Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the twentyfifteen domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /chroot/home/a6f7779a/9d7429a5d9.nxcli.io/html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6170 {"id":991,"date":"2018-02-25T09:52:45","date_gmt":"2018-02-25T15:52:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/frankdeleon.com\/?p=991"},"modified":"2018-02-25T13:25:31","modified_gmt":"2018-02-25T19:25:31","slug":"new-horizons-part-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/frankdeleon.com\/?p=991","title":{"rendered":"New Horizons – Part One"},"content":{"rendered":"

New Horizons \u2013 Part One<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanksgiving 1968<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

As the fall season of 1968 began to wither and wane, the ever-shortening autumn days offered up a rapidly changing spell of wildly diverse weather.\u00a0 On the best days, cold frosty crisp mornings usually gave in to pleasantly bright, warm and windy afternoons; while others dawned to a thick gray and mottled low overcast sky that blocked the sun\u2019s best efforts to burn through and warm the ever-cooling Central Texas landscape.\u00a0 On the worst days, instead of experiencing the past summer\u2019s frequent and frighteningly vicious hail-filled black and green super-thunderstorms, endless sheets of cold swirling and bone-chilling drizzle drifted in from the north and made even the shortest walk unpleasant, freeway driving deathly treacherous, and VFR flying all but impossible.<\/p>\n

The day I\u2019d flown to Austin for my private pilot certification, I had been fortunate to have experienced one of those cool and sunny days.\u00a0 After signing off my log book, my check pilot, Jack Webb, shook my hand, and walked me back out to my airplane.\u00a0 Patting me on the back, he cautioned me not to let my certification go to my head\u2014reminding me that I was still a very inexperienced pilot.\u00a0 \u201cGet back in the air as soon as you can,\u201d he\u2019d cautioned.\u00a0 \u201cAnd continue to practice all those things that your flight instructor taught you.\u00a0 Right now, your worst enemy is complacency, and complacency kills.\u201d<\/p>\n

As I rotated my Cherokee off the runway, putting it in a steep climb and pointing the nose in the direction of Bergstrom, I promised myself that I\u2019d keep flying as much as I could to maintain and improve on my skills.<\/p>\n

Just as I was getting comfortable I remembered that the last instructions I\u2019d received from the tower were to: \u201c\u2026depart and maintain runway heading\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Since the active runway was pointed to the north, and Bergstrom was to the south, I had started, without further thought, a gentle fifteen-degree right turn to swing the plane around to a southerly heading as soon as I broke ground.\u00a0 As I passed through five hundred feet I was no longer on a runway heading\u2014instead I was passing through a heading of zero-three-zero\u2014a northeast heading.\u00a0 I reached for the radio\u2019s mike, which was sitting on the seat between my legs, to quickly advise the tower of the heading I was passing through and to ask for permission to continue my right turn.<\/p>\n

\u201cAustin Tower, Cherokee 8438 Romeo, request right turn to heading one-eight-zero, direct Bergstrom\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCherokee 8438 Romeo, be advised you have departing traffic behind you, now at five o\u2019clock and less than a mile, closing fast\u2014two Navy A-7\u2019s, in a right turn formation climb.\u00a0 Your last instructions were to remain runway heading!\u00a0 Say heading and altitude immediately!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger, now passing through zero-three-five, one-thousand-two-hundred climbing to four-thousand five-hundred VFR to Bergstrom\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cROGER, turn left immediately<\/strong> and stop climb\u2026!!\u201d<\/p>\n

Startled, I began a panicked uncoordinated left turn back to a north heading and pushed the nose down when, about fifty feet off my right wing\u2014in a flash of brown and green camouflage\u2014the largest Navy fighter jet I had ever seen zoomed by.\u00a0 I instinctively ducked my head and hunched my shoulders\u2026waiting for the impact that thankfully never happened.\u00a0 Before I could think another thought, the second brown and green A7 blew by in a steep right bank even closer than the first\u2014its landing gear doors open and the still-spinning wheels retracting.\u00a0 Blue-black jet exhaust poured out of its tail pipe, and I could see the orange and blue flame extending back ten feet as the pilot engaged the jet\u2019s after-burner.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Uh…November 8438 Romeo, I\u2026uh\u2026have the traffic in sight\u2026\u201d\u00a0 I said, trying to mask my panic.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger\u2026\u201d the tower answered sarcastically.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll bet you do.\u00a0 Continue left turn to a northerly heading to avoid jet wake turbulence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still rattled by the near mid-air collision I coordinated my left turn, put the radio mike back up to my lips and said softly, \u201cAustin tower, I appear to be clear of the traffic now, can I continue my right turn direct Bergstrom and climb to four-thousand five-hundred VFR?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNovember 8438 Romeo, you can do whatever you want now.\u00a0 Just get out of my airspace\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger\u2026\u201d\u00a0 I said, completely humiliated.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Not fifteen minutes after my check-pilot had caution me not to get complacent, I had done just that\u2014ignoring the tower\u2019s instructions to maintain runway heading\u2014and almost caused a fatal mid-air collision.\u00a0 Further, I had violated an ATC instruction and would probably have an inflight violation report waiting for me back at Bergstrom.<\/p>\n

Shaken, and shaking, I scanned my instrument cluster to make sure that everything was operating normally, and carefully continued my VFR climb up to four thousand five hundred feet and my shallow turn to a south-southwest heading.\u00a0 My error on departure was a bitter lesson that I would carry with me for the rest of my flying career, but sadly, it would not be the last.<\/p>\n

Back at the Bergstrom Aero Club, I reserved my plane for several one-hour flight blocks during the next five days, intent on keeping my flying skills as sharp as possible.\u00a0 On the flight back from Austin I decided that, weather permitting, I would plan a flying trip home to Houston with my wife the following week to visit my parents on Thanksgiving Day.<\/p>\n

As luck would have it, a messy, wet, cold front swept through Austin for the next two days, effectively grounding me.\u00a0 The first clear day I was back in the air practicing my long-range navigation and concentrating on keeping the plane straight and level for Kaz\u2019s comfort.<\/p>\n

We drove up to the Bergstrom Aero Club in our little red sports car at around eight in the morning.\u00a0 Although Kaz had visited the base several times, this was the first time she\u2019d been at the aero club.\u00a0 We walked into the small building and as luck would have it my flight instructor, Marshall Norgaard was there.\u00a0 Since we were planning to spend the day in Houston visiting my folks on Thanksgiving we were dressed to the nines\u2014me in a pair of dark brown slacks, pale yellow shirt, tan wool sports jacket and a paisley tie, and Kaz in a pretty light grey dress, white sweater, and dark grey patent leather pumps.<\/p>\n

I introduced my wife to Marshall and several other officers and flight students and told them we where we were heading when they curiously asked.\u00a0 Everyone seemed\u00a0impressed with Kaz\u2019s beauty and her shy mannerisms.<\/p>\n

In less than an hour I had completed my preflight inspection and we were taxiing out to the active runway.\u00a0 Kaz was noticeably nervous, this being her second flight ever since we\u2019d flown from Okinawa to the United States, but the size\u2014or rather, the lack thereof\u2014of our plane, was her main concern.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s so small!\u00a0 And a little noisy too\u2026\u201d she said, a little tremble in her voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs soon as we\u2019re airborne you won\u2019t even notice the size anymore.\u00a0 It\u2019ll be like riding in our car, except with less bumps.\u00a0 The weather forecast for our flight to Houston said calm southwesterly winds at altitude, so it\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

As I applied full power to the little 150-horsepower Lycoming engine, I noticed Kaz hands wrapped tightly around each other resting stiffly in her lap.\u00a0 In just a few minutes we were cruising at five thousand five hundred feet and I had trimmed the aircraft and leaned the fuel mixture for maximum performance.\u00a0 The weather couldn\u2019t have been any better and soon I noticed that Kaz was completely relaxed and taking in the brown and green beauty of the central Texas fall landscape from our perch a mile high.<\/p>\n

After landing at Houston\u2019s Hobby Airport, I followed the tower\u2019s instructions and taxied to the Gulf Oil General Aviation facility.\u00a0 Before leaving Austin, I had called my parents to give my father parking directions at the Gulf building, so as I neared the facility I wondered if he\u2019d found it or if we\u2019d have to wait.\u00a0 Luckily, as I taxied to the General Aviation designated parking area I spotted his car.\u00a0 After checking in and giving the attendant instructions to top off the plane\u2019s gas tank and perform a quick engine check, Kaz and I exited the building and headed for the visitors\u2019 parking area to greet my parents.<\/p>\n

To my surprise, after we got into the car my parents said that we were actually going to my Aunt Janie\u2019s house to celebrate Thanksgiving dinner.\u00a0 Apparently, after my mom told my aunt about our impending visit, it had been decided that we should all get together (something that we\u2019d never-ever done) and celebrate the holiday at her house.\u00a0 It turned out to be a lot of fun, and as usual, everyone was impressed with Kaz.<\/p>\n

Later that evening, after my dad drove us back to the airport, we paused to take some pictures by my plane before flying back to Austin. \u00a0My Aunt Janie and her husband Johnny, having also followed us back to Hobby Airport, were anxious to see what kind of airplane I was flying and proudly posed as I snapped some shots.<\/p>\n

The flight back home was pretty non-eventful, except for the fact that I took off later than I should have and had to execute one of my very first (and completely illegal) night landings at Bergstrom.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t log the type of landing in my log book and chose not to tell anyone else about it either.\u00a0 I was relieved when, after taxiing up to the Aero Club tarmac, I found that no one was in the club building to witness my illegal landing.\u00a0 After gassing up the plane and securing it with wheel chocks and its wing tie-downs, I slipped the plane\u2019s keys into the lockbox and drove us back home.<\/p>\n

Careers\u2014as one ends, a new one beckons<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

On Friday morning, December 13, 1968, I walked into the administration building and submitted my final papers for separation from the U.S. Air Force.\u00a0 Because my actual date of separation fell on Sunday, I was allowed to be processed out two days early.\u00a0 Although technically still in the Air Force for two more days, when I exited the building two hours later I was as much of a civilian as I could be.<\/p>\n

I drove back to my duty building to say goodbye to Sergeant Kendall and my old crew, and while there was reminded by all that I had ninety days to change my mind and re-enlist with no penalty to my rank or my time in grade.\u00a0 While secretly harboring a nugget of doubt deep in my gut about my future, I hardily laughed off everyone\u2019s prediction that I would fail civilian life and would soon be back.\u00a0 I reminded them that if I somehow lost my mind and did decide to re-enlist, my next, and probably immediate, assignment would be to spend a year of remote duty at Kotzebue, Alaska.\u00a0 That frightening thought itself was more than enough to forever keep me out of any type of military uniform.<\/p>\n

Taking the weekend off from the shoe store, Kaz and I splurged a bit and celebrated my new civilian status by going out to dinner and a movie.\u00a0 But, because I hadn\u2019t heard anything from the FAA, and didn\u2019t know if I ever would, I promised Mr. Sims that I\u2019d start back full time selling shoes on Monday.<\/p>\n

My transition from full-time military man, part-time shoe salesman, and fledgling airplane pilot to normal civilian life was in some ways easier than I thought it would be, but more difficult in others.\u00a0 After getting through the holidays I started 1969 by taking on a full-time schedule at the shoe store in early January.\u00a0 One thing I soon I quickly discovered was that the typical female shoe shopper literally goes into hibernation for the entire\u00a0month of January, then slowly renews her hunt for shoes in time for St. Valentine\u2019s Day celebration, and for Easter Sunday shoes again in early February.<\/p>\n

Because of the lull in foot traffic coming into the store Mr. Sims assigned us mundane, and extremely boring, \u201cmake-work\u201d duties to perform.\u00a0 Things like straightening up the display tables, purse racks, and accessories counters were bad, but by far the worst assignment he doled out was that of taking inventory in the badly lit back room where the new shoe stock was kept in boxes on shelves.<\/p>\n

After a few days, and because of our hurry to get out of the store at quitting time, unsold shoes would inevitably be returned to the shelves in willy-nilly fashion and all the wrong places.\u00a0 So, say later on when I would go back to look for a pair of black or gray patent leather opera pumps in a size 7D, I would typically look for them in the section that would conform with their serial number\u2014consisting of numbers depicting their color, material and size.\u00a0 Of course, if one of us, after not being able to sell that shoe previously, hastily placed that particular box in the first open slot we found and not where it actually belonged, it would be effectively lost forever.\u00a0 We were forced to take more time than necessary trying to find the shoe, and more often than not, chancing the loss of a potential sale. Hence the need to regularly go through the entire store-room and re-inventory the stock.\u00a0 Although necessary, it was an annoyingly mind-numbing exercise in futility.\u00a0 Further, because we were stuck in the back room we lost any sales opportunity for the occasional walk-in customer.<\/p>\n

It was during these early winter days in January and February that I hoped to be hearing from the Federal Government on the status of my application for Air Traffic Controller.\u00a0 To this end, I decided to put my apartment manager, Mrs. Gentry, on lookout duty for any letter that looked official enough to have originated from the government.<\/p>\n

Since she received the apartments\u2019 daily mail from the carrier in a large plastic box\u2014each individual\u2019s mail neatly bundled with a couple of rubber bands\u2014and placed the bundles in our personal mail slots, I asked her to look through my personal mail for that \u201cofficial government\u201d type letter.\u00a0 If she were to find one she was to call me immediately at the shoe store.\u00a0 I suspected that she already went through our mail anyway, so I didn\u2019t think I was placing any extra work on her.<\/p>\n

As luck would have it the call came from her during one of my busiest days at the store.\u00a0 A few days after having completely re-arranged the stock room our foot traffic began to increase in anticipation of the upcoming Easter holiday.<\/p>\n

That particular day in early March, around 12:30PM, as I was waiting on five customers all at one time, I heard my name being called out by one of the cashiers.\u00a0 I looked around, as I hurried to the stock room to retrieve a pair of white fabric high-heeled pumps (suitable for dyeing to a nice pale aqua-green tint), and saw the cashier waving the receiver from our two pay phones in my direction.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me?\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>I silently mouthed and pointed to myself over the din of excited women vying for my attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes!\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>She mouthed back.<\/p>\n

I wondered why Kaz would be calling me at this time and turning away from the direction of the stock room\u2014I headed for the cash register counter.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello?\u201d\u00a0 I asked breathlessly into the receiver.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. DeLe\u00f3n?\u201d\u00a0 The voice did not belong to my wife but sounded vaguely familiar.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, this is Mrs. Gentry\u2026you know\u2026the apartment manager.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh!\u00a0 Yes!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyway, I just got the mail\u2026and while looking through it\u2026I mean like you asked me to do\u2026I see that you got a letter from a Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2026\u201d\u00a0 I said, my mind beginning to spin.\u00a0 \u201cWhat does it say?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh well, I didn\u2019t open the letter\u2026oh no, I\u2019d never do that.\u00a0 But you said to call you if something looked official.\u00a0 And this really does look like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOK, go ahead and open it and tell me what it says.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure, Mr. DeLe\u00f3n?\u00a0 I mean, I think it\u2019s a Federal offense to open someone else\u2019s mail\u2026especially something from the government.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I\u2019m giving you permission to open the letter and read to me what it says.\u00a0 OK?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, well sure\u2026OK.\u00a0 Just a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n

My heart was beating rapidly, and I think I had momentarily forgotten how to breathe.\u00a0 As I looked worriedly over my shoulder to see if my customers were still in place I spied Mr. Sims rapidly heading in my direction.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, what\u2019re you doing on the phone?\u201d\u00a0 He said, a bit annoyed.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s money to be made!\u201d\u00a0 And he snapped his fingers in my face. \u00a0\u201cMoney.\u00a0 Sell.\u00a0 Money!\u00a0 Let\u2019s go!\u201d\u00a0 (snap, snap, snap).<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOK, yeah I know.\u00a0 But this is a very important call and I\u2019m almost done!\u201d\u00a0 I said, just as annoyed as he was.<\/p>\n

\u201cUh, Mr. DeLe\u00f3n?\u201d\u00a0 Mrs. Gentry said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOK, I\u2019m gonna read this to you.\u00a0 I think it\u2019s good news.\u00a0 Is that OK?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, please hurry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOK\u2026it\u2019s addressed to you and starts out this way: \u2018We are pleased to inform you that based on your placement on the ATC Register, you have been selected as a GS-7 Developmental Air Traffic Controller.\u00a0 If you wish to accept this position please contact the Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center, located at 16600 JFK Boulevard, Houston, Texas, by calling the number at the bottom of this letter within the next seven days.\u2019 <\/em>You want me to go on?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh\u2026no\u2026not right now.\u00a0 Wait!\u00a0 Does it have a start date?”<\/p>\n

“Let’s see.\u00a0 Yes, it does!\u00a0 It says:\u00a0 ‘proposed employment start date is 28 March 1969.’ <\/em>”<\/p>\n

“OK, thanks.\u00a0 Oh, I just want to ask you seriously: you are really reading from a letter I got, right?\u00a0 Because if you’re playing a joke on me and the letter is not for real it’s going to cost me my job here at the shoe store.”<\/p>\n

“Oh no, Mr. DeLe\u00f3n!\u00a0 I would never do that.\u00a0 The letter is real.”<\/p>\n

“Alright, thanks again.”\u00a0 I hung up and took a deep breath.<\/p>\n

I handed the receiver to the cashier and turned to find Mr. Sims.\u00a0 I saw that he\u2019d had scurried off to greet another group of walk-in customers and was attempting to point them in the direction of one of the salesmen.\u00a0 Although I was anxious to tell him what I\u2019d been waiting to say for a couple of months, I thought better of it at that moment and decided that perhaps I should deal with the bevy of customers on which I\u2019d been waiting on before receiving the call.<\/p>\n

Walking over to the customer nearest to me, a middle-aged red-head whose feet had certainly seen better days.<\/p>\n

\u201cOK, I\u2019m sorry for the delay but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you have these cute sandals in a 6B?\u201d\u00a0 She asked breathlessly as she handed me the 8D\u2019s which had fit her bunion-twisted feet just fine.<\/p>\n

\u201cI probably do, but two problems–\u2026\u201d I said boldly.\u00a0 \u201cFirst, it would be a waste of time for both of us for me to go find these in a 6B because they\u2019d never fit you.\u00a0 Secondly, I\u2019m going to direct you to that gentleman in the nice looking light gray suit (Eddie).\u00a0 He\u2019ll be serving you from now on because, well, I just quit my job.\u00a0 Excuse me.\u201d\u00a0 I turned and headed to my next customer, leaving her wide-eyed, and mouth agape, the sandal dangling from her fingers.<\/p>\n

Four customers later and I was free.\u00a0 Looking away from the last one, a confused teen who\u2019d been looking to buy just the right shoe for her upcoming gig as bridesmaid for her best friend\u2019s wedding, I spotted Mr. Sims having an animated conversation with the cashier who\u2019d handed me the phone.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Sims?\u201d\u00a0 I asked, tapping him on the shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cCan I have a word, please?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrank!\u00a0 What are you doing here?\u00a0 You need to be dealing with your ups (customers) instead of taking phone calls or talking to me.\u00a0 I was just telling her (the now cow-eyed cashier) that from now on she is never to interrupt a salesman with phone calls.\u00a0 I don\u2019t care if your mother died, you will complete your sales duties before you talk on the phone!\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead of feeling reprimanded I felt a wave of exhilaration and relief.\u00a0 He just made it that much easier for me to tell him what I needed to.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat!\u201d\u00a0 I said.\u00a0 \u201cSo, here\u2019s your sales receipt book back,\u201d I handed him the little sales book on which we recorded each shoe sale, \u201cand you can officially show me off duty forever.\u00a0 As of now, Mr. Sims, I am quitting my job.\u00a0 Thanks for teaching me the shoe business but I now need to move on!\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked up at me\u2014the upper right side of his mustachioed lip quivering slightly\u2014and sputtered: \u201cWhat?\u00a0 What do you think you\u2019re doing?\u00a0 You\u2019ve got\u2026got\u2026at least four or five ladies that you\u2019re waiting on now!\u00a0 What do you mean, you\u2019re quitting?\u00a0 You can\u2019t do that now!\u00a0 Get back on the floor!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOK, Mr. Sims.\u00a0 That phone call was to advise me that I\u2019ve been hired by the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic controller.\u00a0 I\u2019m to report for duty in Houston by the end of this month\u2014and, I plan to accept their offer.\u201d<\/p>\n

His face went all at once from annoyance and anger to a quizzical, puppy-dog look complete with a faint head-cock.\u00a0 \u201cWait, you mean you\u2019re gonna just walk out with all these customers in the store?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I\u2019m afraid so.\u00a0 If you want, you can send my last check to the address you have on file.\u00a0 If I\u2019m not there I\u2019m sure the post office will forward it to my next address.\u201d<\/p>\n

His features now took on a look of resignation with a touch of understanding.\u00a0 \u201cOK, I see you\u2019re serious, but can we talk back here in the store room?\u201d<\/p>\n

I had earlier decided that when the moment came for me to quit I was just going to walk out; but at the moment I thought that, well\u2026after all this job had kept me and Kaz above water so maybe he deserved a little respect.\u00a0 \u201cSure, I just need to go to tell my wife the good news and start making plans for our upcoming move.\u201d\u00a0 I followed him into the back storeroom.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Frank\u2026\u201d he started out, \u201cit\u2019s no secret that you\u2019ve become one the best salesmen I\u2019ve ever had\u2026and well, in that regard this news kind of caught me off guard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry Mr. Sims, but I did tell you some time back that I had applied to the FAA for a job.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, you did.\u00a0 But I never thought you were really serious about that given the energy and your dedication to the job you did here.\u00a0 Quite frankly, I was planning to discuss with you an upcoming position as assistant manager for a new store that\u2019s going up in that new mall across the freeway and opening up next year.\u00a0 In fact, I\u2019ve sent in your name in to corporate in Chicago for consideration\u2014with a very strong recommendation from me.\u00a0 You\u2019re a shoo-in for that job.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a few seconds I felt a bit sorry for Mr. Sims as I had never realized that he was considering a promotion for me.\u00a0 \u201cMr. Sims, I really don\u2019t know what to say.\u00a0 I\u2019m flattered and completely surprised at what you just told me about the new store, but I\u2019ve made up my mind.\u00a0 You know my first love is aviation, so I just think this would be a great fit for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Frank.\u00a0 Don\u2019t you see what\u2019s going to happen to you?\u201d\u00a0 The FAA is a giant bureaucracy and they don\u2019t give a crap about the individual.\u00a0 They\u2019re going to stick you in some tower in a cornfield in the middle of Iowa somewhere and forget about you.\u00a0 Our company, on the other hand, needs dedicated and intelligent people like you, and we\u2019re willing to reward you for your talent and loyalty.\u00a0 I can almost guarantee you that you\u2019ll be managing your own shoe store in a couple of years and making at least $10,000 a year!\u00a0 The FAA\u2019s not going to pay you that kind of money, believe me!\u201d<\/p>\n

Not having any kind of counter-argument, I just took a deep breath and said, \u201cI admit that I\u2019m leaping into a job that I really don\u2019t know too much about.\u00a0 But it\u2019s what I want to do.\u00a0 And if it keeps me close to airplanes and aviation then I think I\u2019ll be happy.\u00a0 I appreciate what you\u2019ve done for me, but my mind is really made up.\u00a0 Thank you for everything but I just have to do this.\u201d\u00a0 And with that I shook his hand, stood up and headed out onto the sales floor.<\/p>\n

I walked over to the cashier, who was still in a bit of shock, and handed her my stack of sales receipts, each representing every pair of shoes and each purse I\u2019d sold that morning.\u00a0 \u201cTally me out,\u201d I said, \u201cand make sure my last pay check is sent to my present address.\u00a0 Thanks, and goodbye.\u201d<\/p>\n

As I turned and headed towards the front door, one of the customers who I\u2019d sent to Eddie, an attractive, tall fortyish blond, stopped me as she stepped away from the cash register.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo,\u201d she said, \u201cyou said you were quitting today is that right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes ma\u2019am.\u00a0 I\u2019m heading out as we speak.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you quitting, if I may ask.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I got a new job.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoing what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to train to be an air traffic controller, ma\u2019am.\u00a0 Down in Houston.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally!\u00a0 Do you know anything about doing that, or have you done that before?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo ma\u2019am I haven\u2019t done any work as an air traffic controller, but I\u2019m a private pilot, so maybe that\u2019ll help me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure it will.\u00a0 Alright honey, good for you!\u00a0 I don\u2019t really know you, but you\u2019ve sold me a few pairs of shoes in the past and I always thought you were very thoughtful and polite.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure you\u2019re going to be very successful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for saying that.\u00a0 I appreciate it very much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood luck and come back to Austin and let us know how you do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh, ok\u2026sure.\u00a0 Bye.\u201d\u00a0 And with that I walked out through the glass doors of Bakers Shoe Store in Austin, Texas for the last time\u2014and, never to return.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

My first stop after stepping out into the cool and humid Austin afternoon was to head over to Mervyn\u2019s to tell Kaz the good news.\u00a0 Of course, since she was working the buffet, and since they were still serving lunch, it took a while for her to slip out for a couple of minutes.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey!\u201d She said, wiping her hands on a dish cloth and looking a little surprised.\u00a0 \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u00a0 Not busy at the store?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah, very busy!\u201d\u00a0 I said, suppressing a little Cheshire catlike smile.\u00a0 \u201cBut, I decided to quit!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cQuit?\u00a0 Quit what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy job!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat you mean, \u2018you quit your job?\u2019\u00a0 How can you quit your job?\u00a0 You crazy?\u201d\u00a0 Her voice easily carried over the din of more than a hundred-people eating and talking and the scraping of metal spoons on flat pans filled with mashed potatoes, green beans and gravy.\u00a0 A few customers, less interested in their food, looked up.<\/p>\n

\u201cNope!\u00a0 I just got hired by the FAA!\u201d\u00a0 I said, motioning her to lower her voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, I\u2019m going to train to be an air traffic controller!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAhh\u2026you sure?\u00a0 How you know this?\u201d\u00a0 Her volume shot back up to near yell.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell.\u201d\u00a0 I said easing closer to her and lowering my voice a decibel or two. \u201cI got a letter today from the Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C., telling me I was hired.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u00a0 Show me letter!\u201d\u00a0 She cocked her head in a little bit of a mock challenge mode.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I don\u2019t have it with me.\u00a0 But you remember I asked our apartment manager to be on the lookout for an official-type letter\u2014so she called me a while ago and read the letter to me.\u00a0 I\u2019m to report on March 28^{th<\/sup>.\u201d<\/p>\n}

\u201cReport? Report to who?<\/p>\n

\u201cUh, well I have to call first to accept the offer, but I\u2019m supposed to report to the Air Route Traffic Control Center in Houston for training on the 28^{th<\/sup>.\u00a0 I\u2019m on my way home right now to see the letter myself and make the call.\u201d<\/p>\n}

\u201cI hope apartment manager not playing some kind of trick on you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKaz, you know how serious she always is.\u00a0 I doubt that it\u2019s a trick.\u201d<\/p>\n

A louder than normal scraping sound came from the buffet line and she looked over her shoulder to see that the fried chicken pan was just a few pieces short of being empty.\u00a0 \u201cOK, look I got to go fill chicken pan, then I have to relieve cashier.\u00a0 You go home and call that Houston place and make sure this is no trick.\u00a0 If it is, you need to go back to work!\u201d\u00a0 Her brows arched worriedly.<\/p>\n

\u201cOK.\u201d\u00a0 I gave her a quick peck on the lips and hurried out into the parking lot.<\/p>\n

Although it was a short drive from the mall to our apartment, less than two minutes, it seemed like an eternity.\u00a0 I jumped from my car and walked hurriedly to the apartment manager\u2019s office.\u00a0 Before I got to the door, it opened, and Mrs. Gentry stepped out holding a long business envelope.\u00a0 The bold dark blue printing on the return address corner all but jumped out at me, and I recall seeing just two words: \u201cDEPARTMENT\u2026TRANSPORTATION\u201d.\u00a0 And with that I knew my life had just changed.<\/p>\n

Goodbye Austin, Hello Houston<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Within two days of receiving the letter both Kaz and I had quit our jobs and had begun the arduous job of figuring out how to gather all of our belongings to make the move to Houston.\u00a0 Since we only had the little red Toyota sports car and I was the only one who knew how to drive, I worried that it was going to be a challenge, both financially and logistically, to make the move to Houston.<\/p>\n

When I had called the air traffic control center to accept the position I had inquired about the length of training.\u00a0 I was very surprised when I was told that I would only be at that facility for one day before being re-assigned to the Federal Aviation Administration\u2019s training facility in Oklahoma City.\u00a0 That one day was an orientation day for the new employee to fill out paperwork and get familiar with the building layout.\u00a0 When I began to ask one too many questions the lady on the phone bluntly told me that I would be given all the information I needed during my short stay in Houston.\u00a0 All she was authorized to do was to record my acceptance for the position, but she did offer me some advice:<\/p>\n

\u201cSince you don\u2019t live in Houston right now I would suggest that you make the trip here, go through the orientation, and get information that\u2019s going to help you financially, before you cancel your lease there in Austin.\u00a0 You can bring your wife on the trip, but she\u2019ll be stuck in some hotel all day long while you\u2019re in orientation, so I would suggest she stay there in Austin.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh!\u00a0 OK, actually my parents live in Houston, so I think I\u2019ll bring her along and we can both stay there.\u00a0 And since the orientation is on Friday I can spend the weekend with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, that would certainly work.\u00a0 You\u2019re lucky you have family in Houston.\u00a0 Most of our ATC candidates are from out of town and have to stay in hotels.\u00a0 Also, if you’re from out of town you can expect to receive a moving allowance to help you settle your family down here in Houston.\u00a0 But you’ll get all that information on Friday.”<\/p>\n

That turned out to be the perfect solution, and Kaz and I began making plans for the trip down.\u00a0 As far as my parents were concerned they seemed to be elated that not only would I be working in Houston, but we would be staying with them for the week…or maybe longer.\u00a0 Since I still remembered how “well” my mom and Sharon had gotten along those many years ago, I wasn’t as excited, and in truth was a bit apprehensive.\u00a0 But Kaz, in her usual upbeat mood, seemed to really be looking forward to the visit.<\/p>\n

Since we had both already quit our jobs, and after calling my mother to give her the good news, we decided to leave a few days early and spend a week with my folks.\u00a0 Our car was so small it wasn\u2019t practical to take suitcases, so we piled our clothes in layers in the tiny trunk hoping that we\u2019d have enough to last out the week.\u00a0 We left for Houston early in the morning and the trip was uneventful as we drove casually enjoying the one-hundred-eighty-mile drive with plenty of stops along the way.<\/p>\n

As we cruised eastbound, the gently rolling slopes and valleys of the gorgeous Texas hill country slowly flattened out and gave way to wide and deep patches of freshly blooming Texas bluebonnets on either side of the highway.\u00a0 Kaz was mesmerized with the windblown waves of purple stretching almost as far as the eye could see, and several times made mention of wanting to just stop and walk amongst the colorful blanket of purple and green.<\/p>\n

Soon, the landscape began to give way to seemingly never-ending fields of young corn stalks, gray and white cotton plants and sorghum, all separated by low-lying hedgerows of windbreaks and guarded by farm houses of every size, shape and color.\u00a0 As our little car\u2019s AM radio began to pick up static-filled Houston stations the croplands thinned out and hundreds of black hammer-like oil pumps, rhythmically sweeping their swan-like heads first up to the heavens then back earthward again, took their place.\u00a0 Gradually, the cool dry air\u2019s flowered aroma took on the weighty smell of raw petrol and swirled into the cabin laden with the occasional salty hint of the nearby Texas Gulf.<\/p>\n

The closer we got to Houston the highway\u2019s traffic load increased exponentially, and before we knew it the city\u2019s growing skyline began to appear in the horizon.\u00a0 My mind started to buzz with the vacuity of the unknown and the angst of again spending time with my parents.\u00a0 I agonized silently and wondered if they would, as before, insist that we accompany them to their church and pondered how they\u2019d take it when I refused.\u00a0 Meanwhile, as Kaz curiously marveled at the enormity of Houston\u2019s rapidly growing maze of freeways, a heavy seed of uneasiness and discomfort began to grow deep in my gut.<\/p>\n

Turning right off of Griggs Road and onto Grace Lane, our little red car finally crunched onto my parent\u2019s shell and gravel driveway.\u00a0 Before we came to a full stop behind my dad\u2019s aging dark blue Ford, my mother was already on the small porch of the faded white frame house, waving hysterically\u2014her face a picture of pure joy and genuine euphoria.\u00a0 Behind her, my dad, dressed in a washed-out wife-beater and floppy khaki pants, stood, hands on hips, smiling stoically.\u00a0 Kaz let out a small squeal of happiness and said, \u201cOh, look at your mom!\u00a0 She so happy to see us!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, it seems so, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d I said, silently trying to swallow the sudden tightness in my throat.<\/p>\n

To be continued\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"