In the fall of 1975 Grandpa (Don) climbed into a T33 Trainer Jet for what he thought would be a short 5 minute ride.  His “ride” turned out to be a scare, a thrill, and much more than just a ride.   Don was eighteen years old. He had never been in a small plane before.   Now he was climbing into the cockpit of a military training jet. They were off!

Just a few minutes later he had the stick in his hand and the right pedal under his foot and was making a turn up in the sky over Pikes Peak Colorado at a few hundred miles per hour.

Wow!  The whole event gave Don a new perspective on his life and, and, a high respect for the pilots of our world.  As the “pilot” for his own family, Grandpa knows everything he does or doesn’t do makes a difference for his future, that of his wife, their eight children and their 23 grandchildren.  It even makes a difference to people he doesn’t even know.

Enjoy the story.  Please share this story far and wide.  Think, about the story, tell your own stories, act on the truth the best that you can, then laugh a lot, and live!