On a sunny day over Ozark, Alabama in the spring of 1992, I was on final approach to Blackwell Airport (71J) after a long cross-country flight. After going through my final checklist for landing, I was ready to land my tiny Cessna 152. This picture was taken rather quickly as I had to get both hands back on the yoke!
Cyans Skies 
Great entry for the Challenge Nando 🙂
Hi. I was checking out some of the photos for the “Regret” theme, and your site was one the stops. I am so glad I came! Your photos are terrific. I really like the one on your header very much — and I like the quote. It is so true, and I try to live my life that way as well. I’m a teacher as well (no longer in the school system, but teaching for Sylvan Learning Centers and teaching the Word of God anywhere a door opens.) Your pictures of the children at school and the empty classroom all bring back SO many memories.
I chose to comment on this particular picture because as soon as I saw it, it reminded me of my sister’s very first flying lesson. When she retired from elementary teaching, a friend gave her a special gift of a first flying lesson free. My sister had always wanted to fly, but due to so many other responsibilities as wife, mother, teacher, community leader, she had never taken the opportunity. It was one of her most thrilling moments! And adding to the thrill was my own excitement when I discovered I could go up with her. I had gone along to take pictures of the boarding, take-off, landing, etc., but when the pilot asked me if I wanted to go along, I jumped at the chance. I had flown in jets, but never very small planes. It was different, and I’ll have to say I had to battle dizziness, but as long as i looked down and took pictures, I was okay. Got some great shots! And my sister looked at herself just a little differently — with a little more legitimate pride and self-confidence — from that experience on.
This past year, my sisters husband passed away. She has gone through the normal grieving that any loving wife would, but later in the year, she got an opportunity to go to Paris — the one place in the world that she had ALWAYS wanted to visit. She had to make the trip on her own, but she was determined to jump at the chance to fulfill such an enormous dream. She LOVED every minute of it. And it has opened up other doors that she only dreamed about before.
I guess I’m saying all of this as a way of saying it is important that you have this blog — and that you encourage people to get out there and fulfill their dreams. That seems to be a theme here, and I’m grateful that you are using your God-given talents for photography, writing, and teaching to give that encouragement to so many others.
Happy blogging,
Sandra
Wow, Sandra! Thank you SO much for your words of encouragement and for your sister’s personal story. I really did touched me. When I started blogging, I had no idea where it would take me. So far, I’ve discovered so much about myself and my writing but most importantly, allowed me to connect with so many wonderful writers and photographers across the world.
Thank you for dropping by and taking the time to write your thoughts on not only this particular photo challenge, but on my little slice of the web.
Now to head over to some of your sites…
Nando