Who Am I?

My photo
A nobody; a nitwit; a pilot; a motorcyclist; a raconteur; a lover...of life - who loves to laugh, who tries to not take myself (or anything) too seriously...just a normal guy who knows his place in the universe by being in touch with my spiritual side. What more is there?

02 September 2011

On The Road Again? Err...not yet

Nope, still in Washington. Yes, I've stayed a lot longer than originally planned, and I have this nagging feeling that I ought to leave. Young Brandon is still here too. I suspect that we’ll both be gone very soon though. We both need to move on and get on with our lives, but we've been dragging our feet. Maybe we just don't want this to end. It's really been an awesome summer. And you cannot imagine how amazingly beautiful it is up here. Or maybe you can, if you’ve ever been to this part of Washington State.

There is a farmer up here who owns a Bell 206- the one my friend Mike was flying before he left suddenly to take a job in Alaska (long story). His replacement, a pilot named John, is also gone, as the cherry-drying season has ended. Although it’s ended for me too, I’ve been hanging around on the flimsy excuse that the weather has been too nice here and is too hot and humid in Pensacola.

So anyway, I heard that this farmer needs some 206 flying done, and I’m a Bell 206 kind of guy. I called up his insurance company and they easily added me to his policy. I suspect we’ll do some flying this weekend or perhaps early next week. Make a little extra money.

Then yesterday my jet pilot friend, Brad called. The guy he flies for, a rich lumber guy in Texas has been threatening to buy a helicopter for a couple of years now. Well guess what: Hunting season is right around the corner and a Bell 206 LongRanger has been found. (The LongRanger is just like a JetRanger but it’s stretched a bit and has two more seats. It also has way more power.)

A long time ago I had “sort of” committed to Brad that I’d come to fly his boss’s helicopter, not really thinking that he’d ever actually pull the trigger. But Brad was very clear: They could have the deal done within a couple of weeks. Oh Jeez…I really wanted to not have to take another full-time flying job. I don’t understand it. They just keep dropping in my lap. And the kind of money they’re talking about is too good to turn down. Unlike my old boss, this other guy pays pilots what they’re worth, not the minimum he can get away with. (By the way, I will finally make a post about the reasons I left my last job, which a lot of people thought was the perfect flying gig.)

The company I’m working for now wants me to swing by Los Angeles, California on my way home to look at a helicopter that’s for sale down there. Yeah, heh, “swing by,” not like it’s out of the way or anything. I'll also stop in Dallas, Texas, which I had wanted to do anyway, just to see Brad if he wasn't off on a trip. Only now it'll be an official stop. And I’ll probably end up flying this winter for yet another rich guy, something I swore I’d never do again. Looks like I won’t be getting home anytime soon. Life is funny like that, as my blogger friend Debby is fond of saying.



6 comments:

Bob said...

One might say you lead a charmed life, my friend.

Good for you. I've enjoyed reading all the accounts of your excellent summer adventure.

Look forward to reading about your next stop(s).

Best of luck.

alliance said...

Course you could find New York a welcoming place and geez we have computers and easy chairs here too. All the better for writing a novel - or training manual with 8 x 10 glossies with circles and arrows written all over them. And we don't have hurricanes or earthquakes - wait yes we do. They're just not as much fun without you to share the misery. So enjoy your time bring a traveling wilbury, and happy birthday in advance.

Unknown said...

Haha, well have good luck with that.

dancilhoney said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Bob Barbanes: said...

Charmed life, Bob? I would not disagree. I've been very, very fortunate.

Sis, first thing I'm going to do when I get back to Pensacola (after mowing my lawn, cleaning out my fridge and collecting my mail from the mailbox) is head on up to NY. I've got the money and the time and it's been waaaay too long.

Of course, I have to actually get home first though...

Anonymous said...

Maybe if you are lucky, the new boss/hunter can invite the old boss/hunter out to hunt and you can fly BOTH at the same time!!
Hopefully your luck will be better than that however.
Take care,
Cass
By the way, flew over Walla Walla last week but did not see you!