the Aviator prior to issuance of his pilot's license

Ah, the good old days, back before they knew I would fly.

Shortly after this picture was taken I became a pilot. I received
my aviator cap. I wore it to school, to the outhouse and sometimes
I tried to wear it to bed.

Now before I go too far...let it be known that the flying I do is in
my mind's eye. I love to sit and think of what is and what was and what could have and maybe should have been.

I also imagine what it might be like if my nephew wasn't typing this as if he were me....!

The day is coming that I will take the controls of this instrument of
flight. I might even stick on that old cap and allow myself to glide back in time to a place so much simpler than I am in now.

A place where the cotton grew. The mules muled. And my dad would let me put my feet in those old overall pockets so I could reach around that strong neck and ride the day away.

A place where the muscadines grew and the jelly was fine. A place where Christmas meant hard candy and apples and oranges and love ruled the day.

Oh, such a wonderful place....