Life below 30,000 inches

I recently read several aviation blogs because I have a passion for flight. It is funny that many of the aviation writers out there focus primarily on the profession of commercial flight. They talk about the serenity of being up above the clouds. There are a thousand little stories about the supernatural feeling these pilots enjoy while up there. A few days ago, I saw the story about the flight into Mpls that was overflown and the pilots missed the field by 150 MILES. Many thought they were sleeping up there, which I was told is very common as opined by a current commercial pilot, but as it turns out they were engrossed in the new scheduling software that their airline was adopting. The more I hear and read about flight scheduling software, vectors, ATC contact systems, autopilots, I less appealing this passion becomes. The blog entry was called "Like at 30,000 feet" and the author talked about the beauty of flight. I want to create a new vision about what flying is all about. Think "Life at 30,000 inches". This is flying. When I go out, I RARELY climb above 2,500 feet and usually keep it below 1,000 ft. When a person flies at this level, you still get to enjoy that feeling that you defeated the laws of gravity, but you still get to follow the happenings of a land-based human existence. I love the waves that I get from down below as I pass over a beach at 500 feet or the looks I get from farmers out in the fields as I give them a quick buzz. This up-close, yet distant perspective of Earth is what fires my passion for flying. There is nothing out there that can give a person the type of feeling that comes with low and slow flying! That, to me, is "living BELOW 30,000 inches!"

Did you really just do that?

No time to type. Here is a real issue that I have to vent about, however. Why is it that some people feel it is within in the bounds of good behavior to walk into a conversation and totally just begin with the babble that they feel so inclined to share. This happened to me this morning - again - and it burns me still.

Here's the deal. I was having a great conversation with another teacher this morning when, out of the blue, this "third party" strolls up and impolitely hijacks our chat. She cut off my colleague so rudely so she could dazzle us with her unending wit concerning some parent gripe that neither of us really could give a rat's behind about. So, in a matter of about two seconds, the good time that I was having got flushed out by the irritating sounds of this inconsiderate crow. I wish that - like police officers - ordinary citizens could issue citations for improper merging into a conversation. I know that I would blast through one ticket book quite quickly just around here and I can think of at least two people who would be in a serious financial tailspin after paying the fines I would dish out.

If you are one of the few who read this, please ask yourself: "Am I guilty of this offense?" If so, shut the heck up and wait patiently until the proper pause in the conversation. I read somewhere once that a typical conversation ends within 7 minutes, so bite your tongue and give it a rest. I am sure that your insightful rant will be just as delightful and life changing for us even if it was delivered 4 minutes later.

There. Now I can go on with my day!

Why do some people insist that political parties are the be all do all for the health of the country. It's hard to have a conversation with many so called "education professionals" without the debate boiling down to "well you are a (enter political party here) so naturally you believe that". Seriously, are people so narrow minded that they believe that one party is made up of saviors and the other by evildoers.

Take health care reform for example. I have some concerns about where the President is taking this issue. I totally believe that the health care system is broken and insurance is crazy expensive. If I were to mention my objections to a person who is center to left of center, I am labeled a crazy Republican. "Why don't I just bring a machine gun to a rally" is the type of response I get. What a great retort, eh? Why does the guy who objects have to be a solid member of the opposing party? You may as well nail a RUSH bumper sticker to my forehead!

Nothing but absolutes and no room for middle of the road thinking prevail in these situations.

I am not scared of most politicians for I know that most are on the take but controls like public opinion and the re-election hook keep them more or less on the up and up. What scares me is the person who blindly accepts the party line and supports a platform without exception. These types of people, be them from the political left or right, are the narrow minded nutjobs that will tear this country down. Time after time, our nation has weathered tough times and when things get serious - I mean jeopardy of the nation serious - the moderates from the middle rise up to save the day. I just hope that begins to happen during the next few months - but maybe we haven't seen the tough days yet, either.

So there I was working hard, minding my own business this morning when two students - real good students - came into my room with some freshly baked apple crisp. They wanted me to have some so the walked all the way down from the FACS room to deliver it with a smile. I happily took the plate and thanked them. They waited a minute in hopes that I would dive in but I set it down a resumed working on my computer. They got the hint and left. About 5 minutes later I chucked the plate and food into my neighbor's garbage.

Here's the deal.

When I was in high school, I had some buddies who took a class called Intro to Foods. They cooked things and gave them away. I know the stories of what these guys did to the food and - without going into details - I was shocked that nobody was rushed to the emergency room back then. With those memories burned into my brain, I find it impossible to accept food gifts without reservation. Even pot luck dinners are tough for me. I can't help but think of "those people" who live in our community and their regard to safe food handling. I am not saying that this food is dangerous - I bet is is great tasting - but I just can't do it. Sometimes I give these gifts to other students but most of the time I just toss it. Does this make me a bad person? If so, tough! Like the person who can't shake hands for fear of germs, I can not eat student cooked food. Oh well.

Last night was a perfect night.

I don't mean once in a lifetime - I can't believe it - this is going to be in the news kind of perfect, but the realistic but hard to come by kind. Dispite some misgivings from my family, I spent Sunday up at our hunting land / farm / spiritual renewal center. I love it up there because nobody can get to me and I don't have to answer to anyone about anything. I could go on about that but there is this perfect night to talk about.

It was 6:00 as I sat in my elevated deer stand surrounded by orange and yellow covered aspen and birch trees as they worked to prepare for the long winter. You could tell that fall was having it's impact on the environment as leaves were falling and the smells of the season were floating in the breeze. I was out the weekend before, but things were different. Temperatures in the 70's have been replaced by 50's and the sun is spending more and more time behind a curtain of overcast. At about the right time for the evening, the local residents began to come to life as they prepared for their daily walk to the dinner table. First I spotted an ear. Then came the full body of a female deer very slowly and cautiously leaving the brown and green brushy cover. It's like she realized and accepted that the tradeoff for an easy meal of soybeans and wheat regrowth is the risk that the next trip from away from safety may be their last.

Anyway, I see this deer and begin my internal debate as to whether or not - if given the chance - I would attempt to give her a parking ticket. As she walked closer to me, I should have grabbed my bow, setting myself up for a good clean shot. I didn't. The part of my brain that wanted to just hang back and watch her and her grazing offspring wander past won out and I did exactly that. I am a hunter, not a killer. There have been several times when I ended a night of hunting exactly that same way. There is something to be said about hanging out in a tree with nature on a beautiful fall night just enjoying the sounds and smells that can only be found there. Could I have killed her - yes. Would I have felt remorse for it - no. This day, however, I was content to just enjoy the moment.

Last night was a perfect night!

Today is Homecoming Friday. This day is fun and exciting, but little classwork will get done. That is reality and a few voices - however determined and strong - will not change this.
This morning I heard what I can a real telling comment in a conversation between a student and a teacher. "I won't be in 1st or 2nd block today because we (students in a particular grade) need to get our float done. We haven't even started yet." Okay????
Some of the teachers (non-alumni) stayed after last night and did what I think is a great job building a float and we are now done and waiting. Other teachers are dismissing students or having their classes finish up for them. I really get the feeling that this production is getting to mean more for the adults than the students.
I hope I am wrong!
Go Prowlers!