Friday, March 25 — After getting a long-overdue haircut and beard trim, in at 10, just in time to phot a visiting Piper Comanche, Lear 35 and departing Allegiant Air in perfect light. While processing the pictures was visited by a charming young family from New York: dad, mom and three daughters. Wonderful, smiling, inquisitive. We talked 15 minutes and they left. Then the new owner of the Robinson R-44 visited, and later the crew of a Gulfstream G 280 who were also terrific. I moved some old pictures into the sorting files and accomplished a LOT by the time I was done with THAT. Didn’t work upstairs at all; no time. Called Dave’s Locksmith Shop which I’ve called several times over the years. Set up an appointment for them to come secure some doors upstairs. Two nice – and very respected friends have offered to replace current locks but it has been MONTHS of ECHOING PROMISES. I’m going to get the work done, even if I eat freaking Ramen noodles and sliced deli turkey for a few weeks to pay for it. I don’t need the freaking heartache and bitterness from promises delayed! Then discovered a lot of commotion in the lobby, went out to investigate. A local, elderly gentleman, army veteran, was about to be granted a “last wish:” a helicopter ride. He’s in the final stages of cancer and it won’t be long before he will be bed-bound. A large group of family and friends, photographers from Memorial Hospital and Dave Bakke and photographer from the State Journal-Register were on hand. Great to see Dave again. I photo’d what happened. It was quite a doin’s! Rushed preliminary processing of the pictures I had taken and shared a few at Facebook. Went home at 7:00 and HOPE to make an early start tomorrow. A WONDERFUL DAY. Rating: A
The Airbus A320 departed from Runway 31 as I was phot’ing the visiting Piper Comanche 250 Friday morning. Pictures of the veteran’s last wish helicopter ride will be shared in tomorrow’s post.
Abe Lincoln's Air Force 