Things that made me happy this week

1.  Finding my car keys Monday morning.  LOL!
2.  The amazing chili from the kiosk at work.  (not for wimps, trust me!)
3.  Megan's laugh.  She has the best laugh ever!!!
4.  Scratchably pink bellies on my dogs.
5.  Wind chimes during an autumn storm.
6.  Colorful leaves everywhere I look.
7.  An invitation to do an underwater pumpkin carving contest.
8.  Getting to fly an airplane.
9.  Turning 51 with so many blessed wishes from friends.
10. Enjoying sleeping in on the weekend.  

Flying

I had a wonderful experience today.  I got to go flying.  My friend Tim asked me if I wanted to go, and before he got the question out, I was screaming YES!  It was so much fun.  He picked me up at the Albany airport and we flew at 120 knots over I-5 towards Harrisburg, OR.  I loved the flying, but more amazed at the beauty of the town I live in. 

Everyday while driving to work I marvel at the beauty of this place, but seeing it from the air. . . well, it just took my breath away.

Tim offered me the controls of the airplane while traveling over I-5, but I declined.  I needed to know more about what was going on in the cockpit, so I asked a ton of questions about the gauges, and what things were. . . then just watched him operate things while I took pictures.

We landed on a grass strip outside of Harrisburg where he learned to fly.  That was really cool.  The we took off for the Lebanon airport where Tim again offered me control of the airplane. 

My hands were shaking and my palms sweaty as I took hold of the yoke.  It wasn’t 2 seconds in before I realized that any movement I had, no matter how slight, made the airplane move and that I had to undo that movement. 

It isn’t like driving a car.

But, thanks to Tim’s patience with me, I eventually flew the plane for a few minutes alone and am still alive to talk about it. 

We stopped at the airport in Lebanon, OR where I got to meet the owner.  He was a very gentle man who only had wonderful, positive thing to say.  And he had an office dog.  So I liked him immediately.

After leaving the Lebanon airport, we hit some turbulence.  It made me laugh.  It was way better than a roller coaster ride, and I knew there was nothing really wrong with the plane. . .  just bumpy air.  Tim was happy that is didn’t upset me.  In fact, I was laughing.

Our ride ended way too soon.  We got to fly over my house (3rd pic ~ yeah, I live in the woods) and then we had to land and it was over.

But I know I will never forget the thrill I got from being in control, even for a short time, of an airplane.

Thank you, Tim, for that opportunity.

It is the people in you life that matter.

I just spent an amazing long weekend in South Florida with old and new friends.  After this weekend, I can promise you that it isn’t the place you at or what is going on in your life, it is the people in your life that matter the most.

My high school friend Charlotte planned this event for us and she did an amazing job.  It was both relaxing and totally fun.  How she managed to blend so much fun and so much down time so we could just chill is amazing to me, but, then Charlotte rocks.

It was our 50^th birthday bash with a bunch of friends from high school.  Yeah, we are all turning 50.  What better place to celebrate than on the beach with each other. .  . right?

We all stayed in the same hotel which was right on Hollywood Beach and the staff at the hotel was wonderful.  I felt so pampered.  And it was nice all of us being in the same place.  We ate together, and played together.

There were so many fun things that happened.  We went on a pub crawl one evening where we just walked the boardwalk and stopped in at the local venues.  Pubs, shops, ice cream, sand, music. . .  all up and down the boardwark.  It was wonderful.

Then there was a catamaran trip that was breathtaking from beginning to end.  The crew on the ship spoiled us rotten, and the views and sun and ocean spray just took away every stress and reminded me of how amazing this world is.  It was so fun to watch everyone play and relax.

I was only in Ft Lauderdale for 4 days, but I already miss my friends, and the new friends I met there.  I hope to go back soon. 

It was so nice to be reminded of my roots from these friends from 30 years back.  The people in you life matter the most.  Everything else is just noise.  

Invest in the people.  

Hugs to you all.