Dear Carolyn,

Things have been quite busy around here, you know. Winterizing, schooling, working, hot rolling my hair, you get the picture. Last weekend, though, was a rare treat. I wish to goodness I had downloaded these photos and written about it right away. I write better that way, but oh well. I have a nice little list going of things to blog about and this one had to top the list. Last Sunday afternoon I was talking to my good pal, Maria, and her husband was in the background saying, “What’s Mike doing? Does he want to go flying?” See, Johnny is a pilot and he has a little aerobatic airplane here. I’ve never gotten to go flying with him and never have wanted to come right out and ask but I must have been feeling bold that day. I said, “Hey, I think it’s my turn, right?” It took a couple of minutes for Maria to figure out that I was not joking and it turns out that I got to go on the.most.gorgeous.fall.Sunday.yet! So I headed over to the Wasilla airport which is really near our house (planes serenade us constantly and we love it). You can literally see it down in the valley from our house. I really didn’t know what to expect but I was so anxious to get in the air. When I got there, Johnny was pushing this little plane out to the runway with his bare hands. I wish I could explain in words the size of this thing. It’s like a long four-wheeler with wings, literally. TINY! So then he straps me into the jump suit (I think that’s what it’s called) in case of emergency. And here’s the only part that made me a little queasy. It’s the part where he’s telling me that if the hatch comes open and he’s yelling and hitting me in the back of the head that it means it’s time to jump out as hard as i can and pull the rip cord straight out. Do you really think I would remember to do that? Uh, no. I think it would just be the right time to meet my Savior, that’s what I think. So, here’s the icky part where I’m imagining just that. I have a great imagination (for you, Sarah B.) I just nodded and pretended that it didn’t phase me. Then we got into the plane. Here’s a picture of the step stool. Um, good thing Mike works for a chiropractor. I’ve lost a little weight recently, but that’s neither here nor there when you’re standing on a 7 foot fit man’s back, trust me… embarrassing to say the least. So we’re ready to fly. It has to be one of the highlights of living here. You know, as we were in the air right here in Wasilla over the hayflats, I was amazed. Amazed that God has brought us here to the beauty that surrounds us. Amazed that we’ve been blessed beyond measure by having friends like this. Amazed that I was upside down and rolling and falling and flying in this tiny little bird with a motor. Amazed that Johnny kept asking if I wanted to do another maneuver, I was loving it. It was like riding the world’s best roller coaster in the air. He has a video he’s trying to get to me of our flight. Maybe I can get it linked up! So cool! So, here’s us after the flight and before dinner. Took a little while for my stomach to stop doing flips.

If you think this was good, just wait til’ you hear my Wasilla Post Office experience this past week…next on my list.

Thrill seekingly yours,

kristy

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