Schnauzermom

My dad was an airplane fanatic. When I was a kid, we'd spend Sunday afternoons at the airport walking around & looking at the little single engine airplanes. He made friends with some of the guys who worked in the hangars, and he'd visit with them while I played around the planes.

Sometimes, when the "puddle jumper" from DFW would make it's evening arrival, we'd go out to the airport to watch it land. From the small terminal, you could walk directly onto the tarmac. The highlight of the evening was to stand at the fence when the plane would leave. The wind from the props would nearly blow me down, and I absolutely loved the smell of the fuel.

One time we went to the airport when Dr. Werner von Braun was in town. I don't remember why he came to our little podunk town, but it was quite an event. We got his autograph, which I remember seeing tucked in a book at my Mom's house not too long ago. Anyway, Dad's buddys at the airport managed to get us on to Dr. von Braun's Learjet for a "ramp ride." They were moving it from in front of the terminal to a parking spot, and we were privileged to go along for the ride. The jet was really plush and state-of-the-art for the Sixties.

My dad also loved to fly model airplanes. Watching that wasn't such a treat. We'd go out into a weedy field and I'd either have to stand and watch, or sit in the dirt, ants, and stickers. I didn't appreciate that he wanted to share his hobby with his family. I'd give anything to see him fly his planes now.

My mom used to take me downtown on Saturday mornings to "people watch." We'd go to Ben Franklin and get a bag of popcorn, and get Cokes from the drug store. We'd sit in the car (street parking at meters) and watch the people walk up and down the street. She wouldn't plug the meter if it was expired. We'd watch for the meter maid to come around, and if we spotted her, Mom would give me a coin and I'd run up to the meter and put it in so we wouldn't get a parking ticket.

Alatariel and I do that now... but it's a little more difficult to sit in the mall parking lot and have much to see. But we still get a couple of Happy Meals and do it anyway. At least at the mall we can park in covered parking, so if it's a warm day we won't roast.

Reading your post today made me remember that. Those were some of the fun times we had when we were kids. It was good family time, and it didn't cost anything.