Many years ago, on the island of Puerto Rico, lived a young boy that dreamed of many things. His Dad would take him to an old abandoned airstrip, not far from their house; whenever they heard the jets come overhead. It was during one of those magical afternoons, puffy clouds blowing in off the ocean, the roar of a jet engine as they did “touch and goes” that the seed was planted.
The year was 1956, the jets were F-86E’s from the 156 ANG Air Wing. What a wonderful roar they made, swooping down for a landing, the little puffs of smoke the tires left as the touched down and then the roar of the engine as they added power to go around for another landing. The breeze off the ocean, the rustle of palm trees and the smell of jet fuel were mesmerizing, magical and wonderful to the boy.
Soon he was taking every cent he had to buy “FLYING” magazine and other aviation magazines. Their pages became dog eared and worn as he read and re-read the articles, looked longingly at the pictures and dreamed of flying.
The Lord blessed that young man, guided him to Army flight training, protected him during his tour of Viet Nam and gifted him with a fantastic corporate job flying to all parts of the world and in many magnificent airplanes and helicopters.
Forty three years of “soaring with the eagles” passed and now he is retired.
His walls are hung with memories, his eyes wrinkled from years of bright sunlight...all reflect the joy that he had, and the joy that he still feels when he hears an airplane or helicopter fly over. The seed was planted, carefully nurtured and now the harvest is “oh so sweet”!
That boy was me.
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