Ranger, Fuhrer, Pirate, and Cowboy

R22...This is what I fly. Mine is blue and white, but you get the idea












R44...I'll be flying this after Christmas
















This isn't one of ours, I just dream of doing this.
















My family: Joel, Lindsay, me, Janet















Well, another wednesday, another post. If there is one thing I've learned this week, it is that teachers can be cool. I spent saturday night partying with my teacher...sounds bizarre, I know, but it's true. it was about 9 pm on saturday. My night was quite boring so far, and, being a small town kid who missed the quiet, I decided to go for a drive. I called my friend Nicole, and she came with me up to Big white (to see the snow). On the way up I got a phone call from my flight instructor who apparently had already been having a fun night. after seeing the snow and getting lost in the endless dead end roads at big white, we drove back to town and met up with Chris (my flight instructor), Sheila (his lady friend) and Wade (another student in my class). I suppose being dressed like a cowboy (to kelowna people, anyways) was enough of a costume to fit in with the kokanee ranger (chris) a pirate (sheila) and a semi-intoxicated Hitler (wade, dressed normally, but wearing a fake moustache). Without going into too much detail, I will say that the night was alot of fun, and before I knew it I was walking into my bedroom at 7 am. IT was quite the night to remember.

School continues as normal, aside from the fact that we are down one helicopter (apparently my fault, according to Wade). it is in the show for repairs, because it doesn't want to fly. Turns out a magnito needs replacing, which means that it actually wasn't my fault, because it isn't so much something that I could've done to wreck it, but simply wear and tear. On a more exciting note, I felt the full blast of wake turbulence when passing behind a westjet plane that was on final approach today. Personally, I felt I had full control, but apparently Chris didn't think so, judging by his quick reaction to take the controls away from me.

Yet again I was teased by the promise of a day of work on saturday, but seeing as that has fallen through, I am off to the coast to see Ry, Joe, and whoever else is around that I know. Hopefully I will get a chance to see my older brother, but I won't hold my breath on that one.

Ok...now onto something serious

So here is what has been on my mind the last couple of days. For many, Halloween is a time to be stupid, to have fun, and generally to cause trouble. For me, it is a time to remember. The last real memory I have of my Father is him taking me trick or treating 2 days before he died. For me, this is a time when I feel alone, and it seems to be exaggerated by the fact that everyone is busy, so I literally have been sitting here by myself. I don't seek pity, I'm not looking for a shoulder to cry on, it just makes me wonder about the way we think...or at least the way I think. Why is it that we dwell on that which upsets us, knowing that it will only upset us more to do so? We want so badly to be justified in our situation that we let ourselves slip into our own confirmation...I feel lonely, therefore I am going to use any busy friend, unanswered phone, unreplied email, or solitary day as proof that I truly am alone. In all reality, I am not alone at all, and most days feeling alone doesn't bother me, but losing that which meant most will have a lasting effect on a person. Therefore, Halloween for me it seems will never be more than a time to reflect, remember, miss, and feel alone. I do not wish for this to be true, yet year after year I encounter it. But, in the end, tomorrow is another day to live and pick up and keep going.

And now, because I know you all love the quotes to end the post, here goes again. Mom, I'm sorry if this makes you cry...

"too many times we stand aside
And let the water slip away
'Til What we put off 'til tomorrow
Has now become today
So don't you sit upon the shoreline
And say you're satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids
And dare to dance that tide"