Dawson's 10th Birthday

Dawson following a dream and learning to fly.

(Photos in this post are all from his 2nd lesson.)

Impressions of a Pilot

Flight is freedom in its purest form,
To dance with the clouds which follow a storm;

To roll and glide, to wheel and spin,
To feel the joy that swells within;

To leave the earth with its troubles and fly,
And know the warmth of a clear spring sky;

Then back to earth at the end of a day,
Released from the tensions which melted away.

Should my end come while I am in flight,
Whether brightest day or darkest night;

Spare me your pity and shrug off the pain,
Secure in the knowledge that I'd do it again;

For each of us is created to die,
And within me I know,
I was born to fly.
~Gary Claud Stokor

Safe landing. Thank you, flight-instructor, Spenser, for such a safe and fun learning environment!

When this life I'm in is done,

And at the gates I stand,

My hope is that I answer all

His questions on command.

I doubt He'll ask me of my fame,

Or all the things I knew, Instead,

He'll ask of rainbows sent

On rainy days I flew.

The hours logged, the status reached,

The ratings will not matter.

He'll ask me if I saw the rays

And how He made them scatter.

excerpt from "Flyer's Prayer" by Patrick J. Phillips

More pics for Dawson's 10th Birthday on sidebar under Photos.