My 9-year-old son said he had "the best day of his life today:"

[Redstone]

I have a friend who owns a business, and a 1/6 share in a Piper Arrow (that's a small airplane, for those of you who don't know). When my friend wants to play hooky and go flying on a nice day, he usually calls me, because I own my business too, so the boss can't tell me I can't take the day off.

So he called me this morning and said "let's go fly," and since it was the Little Guy's first day of summer vacation, I asked if he wanted to fly in an airplane (which he's never done before). He immediately started spinning around the house like the Tasmanian Devil in the cartoons, which I took to be a yes.

We flew from Chester, CT to Block Island, RI to have lunch (hence the private pilot's term "hundred-dollar hamburger") and to stroll around the airport checking out planes and helicopters.

On the way home, once my friend got his plane up and trimmed, he gave it to me to fly until we got close to final at the destination airport--it's been about 30 years since I've flown a small plane, but did well enough to even navigate a detour right over our house so Mrs R. could wave to us as we passed overhead.

And when my friend turned around and told the Little Guy, "Hey, did you know your daddy's been flying the plane for the last twenty minutes?" it was like I'd climbed Mount Everest or something--"I can't wait to get home and tell Momma that daddy was flying us home!!!"

Man, what a great day for me, too. How often do you get a chance to see your kid get that excited about something you do?

I'll remember this day for a long time, and remember it the same way the Little Guy will: His first airplane ride, and with Daddy flying to boot!

If I could wish for anything and make it come true, I'd wish for all of you to have a day as happy as this one, especially with your kids if you have any.

Days like today are treasures.

Redstone

[swag]

1. Excellent story.

Thanks for posting.

[grannylib]

2. How fun, for both of you! You are right, such opportunities are truly

life's treasures...
May you have many more such lovely days!

[jobycom]

3. Smile

Nice day, great story.

:-)

[Maat]

4. Congrats!!! Woohoo!!!

I'm glad you enjoyed your day - hope you got some pictures.

[MuseRider]

5. Truly a treasure.

Wonderful, how fun for the two of you. What a great, lovely story. He will tell his kids about it someday.

[GOPisEvil]

6. What a good day.

You and your son are very fortunate.

[Arugula Latte]

7. Oh man, my eight-year-old son would've loved that !

His Truck Obsession has recently turned into an Airplane Obsession.

Wow. What a memory for your boy! Too cool.

[yvr girl]

8. That sounds like a great day

I saw a picture of your Little Guy - he is so adorable.

There's nothing like a flight in a small plane, unless it's a flight in a small plane with someone who's never done it before.

[Redstone]

14. I especailly appreciate the good words from you, since

you know from flying. I've been thinking about getting a pilot license, especially now that we have the "sport pilot" license here in the US, but it's such a commitment of time...

But I did pick up the East Coast flying newspaper at the airport, and there was an ad for a nice little Cessna with floats for only about thirty grand...the temptation mounts...

Redstone

[yvr girl]

24. that looks like an interesting option for a license

Can it be upgraded to a regular license with more training?

Here's my advice:

Try and condense your training as much as possible. Initially, I flew once every week or two. That's a bad plan. You spend so much time reviewing/relearning the basics. Fly 2-3 times a week for about an hour at a time.

If you get the sport pilot's license go for additional training. Once you have your initial license you can have your fun, but extra training never hurt anyone. Get some instrument training. You don't want to pull a JFK Jr. Also, get training to deal with emergencies. Know the hazards of flying in the mountains, over water etc.

I would also suggest that you'll want to be able to fly in class D and maybe even class C airspace. Your airports are much closer together out your way.

Have fun.

[Swede]

9. That's a great story Redstone.

Your both lucky guys.

[johnnie]

10. Great story Redstone

These are the stories on DU that make me smile and make my day. Thanks for sharing it.

[havocmom]

11. Thanks, that is great!

:thumbsup:

[BikeWriter]

12. Thank you, Redstone. That's a great story...

I'm glad for you and your Son!

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. Wonderful story

:)

[Redstone]

15. Thank you, my friends one and all, for your enthusiastic

replies. I mean it.

I'm off to bed now, and will remember not only the day, but your kind comments about the day as well.

Thanks, guys. More tomorrow.

Redstone

[coffeenap]

16. And here's to countless more wonderful moments together.

[rustydog]

17. Too cool!

Enjoy it, tomorrow your son will be 25 years old and he'll be telling you about wanting to get married...

[progmom]

18. what a beautiful story, redstone

almost made me cry. these are the important things in life.

:hug:

[Zuni]

19. Great Story

The first time I went deep sea fishing with my dad was like that. Your son will enjoy this memory for many years.

[cassandra uprising]

20. What a gift.

It's an incredible thing to wrap my brain around. The gift you are to your son and the gift your son is to you. How wanna be Zen and cliched of me to say. I apologize. I'm really tired right now but I didn't want to lurk without posting. You are truly blessed.

:hug:

[Redstone]

73. Cassandra: It's not "wannabe Zen." And it's NOT cliched.

The gift you are to your son and the gift your son is to you. is a wonderful and greatly appreciated sentiment.

Redstone

[UrbScotty]

21. Nominated.

Because the political situation in our country can get so hectic, it's easy to forget what really matters - and what we're really fighting for: a better future for our kids.

Thank you for sharing.

:hi:

[Beausoir]

22. Ahhh. Most excellent story. Brings back memories.

One cold MN winter morning in the late 70's, when I was in 8th grade, my father woke me up and asked if I'd like to skip school and go flying instead. He had business to attend to and for some reason he decided to hire a very nice and professional local pilot to get us to our destination.

We flew to Minneapolis in a very small plane. Looking back upon the experience, it seemed as though we were skimming the tree tops all the way there.

I will remember it as long as I live.

As will your little guy. This is the good stuff.

[dweller]

23. here's hoping he remembers all the days from now

til he's 18 and moving on, how auto-pilot still is a lot of work.
Even if it looks easy.

Smooth sailing through the clouds to you both.

dp

[Redstone]

46. Nope, no autopilot. Though I did look at the

turn / climb indicator a lot. Took it throught several course and altitude changes, which was a ton of fun, not having flown anything for so long.

Redstone

[bloom]

25. That's a nice story

I spent a day on Block Island with my son a month ago - it's a nice place. I hadn't been there before.

(My son is older - it takes more to be the "Best day" when they are older :) - but it was still fun ).

[driver8]

26. That is a great story, Redstone. Having children, I know how

proud they can be of their parents. What a thrill for your son to ride in the plane with you flying.

He will remember the day forever!

[evilkumquat]

27. Funny Enough...

...But my father and brother are in Canada this week so my father can bring his new airplane home (he saved a few thousand dollars worth of shipping by making the drive himself).

He had to budget a week's worth of travel even though we only live one state away from the Great White North because of all the crap one has to go through in order to cross the border. He figures he will have the most "fun" once he reaches customs with a large crate sitting on a trailer off the back of his Suburban.

Customs: "What's in the crate?"

My Father: "Airplane parts."

Customs: "Reach for the sky!" {click, click}

I am more concerned about him once he makes it back since he still has to put the thing together. I get REAL nervous thinking that my father will be flying an "experimental" plane, since that was the last thing John Denver ever did (other than, you know, peeing in his pants and screaming at the top of his lungs).

I would feel better if my father had more experience building these things. He shrugs off my concern by pointing out that the person who builds the plane will know a lot more about it and be in a much better position to know what needs fixed than some random mechanic who is an expert at building them.

This was not very comforting.

Evil Kumquat

[dweller]

28. perhaps it would be more comforting if it were your plane

but he has a point. In this case, i'd trust the mechanic/craftsman/owner/pilot.

He won't take it off the ground if he suspects a problem. And he would know. That's smart.

dp

[Redstone]

42. Now THAT was a funny line:

"since that was the last thing John Denver ever did (other than, you know, peeing in his pants and screaming at the top of his lungs)."

Cruel, but funny.

Redstone

[Tsiyu]

29. Ah, those years when children are amazed by parents

when you still KNOW something! What a great moment and memory for both of you.

Thanks for sharing your wonderful day with us :)

[passy]

30. Sounds like a really nice out.

You're a lucky man.
It's so nice to hear such nice heart-melting stories among all the heavy news we normally read about here at DU.
I'm gonna take my kids down to the beach in the next couple of days I'm sure they will enjoy that, but a plane ride would have been nice.
Keep the good times rolling.

[whatever4]

31. I'm terribly jealous

Of what a wonderful father you are :) Good job dad! Thanks for sharing such a nice story. Few and far between.

I can only hope, in the coming days and years, that I can teach my children how to live and love while dealing with unheard of strife, and life and death issues in an insane world. I hope I can give them an example of how to live, when life becomes not just hard, but not even realistic. Or fun. I think dads like you will make all the difference. That kind of parent isn't a given, that kind of unselfish love. A lot of people talk, but in the end, spending time and playing with kids isn't something a lot of guys do; it's all lipservice, from a seated position on the couch. It's not a job a mom can do, not really. So sad and frustrating.

[madeline_con]

32. His first airplane ride, and with Daddy flying to boot!

Awesome!! :hi:

[FizzFuzz]

33. "He immediately started spinning around the house

like the Tasmanian Devil in the cartoons, which I took to be a yes."--

Ah, the subtle insights one can gain through the study of body language.

(hee hee ;) snort :hi: )

You big hero, you... what a great day; now you're making me think on some of my special days too!

Funny thing, Mr Fuzz is on a job on Block Island. Maybe you saw him yesterday--notice any Deaf guys up on a roof?

[Redstone]

54. A deaf guy on a roof? That may have been the one

we flew about seven feet over, and he didn't even look up.

(Not making fun of him...just couldn't resist. You know that.)

Redstone

[FizzFuzz]

59. *snort* You wouldn't be able to tell if he was waving hello,

Or if he was saying

"Get that propeller any closer to my head, and you'll be paying for my designer haircuts the rest of your life"

:hi:
;)

:thumbsup:

anyway, my lovely charming hun just IMed me a little while ago to tell me he and his friend were going out for lobster.

HUMPH!! :righteous indignation:

Fine. I'll show him. I'll just enjoy the HELL out of this here leftover spaghetti.

grumblegrumble

[Redstone]

62. Well, if he gloats about the lobster you can always remind him that

the average lobster's diet consists of two things: garbage and other lobsters.

Even if I wasn't allergic to shellfish, I think I'd rather join you for the leftover spaghetti than join him for the lobsters. They look a little too much like big old bugs for my taste.

Redstone

[FizzFuzz]

64. LOL!! yesssss, that sounds like a perfect comeback.

BWAAAha ha ha ha

Actually, lobsters are kind of cute (but I love bugs and stuff...only not spiders...) Makes it harder to have one for dinner. :P

Here's a slightly weird lobster story from years ago, by the way....

I had heard that blue lobsters are very rare. Then one day, at the grocery store, there in the lobster tank was a blue lobster!!! There may have been more than one, I don't remember, but I sure remember being stunned with amazement.

I didn't do anything about it--what was I gonna do, call the manager over and insist the lobster be sent to the zoo?

[arwalden]

34. Fun!!

I'm all smiles here! Great story!

[Debbi801]

35. That is awesome! What a great way to spend a day...

Are there any AOPA classes up your way that your son could go to? It has been too long for me, so I don't remember what is available. But, it would probably be a great thing for the two of you to do together.

There is no feeling as free as being in a small aircraft, soaring like a bird.

Debbi

[elehhhhna]

36. Most Excellent!

The name of God on the lips of a child is "Daddy".

(Okay, the saying usually says "Mommy" but in your case, an exception.)

[Squeech]

37. Yay!

Congratulations Redstone! I hope you get many more opportunities to be a hero to your son!

[Oreo]

38. Thanks for sharing

Days like that with your kids make you forget about all the bad stuff going on in the world

[Evergreen Emerald]

39. That is the sweetest story...

...you are a good dad.

[the other one]

40. Thanks for bringing a tear to my eye!

I am such a crybaby!

[SnowGoose]

41. What a nice wish!

"If I could wish for anything and make it come true, I'd wish for all of you to have a day as happy as this one, especially with your kids if you have any."

I don't remember the last time I heard someone not wearing a swimsuit and high-heels using their one wish for the good of others.

I'd say your son's admiration is well placed.

[Fuzz]

43. I love Block Island

I usually eat my weight in seafood when there.

:)

[Shell Beau]

44. That is great!! He'll remember that forever!

[Shell Beau]

45. DUPE!!!!!!!!

[Redstone]

47. Here's a picture:

That boy sure looks happy, doesn't he?

Redstone

[Kathy in Cambridge]

56. Your son's a handsome boy

and that is a great story! :-)

[Sugar Smack]

67. Wow!!!!!!!!!!!

That one came right out of one of the best days of my life!!

You bring joy into the world, and so does your son. Thank you.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

68. I'd be happy too if Frank Zappa was my dad.

:evilgrin: :silly: :dunce: :spank:

[NNadir]

48. Sounds like it was one of the best days of your life too.

I'll bet it was.

You must be a very good father.

[Redstone]

50. That it was,

that it was, indeed.

As I said, a treasure. There's a happy-looking dad in that picture, too.

Thank you for the compliment.

Redstone

[LynzM]

49. That's an awesome story :)

Awesome that you can do that, and a very awesome experience and memory for you and him. Wow. What a great thing to wish, on everyone!

[Redstone]

51. Hey, the DU crowd is full of nice people.

They all deserve to have a good day like that.

And, at your daughter's age, you have many such days to come. Trust me. You'll think nothing could be better than a particular day, then you'll have another one that makes you say the same thin\g.

Redstone

[LynzM]

53. Very true, very true

I've met some amazing people here, yourself included!

She made a face tonight that made me just bust up laughing, and it was good :D Her sense of humor is really starting to show up, and I'm loving it!!

[Sugar Smack]

52. I love kids,

I was showing this 11 year-old boy what isometrics were.

He is the son of my dearest and oldest friend, Kat. I stood in a narrow doorway and pressed my hands against the barriers. For 30 seconds. He screamed toward the end of it, cause he was so excited. I stepped out. and my arms "lifted" on their own.

He tried it, and then he called all his friends to tell them about it.

I love that little boy.

Thank you so much for your precious story, my love.

[Redstone]

57. That may be the coolest thing about kids:

Their enthusiasm for any old thing, as long as it's something they haven't seen / done before.

Sounds like you remember that, kiddo, and I hope you never lose it. It's what keeps the wonder in life.

You'll be a great mom some day. I'd bet anything I own on that.

Redstone

[HeeBGBz]

55. Hold this day in your heart

It will keep you warm on cold days.

[Redstone]

58. I will indeed hold it in my heart; if it's the last thing

I remember, I'll die with a smile.

Have I ever mentioned that I think your screen name is pretty damn clever? I like it.

Redstone

[HeeBGBz]

66. Thanks

(((Hugs)))

[fortyfeetunder]

60. Great story

Nice thing to post among the Lounge topics.

[shanti]

61. ah, what a sweet story!

it's moments like yours that you will always treasure as a parent. enjoy the hell out of them now, they grow up so fast!

[BrklynLiberal]

63. Happy Fathers Day!!!!! Belated.

[Pale Blue Dot]

65. Very, very cool.

You can't buy that feeling. Nice job.

:thumbsup:

[qanda]

69. That sounds wonderful

I'm glad you had such a great time with your son-- I'm sure he will never forget it.

[Lindsey]

70. What a beautiful post...

How cool that you and the youngun' knew it was a great time as it was happening. :-)

[Jara sang]

71. Must be great to just wake up one morning

and do such a frivolous thing merely on a whim. Whatever strikes your fancy... C-A-R-E-F-R-E-E

[Redstone]

72. Hey, thanks...what's life worth if you can't cut loose?

(Of course, the work still has to get done, which is why I'm in the office now. I am lucky to be able to shift the work around to days when it's too hot to fish or fly or go to a car show or whatever.)

So it's not entirely carefree...just able to deal with the care when it's time to, and not when not.

Redstone