We had just returned from driving around Mexico for a couple of weeks when a friend called. I could tell it was something about a picture, but nothing else. We both had VERY BAD colds so I was sleeping a lot...and you know Eddie doesn't "type" so there were no comments from us when this "broke" until now...when I am starting to feel like I'm going to live! We didn't get our copy until last Monday. I remember going to the mailbox (remember, we live on a farm so it is out at the road) and noticing that the Sport Aviation mag was there. Then I noticed behind the rubber band that there were "colors" of our plane on the COVER of the magazine!!! What????? I immediately knew I would probably have to start paying to be able to sleep with him!! NO! NO! He's not that kind of guy.
What I do want to say that while we were on our trip, we reminisced about the good Ole fly-ins! Oh, yes, we remember the two Red River Redneck fly ins! Eric and Jimmy were such great hosts. I can remember what great breakfasts Jimmy cooked on that commercial equipment in the big building! I remember sitting with new friends, Bill and Rex Tracey, from Wray CO. We would stay with Rex and Beverly when we were on our way to Johnson Creek! I remember Mike Sharp and a broken leg and a guy who ran out of gas close to the landing area. That guy later turned out to be our good friend Steve Pierce (I haven't told that story for years, Steve!) And then Eddie's little boo boo at the second RRRN fly in: tail up taxiing...prop down ouchy! Friends bring prop, Steve installs it...off we go! Such great, great times!
Then Mike and Patty Sisemore start their fly-ins! These were the highlight of our spring. We had our place by the river and Eddie would sometimes wake people up in the morning! Such wonderful gatherings with such a huge group of great people! I still see those smiling faces, the entertainment, the meals, the visiting...and once when we landed, I had a bad tick bite. Dr. Randy prescribed an antibiotic and Patty took me to the pharmacy to get my meds! Full service!! Eddie and I feel nothing can ever replace those wonderful fly-ins!
And then, of course, there was our fateful trip to Snohomish WA via Bozeman MT where we met Jerry Gaston who guided us over the mountains. I remember the josling changing the rules for the STOL competition, the autograph I got from a guy named Jim Richman, Eddie winning the competition and meeting a Dodge dealer by the name of Mike Olson. Eddie didn't know it that day, but Mike and Bill Duncan would change his life a couple years later when Eddie was asked to fly Cuzoom to Alaska! The rest is history...and what a remarkable time. We both so value all of these memories and all of you who we have met over the last 10 to 15 years! All because of a brightly colored old Super Cub that Eddie traded a 40 acre pasture for back in 1997! It's great hearing from all of you! We love all of you!