If people looked at the stars each night, they’d live a lot differently. When you look into infinity, you realize that there are more important things than what people do all day. -Bill Waterson
Today would have been Tom Petty’s 67th birthday. I still can’t believe that he’s gone. But, for us who loved Tom Petty’s music, it will live in our hearts forever.
The stars were magical tonight. When we’re flying to Roanoke at night to practice night landings, I always notice them but they were especially mesmerizing tonight. I love being in the sky. Although I’m watching my altitude, speed, direction, etc., I always feel such enormous peace and tranquility by the beauty that surrounds me.
As we got closer to Roanoke, the awe of the lights took over. (Please see the photos from Roanoke below.) Tonight I practiced takeoffs and landings on Runway 16. The runway goes up about midway. And, unfortunately (actually, fortunately) I had to do right turns after each takeoff and landing. First of all, I found it hard to find the runway for landings coming in at the right and at night. Then planes kept taking off so I would have to go out further waiting for them, then I would come in too high or too low. But, it was fortunate because Roger was there to teach me how to handle those situations. I never want to make mistakes but sometimes I’m thankful that I made them as a student, rather than as a pilot.
My actual landings were half decent tonight except when I had a too high angle of attack. There are lots of learning moments when you’re a student pilot.
Song for tonight is “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Steve Perry (Journey). My instructor mentioned him tonight. He has such an amazing voice! I smiled to myself. The reason I smiled: Steve Perry sounds so much like Sam Cooke. My favorite song is “A Change Is Gonna Come” . Have you ever listened to each of them singing “Cupid”? Love, love their voices. Not only do they sound so much alike, they also share the same birthday: January 22. It’s a very small world sometimes. (And could be smaller if you learned to fly!)
Ten years from now, make sure you can say that you chose your life, you didn’t settle for it.
Photos from Roanoke:
