What are you giving this Christmas?

[muddyboots]

This Thanksgiving, I was sitting on a bench at the reservoir watching the dogs swim when I realized I literally have everything I want or could need in the world. I'm a pretty lucky guy. My sister and mom were with me, and I commented on it. They agreed, and then my sister added that she really din't want us to get her anything this year, as we'd already done a lot for her, rebuilding her house. Which led us to the idea than maybe none of us should buy gifts this year for each other: maybe we should do Christmas for someone less fortunate than us.
So to make a long story short, I have two good female friends, one of whom is putting herself through college, the other is married to a soldier. Both families are broke this Christmas, so we split our Christmas cash in half, and gave it to each family to buy gifts for their kids. This might just be the best Christmas I've ever had, and I'm not getting anything at all. I am ashamed to say that until this year I really didn't understand that giving really is better than receiving. It took me 44 years to figure out that all the goodies you get at Christmas are quite literally the least of it.
Merry Christmas, all of you. May you all get what you need!

[Mark Allen M]

When's the last time (or first time) you went for a ride in a Warbird?

[muddyboots]

Aside from a wide variety of active military aircraft, the only warbirds I've ever flown on were DC3's here and there (which is always a treat). I never got that lucky as a kid, and later I was too busy in the military, or too broke in school. I suspect I could have cadged a ride of Bill Greenwood when I lived in Boulder, but I've let myself get too fat since I got out... That danged Spitfire of his just couldn't carry my fat ass!

But my day will come! I've changed the focus of my degree to teaching grade school, and I am going to try to use warbirds to excite and inspire my students. I am especially grateful to have the opportunity to learn so much of their history from you guys! Your excitement will hopefully translate into better attention spans for my kids

[Mark Allen M]

So then (1) what type of Warbird do you have an interest in taking a ride in and (2) what's closest to you? .... hint!!!

[muddyboots]

Haha Thanks Mark, I'll climb in anything with wings. Rotorcraft make me...nervous now. There's a CAF chapter ten minutes away from me in Madison but I haven't had much luck hooking up with them. (My uncle the Korea veteran and I drove out to see a couple of warbirds drop in one day but were greeted with scowls from some of the regulars and we gave up. I suspect they were afraid we'd start wagging flaps and poking hles in aircraft skins but my uncle was a mechanic on the first of the Marine Corps Helicopters (he literally served from Inchon to the end of hostilities, and later aircraft, and I grew up around airplanes. I guess we should have introduced ourselves better.) Jackson isn't exactly a warbird hotspot anyway.
But you don't have to do that for me. Save the rides for paying customers and WII vets. I'll be out of school soon enough and I can start supporting warbirds again myself! But I'll tell you what, if I ever can arrange it, I would love to bring my kids on an annual field trip, maybe educate them on the days of the manned aircraft before they all get taken over by drones. I suspect our days of piloted aircraft are numbered and we should be teaching them everything we can about the men who flew. If you guys could help me arrange something like that I would love your support!

[Mark Allen M]

Check your PM Mr. Boots