL and Dothan, Alabama. It was am immediate reaction, students began to buy tickets to go home, the grocery stores by Thursday evening had only a few bottles of water remaining on their shelves and everyone was preparing for the worst. I went to Orlando with Dave in hopes to dodge Wilma, which was unsuccessful, although I had a great time meeting his parents and a few of his aunts and uncles. I spent Saturday with Dave’s mom and two aunts, during which they enjoyed interrogating me and told me a few incriminating stories about him. Wilma was originally supposed to pass through Florida on Saturday and was now forecasted to pass through Monday morning after it’s previously caused damage to the Yucatan Peninsula. Dave had to return to Atlanta for work, so we flew out together. Wilma struck the following morning. I then flew to Dothan, AL to return home with my flight instructor, Willis and roommate, Melissa. When I showed up, to my surprise Flight Safety needed me to fly a Seminole back home. Melissa and I were thrilled because it would be just the two of us in a multi-engine on a cross-country flight, and the best part about it was that we didn’t have to pay for the 2.4 hours it took us to return…free multi time, a rare thing.

When we returned I understood what fall is in Florida, the amount of branches and trees that were down was amazing; already people had piled the fallen brush at the end of their driveways. No major damage was done thankfully. Our flightline had a few new skylights, and about 50% of the area was without power, but all in all, Wilma was nothing like the hurricanes Central Florida endured the previous year. Going to the grocery store has been an interesting experience all week. The Wednesday that followed Wilma, the shelves were bare with NOTHING in the dairy, meat, or frozen sections. And for the few days that followed, those shelves remained bare, as soon as food came in, its shelf life was so short that it was gone by that evening. But now one week after this natural disaster, things seem to be back to normal. Everyone has power again, the flight line is up and running and I can go to the grocery store and have no problem buying a pint of ice Ben and Jerry’s. As for my life, by the next time you hear from me, I should be a certified flight instructor.

Congratulations Mom

Surprising Mom
Originally uploaded by sasnook.

All my life, my mother has worked for Northwest Airlines. In fact she worked for Northwest for 33 years. She has lived all over the country from New York to Alaska working for Northwest as in many different positions from air freight, to the counter at the airport, to an international sales agent and city ticket agent. All through the good and the bad of the past 33 years mom worked for Northwest. But this past September, Mom decided to put in for retirement earlier than desired (although two years after she could have) and probably would have continued for many years.

With Mom working for Northwest I was not only allowed to travel all over the country but it influenced my career decisions building a strong desire to work in the travel industry. She had me on a flight when I was 6 months old and flying to see relatives by myself when I was seven. She always figured out my flights, made sure I got to or from where-ever I was going connecting through whatever airport that could possibly get me where I was going. Thank you mom, especially for getting me home today so I could play a part of your demise.

Tonight, in honor of Mom’s retirement, Dad threw her a wonderful surprise retirement party. Many new and old friends, coworkers, and family showed up. Dad did a wonderful job; in a short amount of time he gathered as many numbers out of mom’s cell phone when she wasn’t looking and doing all the planning and preparation sneakily behind her back even though he couldn’t get rid of her (after all she is retired now). Dad even took care of getting her out of the house by using my coming in town for a day as an excuse and that he had a private party at the restaurant so that when we returned from picking me up at the airport she wouldn’t suspect anything. He pulled it off, she had no clue, it was great, and he even made her favorite meal, crawfish etouffe.

Congratulations Mom, enjoy your retirement!