Page 5 - There is my plane that looks worse than I feel.

Evening, November 9, 1952, I'm climbing up on a wing of a Stinson Reliant. I was fueling the airplane when there is someone pulling on my trousers. I look down to see who it might be. One of the mechanics has told me that I was going to Montana tomorrow! I started shaking and nearly crying and told the mechanic not to tease me, that my heart is nearly broken and if he looks on down the row of airplanes, there is my plane that looks worse than I feel.  The mechanic said this is not a joke and that when I get through servicing the Stinson to go get the other mechanic or both of them and they will pull the airplane down to the shop!
     "How about all of this?  How is this all happening?" I nearly pump gas on the ground I'm so excited about this change of events. SOMEONE CARES FOR ME! SOMEONE IS WATCHING OVER ME!
     We get the airplane down to the shop. I have told my wife about this strange turn of events, and that I will go to Montana or start to Montana tomorrow. I tell my wife that the mechanics have the airplane in the shop. I had no idea that some time earlier they had ordered a new windshield for the airplane, and they had a used propeller that would work on my plane. Everything is a go despite one of the mechanics wife had earlier in the day had a mild heart seizure. They assured me she was going to be all right, and the mechanics would still be able to work on the plane.


Pilot flew 11 years with Harlan.



     My wife would start cooking some treats and brewing coffee. In two hours flat, the windshield had been replaced, the hole in the wing repaired, just not a final coat of dope or no color. I didn't need the damaged portion of the wing repainted to fly.  They would fix a section of the engine cowling and replaced the propeller with the used propeller that would work on that engine. It would perform a little different that the original propeller, but it would for sure work. They even installed a temporary two way radio. All is well. The mechanics and a higher authority had faith in what I can do. Tomorrow, at sun up, I will head off across the San Francisco Bay and on my way to Montana! Even my dog Pilot could sense my excitement.  I don't know if I can even sleep, but I don't care. I'm finally going to go to Montana!