You Know How Forgetful He Is!

As I am sitting here and it’s Mother’s Day I obviously can’t help thinking about my mom. Unfortunately, she is no longer with me on earth.  She lost her 10-year battle to cancer in 2007.

I have often wondered over the past few years what she might think of the path that I have embarked on.  Every time I complete one of my adventures I always wish I could call and tell her about it.  There is no way I could tell her before hand because she would go crazy with worry.

You may be wondering about that title I chose for this post.  Well, there is a story behind that.  In 2006 I was taking flying lessons to get my private pilots license.  I am still working on that but that is another story.  So it was time for me to take my first solo flight which consisted of just taking off, flying the pattern and landing 3 times.  Well, my flight instructor Richard Whicker had told my parents that it would be happening ahead of time so they could be there.  So my mom and dad made the 5 hour trip to Southern Maine Aviation to watch me solo.  I got on the plane with my instructor first and we flew the pattern and then I dropped him off and set off on my own.  My mom and dad were in the hangar with him watching and my mom was sitting in one of those metal folding chairs.  Long story short I did my 3 takeoffs and landings without incident and pretty perfectly actually.  So while I was flying my dad noticed my mom was praying and teary-eyed.  He asked her what was wrong and she looked up and said ” You know how forgetful he is” haha.  So apparently she didn’t have a lot of confidence in me pulling off that solo unharmed haha.

I suppose every mom worries about their children but most children don’t climb 2000 foot rock faces, fly planes, go paragliding, race a wheelchair down a hill at 56 miles per hour, and skydive.  She prayed on the skydiving day too by the way.

That was an interesting story too.  I made the plans to go skydiving without telling my parents. I was 23 at the time and figured I didn’t need to.  I did call them right after though and my mom said No you aren’t.  I said yes I am I already paid for it.  So her response was well then your dad and I are driving you.  So it was a family event after all haha.  That one turned out good too phew.

People say she would be proud of me for the things I am accomplishing and I know that is true. I also think she would wish I wasn’t doing some of the things I am doing.  She would never say that though. She would just encourage me to do it.  I am blessed to have other women in my life that have taken over that role though from my girlfriend Sandy who definitely worries but still encourages to my moms’ friends like Brenda Raymond who also worries but encourages.

I guess what I am getting at is thank your mom for encouraging and worrying.  If it wasn’t for moms we wouldn’t be here to live our lives and have amazing experiences to share.  Make sure to share as many of those experiences with your mom as you can while you have the chance and don’t ever take it for granted that she will be there to encourage you to live out your dreams.