It was about 6:00pm, Friday night, and Angela had just landed the Cessna and was taxiing to the barn to tie it up for the night. It was an uneventful flight, nothing different
from what she had been doing since the day she soloed. She wanted to do something different not the same thing every day. She couldn’t fly at night; she longed to see the unusual beauty of the country side at night. The different colored lights were all too dazzling. The bright lights identifying the runways, and the blue lights telling one that they were taxiways, guiding pilots from the runways to a particular destination on the
airport, were always intriguing to her, but her Student license didn’t permit it. She couldn’t carry passengers. She had to fly alone, except when her dad or anyone else that had a Private pilots license or better would fly with her.
She didn’t want to go home yet, wasn’t hungry, wasn’t anything. She was in a sort of not here, not there mood. She seemed to have lost interest in a lot of things. Lately, all she did, was get up in the morning, get dressed and go to school. Come home, eat dinner, do her homework if she had any. Most times she would go the airport, just sit in the hangar where the Cessna was housed, and think, and think. She wanted to be alone a lot now a
days. She seldom saw her friends except at school. All her interest was centered on aviation, flying, and her intense desire to be 17 years old, when she would be able to take
her test for a Private license. “What the heck is wrong with me,” Angela cried out loud to no one but herself. I’ve got to get out of this stupid rut I’m in. There’s other things in this
world besides flying.
Sure, Angela missed flying with her Dad. They hadn’t been doing this very much ever since the day she soloed. She knew that he had taught her all that he could teach her. All she needed now was practice, and to study for her written and oral examination. She also missed their frequent flights together and their kidding and joking with each other, but she was growing up now and had plenty of time for flying. She had to concentrate on her
schooling, her friends, and being with her Mom and doing all sorts of things around the house, which she had been neglecting lately.
It was late Sunday night when her dad returned from a business trip. Angela was in her room completing the last phase of her homework. “Hello, Angela Honey,” said her dad, as he walked into her room, “doing your homework? “Yes Dad, just about finished,” as she stood up from her desk, went to her Dad and gave him a great big hug, “glad you’re back again.” “Angie, I’ve been talking to your mother, and I really don’t like what I hear.
She says all you do is mope around the house, and take the plane up once in a while. And that you seem to have no interest what-so-ever except flying. Is that so?” “Yes, I guess it is, Dad. “Honey, I just don’t understand that, Maybe, I’ve been too lenient with you, given you almost anything you’ve asked me for, Maybe, I’ve made a mistake. I guess that I’ve coddled you too much. We just can’t let this continue, flying isn’t all there is to life.
“Yes, I know Dad, but ever since I was old enough to find out about flying, it was all I wanted. I lived and breathed flying, but there were other things in my life besides
flying. I had my friends to hang around with. We went on dates and had a lot of fun together. I had my music to listen to when I wanted to relax. I loved being a cheerleader.
But this all seemed to change after I soloed. Remember, I couldn’t wait until my 16th birthday. I lost interest in a lot of things after that and I don’t know the reason why.
Maybe it was because I missed flying with you. Maybe it’s because I hate flying alone. It’s no fun up there all by yourself. Now I can’t wait until I’m seventeen so I can get my
Private Pilots license.”
“Yes I, know,” replied her Dad, “I know that your interest in flying really goes beyond the norm. I also know that you want to continue on and on with your lessons, even after you get your Private Pilots License. There’s no telling of how far you will go. But, honey, I’ll tell you this. You will never be a great pilot all by yourself. You need people around you. You need friends, people you can count on. You have to find other interests in the meantime. You have plenty of time for flying. Gosh, Angela, you’re only 16 years old. You’ve got all the time in the world. Remember the old cliche, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Your Mom needs lots of help here in the house. She needs shopping to be done, along with other chores that you can help her with. Do you understanding what I am saying?”
“Yes, I think I do, and I want to do what’s right. What do you want me to do Dad?” “Honey, you’ve got about 5 months before your 17th birthday. I want you to take a break from flying. I would like for you not to fly for one month. Not even go near the airport, nor see the Cessna for this period. After the month is over, we’ll go and have a talk with Tom, and make some plans for the future. How does that sound to you?” “Sounds good Dad if it’s what you think is best.” “Yes, I do, I want you to reacquaint yourself with your friends, do whatever you used to do, and more importantly, be with your Mother more often. Will you do all this for me, your Mom and most mportantly, yourself?” “I sure will try Dad, in fact I’ll do better than that. Consider it done.”
