This isn't so much about a milestone, I guess. More like just a journal entry. It was a nice day and I just wanted to write about it.
The weather didn't look so great when I got up, but all the forecasts said the worst would be going around us. So out to the hangar I went to fuel and preflight the flying machine. Our destination was an airport about 35 miles south that has a restaurant, a standard flight plan for most pilots. It's the origin of the "Hundred Dollar Hamburger" - pilots are willing to spend inordinate amounts of money to fly to a meal they could have had much cheaper close to home.
I put on my bracelet, given to me by a dear friend, that says "Safe trip wherever you go," and off we went, with storms visible 20 miles west.
I told Sue about ten miles out that I was a bit apprehensive. This would be the first time for "me" to fly into this very familiar airport and restaurant. According to my log I hadn't flown into there since May of last year, shortly before my massive meltdown that started me on the road to realizing my fulfilled future. She's getting a little tired of hearing that same sad story, and reassured me that I'd be fine, just like all the other times I got anxious about such things. Then I got too busy flying the pattern and landing to think about it.
I used my very best voice on the radio - for some reason it sounds better there than anywhere else - and a lady in a Cessna followed us in. We bantered a little about the weather as we taxied in to the restaurant, and though no pronouns were used, I convinced myself that she knew she was talking to another aviatrix.
As we got out and tied the plane down in the growing gusty wind, some folks came out of the restaurant and walked across the ramp to us. They were obvious newbies to airplanes, and may have also have been struggling with English, since they looked to be East Indian. The first thing the guy asked was, "Is this your jet?" I didn't understand at first, and he corrected himself: "Is this your Cessna?" I said, yes, it's my plane, but it's a Rans. "You both fly it?" Sue pointed at me, "No, she's the pilot. I just like riding." They were so impressed at two women flying together. They asked if they could take pictures; we said sure, and went inside for brunch. They spent a long time studying the plane in awe and taking tons of pictures. I wonder how they would have reacted if I'd told them I'd actually built it?
The restaurant was busy and service was slow. At one point I asked Sue if she could see me. She agreed she could, and I verified I could see her, so we were pretty sure we weren't invisible. It was hard to tell, though, as the waitresses blasted by without looking. I have to admit I started getting a little paranoid - were they avoiding the weird person over there? Finally our waitress, who had been tied up at the register, took our order, and I felt better as we were taken care of slowly but surely. When another waitress came out to deliver our food with an "Okay ladies, who gets the eggs and bacon?", I felt much better. While we ate, two rainstorms washed our plane for us, and the line of storms moved on to the east, leaving things clear for our trip back home. After using the opposite restroom from the one I'd used last time I was there, we loaded up and taxied out, as all eyes in the restaurant enviously watched the two ladies who got to fly their own airplane. The trip home was uneventful and therapeutic.
After putting the plane away Maggie wanted her walk, so it was off into the neighborhood. I've mentioned my neighbor before who is accepting but not putting much effort into names or pronouns even after nine months. He and his wife were out talking with my favorite neighbors who are extremely supportive and encouraging. Again I was a little nervous, since what I was wearing was nowhere near androgynous - the top especially showed the growing girls off in glorious obviousness.
But what the heck, I marched right up and joined the conversation. And it was fine. I really need to get over this nervousness and convince myself that despite the problems with names and pronouns, what I'm doing isn't a big deal to them and I'm still just another one of the neighbors who flies.
I changed into some lighter clothes for working in this heat. I took a picture to post over in Kathy's thread, and was pleasantly surprised by what it revealed. First, I loved the way my bedraggled hair looked, but more shocking was how slim my shoulders looked. I've always been self-conscious about my wide shoulders, and while the measuring tape doesn't bear it out, they sure look smaller to me. Feeling I can wear sleeveless tops and dresses has opened up whole new wardrobe choices, and it's so much cooler than even a t-shirt.
The rest of the day has been quiet, with some Sunday afternoon extreme napping, more dog walks, and a little work done out in the hangar. A simple turkey burger meal for dinner, with occasional wondering glimpses of myself reflected in the kitchen windows.
Just another day in the life. I hope yours was as good.
Stephanie
