父爱如山，父亲严厉的叮咛饱含着深沉的爱，父亲用宽厚的肩膀为我们撑起成长的一片天——
Myearliestmemoriesareofpointingtothesky, havingdetectedthefar-offdroneofapistonengine. DadhadbeenapilotsincebeforeIwasborn. Heflewapea-greenCessna 172 fromRialtoMunicipalinSouthernCalifornia. IcanrememberwithcrystalclaritythoselazySaturdayafternoonsattheairport, helpinghimpushbackthebighangardoorsandleaningmysmallweightagainsttheairplane’sstrutsashepulleditintothesun.
Ireadhimchecklists, learningwordslike “aileron,” “magnetos,” and “pitot” thatnooneelseinmyfirst-gradeclassknew. IdrewairplanesandhelicoptersallovereverypieceofpaperIcouldfind, proudlytellingDadthatIwasgoingtogrowuptobea “helicopterdesigner.” Iwenttothelibrary, lookeduptheaddressesofeveryaircraftmanufacturerIcouldthinkof, andsentthempacketsofdrawings. (Grummanwastheonlyonethatresponded, withaveryniceletterandsomeglossy 8-by-10-inchphotosoffighters.)
But, asateenager, Ihad “better” thingstodothanhangoutattheairport. Iturneddowninvitationstoflyoutforbreakfast—thatwouldrequiregettinguptooearlyonweekendmornings. Eventually, Igraduatedfromhighschoolandmovedawayforcollege, beginningtobuildmylifeinanewcity. IsawDadlessandlessfrequently. Hetalkedoccasionallyaboutflyingouttovisitme, butthenhefellillandsoldtheplane. At 75 yearsofage, hewasgrounded.