HomeFlying Lessons
The Wish Twin
The boy and the old plane both wished to fly, but the plane no longer believed in wishes. It had been so long since it had flown; abandoned, broken, and alone. The plane had forgotten how to believe. It’s hard to believe when you’re just parts in a shed. Separated so long from the sky, […]
Flight Lesson – 34
I sat on the grass and talked to Meis. I asked Meis van der Rohe, “How could you do that, dear man?” Build a fortress of black bars and glass, in such a beautiful space, along the curve of Lake Michigan. Were your tower’s built to keep people out, or as a box to put […]
Flight Lesson – 33
Close your eyes. I have a present for you. No, it’s not your birthday but I wanted to give you something anyway. A before my birthday, birthday surprise. I couldn’t decide what we would like. What would be the perfect gift? You’ll have to tell me if I got it right. I think you’ll love […]
Flight Lesson – 32
Schrödinger’s cat is standing by my wing. Flips a challenge coin and says, “Call.” Alive or dead. I’m too smart to fall for that old cat trick. Uncertainty is the only certainty a pilot knows. I know what to pick. Alive. Don’t you know pilot’s never die? We just go into a holding pattern in […]
Flight Lesson – 31
I have this plane because of you. I saw you standing at the airport fence, a Faraday Cage I couldn’t recognize you through. It had been so long since I had seen you. Seems like a thousand years ago. You recognized me first, or at least you thought you did. I couldn’t see your eyes […]
Who is Jimmie Allen?
Has anyone seen Jimmie Allen? I’ve been looking all over for him. I stood in Russia with the Night Witches and pointed at his picture. “Do you recognize him?” All they said was, “Nyet.” I flew to Egypt to ask Count Almásy. “Have you seen Jimmie Allen?” László replied, “He doesn’t exist my dear, but I’m not […]
Flight Lesson – 30
“Don’t you leave me Goose. Don’t you leave me.” My first teacher was now my wingman. Neither of us were Maverick’s. We were two of the biggest chickens on the American Barnstormers Tour and proud of it. Goose’s. A freudian slip of my wingman’s tongue. I was his Radar Intercept Officer that day. We […]
Entr’acte
Blu was donated to Triple Tree Aerodrome to help their youth program July, 2017. “I know the price you paid to get Blu. I wouldn’t worry about it too much, that’s our lucky number.”
Flight Lesson – 29
An angel laid on my wing in the museum. Her name is Evie. She was eight and told me she wanted to be a veterinarian. I saw the angel again a few weeks ago. Now she wants to be a ballerina. Both are worthy vocations. She tap danced in sandals, for her parents and me, […]
Flight Lesson – 28
Missing the missing man. We saved a slot for him in the sky on the airshow fly-by. Look up. Do you see him in the space we erased? I do. Look down, he’s standing right in front of you. Go on. Keep talking about the planes and how many men were killed in them. About […]
