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Thru The Viewfinder
As I place last months Chapter 75 newsletter in the map rack next to my left seat (my easychair), I hear the cry for Help for newsletter articles ringing loudly in my ears, then the cry or snapping fades and disappears and I go on with my daily life. Then one day I hear that snapping - or cry - again. Snapping through the air and bouncing around in my mind. Pulsing in and out of my awareness. This one day happened to be the day that Tony Borchardt and I were winging (driving) along Hwy 153 heading west to yet another Chapter 75 Gathering of Eagles.
What with all the modern day technology and electronic wizardry, most of which I can’t pronounce the names of, an ol’ fashioned signal (I’m more familiar with ol’ fashioned) came sparking and snapping through the cool grey air, almost like an S.O.S. All the time that I was trying to separate mental reality from imaginary S.O.S’s, Tony was pressing buttons and working with his GPS (more of that modern technology). Tony was doing a great job of driving and I was completely relaxed. Then all of a sudden Tony’s GPS picked up on the satellite transmitted coordinates and we zeroed in on a beautiful airstrip/shop/hangar just south of Spencer. Thanks John!
After arrival and some field preparations, I’m looking through the viewfinder of my camcorder (another one of those modern marvels) and upon panning back and forth, this modern marvel focuses in on an object and like through a submarine periscope - there it was - the majestic, beautiful Battleship, U.S.S.(R) Porkchop, (ahhh - tis good) and various imaginary support vessels. Also looming over the horizon of the periscope viewfinder, an aircraft carrier comes into view. Pitching and rolling with its deck grid (for spot landings) going to and fro almost beyond the human eye peripheral. The aircraft were pitching and rolling also, as the winds were of a heavy gusting nature from all and various waypoints of the compass. Flying is just pure white knuckle attempts at making it look good. (A Dean Turner observation.)
So mesmerized, was I, by this gathering of eagles and their flocks and the joy and camaraderie on this blustery day, that the roar and snarl of the two strokes of the approaching force had to jostle me back to reality and peak my awareness of the approaching duo after duo as they loose their bombs and torpedoes with a great show of skill and determined tenacity and then head for the carrier - U.S.S. Bobbing Cork - to snag that elusive #3 wire, or 4 or 5, for a trap, feeling good inside for their personal triumph of missions and satisfying their test of proficiency
A big thanks to you Goldwingers’ of 75 for a great and beautiful day, (scuttle the weather) and for kindling the dreams and desires of the young and us oldies. Also for inspiration and keeping alive the will and desire and dreams of us older Armchair Goldwingers who have not been there yet. Well done! |