By Maya Hood White
Wednesday, July 9, 2006
It is not every day that one gets to soar through the air. Okay, for some people it is, but we are jealous and therefore hate them. But for us, we were presented with the opportunity of—hopefully not just—a lifetime. A friend/ coworker/ member of Eagle’s Nest glider club/ benevolent soul/person named Dennis invited me to ride in one of his gliders. I then got to thinking; I don’t want to do this alone (okay, mainly my thoughts were, I don’t think I can find the airport, I need someone to come help with that) and I knew just the person to invite. Unfortunately this aforementioned person was busy, so I invited Kenny.
The morning of our flight, or glide as it were, was quite beautiful. Dennis had told me he would be there at 11, so I figured we should leave my house at 10, for the 25 minute drive (one mustn’t be late). After speaking with Kenny and deciding on logistics the previous night, which mainly were one of us picks the other up and we drive out there, we set off for bed rather excited to sleep (I just realized how that was phrased, and I should mention that we each had separate beds in two different locations). 
Eager with anticipation, I woke up at, um, 9:45 (hey, it was a late night, be glad I got up at all, and besides, I need sleep). I realized the time, fixed myself a few soy-facsimile breakfast sausages (they got burnt—but I ate them anyway, as one mustn’t be famished) and began to make/assemble a peanut butter and banana. It was at this time that I heard a knock at our back door. My first thought was, burglar; then realized a burglar would probably not knock to get in, nor would he be grinning nor (I hope) be Kenny. So as I deemed it was safe to open the door, I let Kenny in. And then realized that I was only wearing what I slept in, and I had just answered the door in a t-shirt and underwear (okay, fine, I was only wearing the t-shirt, but he did not know that). I ran upstairs and changed.
After coming down in (what I later realized was probably not the best wardrobe choice—black tights and a tank top, yes, it got really hot and sweaty in those pants later), I gathered my peanut butter and banana, and we set off. We were halted in the driveway with the decision of what car to take. As we both like to drive, but both wanted to get going, he just volunteered while jumping into his, while I was chewing peanut butter, so I did not argue.
When we arrived at the airport, yes we were (fine, HE was) able to find it, we realized the slight overzealousness of our behavior; we were only about half an hour early. So we sat and talked (some of us repeating ourselves), watched planes, and some of us jumped up and down a little (what? Can you blame me?). Dennis finally arrived at about 11:30 (not a moment too soon as I can only repeat myself 3 or 4 times before he clubs me over the head with my water bottle).
As Dennis was the only member of the club there at that time, we got in his little car, me sitting on poor Kenny’s lap (thankfully those pants were not all hot and sweaty yet), afraid I was going to crush him (apparently I did not, which is good), and we got to help him take the glider out of the hanger. Yours truly got to drive the tow cart (having never driven one of these before—I waited to break this to everyone until I was already towing the glider—this was very exciting)! It was about this time that it started to heat up and the pants started to become a little warm.
Once we got the glider lined up with where we were going to take off, my parents showed up. There is nothing like potential danger of a child to bring a mother to her side. I should point out my mom has numerous flying hours and is just a hair’s distance from her pilot’s license so she is no stranger to this (and Dennis has wanted her to come out to do glider stuff before, but it was lil’ ol’ me who finally got her out there—okay I did not know my parents were coming, they just kind of appeared).
After my mom checking out the glider, she managed to cope with the fact that I was going up. Okay, as I was in the air, I did not know how she coped, but all I can say is I was glad I was not there to witness her reactions (poor Kenny, he was).
Upon our take off, the thralls of excitement really hit. And when we were air born, I could not wait to be released from the tow plane. I have a hard time describing it, but the moment we were released, there was just this complete soothing yet exhilarating sense; quite possibly the greatest sensation out there! Still, now I can not properly express it! I suppose if you were to feel it, you would just know.
My ride lasted about 20 minutes. Unfortunately we did not really catch any thermals, and hit some sinks, but still it was quite possibly the greatest ride of my life! Up next was Kenny, but first Dennis had a powered flight lesson, so (yes it seems cruel) Kenny had to wait.
We decided to get food; apparently I was really hungry as when my parents asked, I seemed to shout yes. So we ate (some of us faster than others). We knew to be back at the air field at 2:30, and we knew the time was quickly approaching as Kenny started wiggling like a puppy (thankfully he stopped short of any other puppy actions that warranted the proverbial slap on the nose with a newspaper—but I was prepared to whack him if needed). In another cruel twist, my dad got a work related phone call and seemed to ignore the rest of us, who were trying to leave. Not particularly caring about what he was working on, the three of us decided to leave him at the restaurant. We got coffee (none for Kenny as he was shaking enough as is), then felt bad and went back and picked up my dad—still working (it’s called Vacation, dad!)
When we got back to the airport, we waited for Dennis to fly back in. While waiting, we bonded with the other glider people (when I say we, I mean them, as well, I don’t talk to strangers—or they don’t talk to me, one or the other). When Dennis got back, Kenny hopped out of his chair, and frolicked over to the glider (he started to twirl too, mentioning something about dancing in the flowers, and started to sing “I feel pretty, oh so pretty,” but I just ignored that part). He got situated in his seat, I snapping a few pictures (all those of him, I took thank you very much) and then got ready for take off.
I sat there and waited for his return. When he came back glowing (and finishing the rest of his song), I knew he enjoyed it as much as I did. He got to steer the glider some, as he caught some thermals (I then got jealous and wanted to do it again). Kenny was glowing for the rest of the day.
My dad then went up later, he having the same response as the rest of us. And while I was excited for him, the heat from my pants was kind of wearing me down, so I did not express the same jubilation as I had for both my and Kenny’s rides.
At the end of the seven hours we spent at the airport, we were exhausted, yet totally happy! Perhaps Dennis knew what suckers for flight he had, but I know we are both hooked and hope we can do it again; and a great big hug and thank you goes to Dennis for this unforgettable experience!