Page 21 - Nothing has changed...

     I guess my father has never changes his mind in what he told me eleven years earlier. That was that I would never learn to fly. Could never own an airplane. For sure never do anything with one if I had it.
     Dejected, I tell my father that I was going down to the house.  NOTHING HAS CHANGED. THIS TOWN IS STILL LIVING IN THE PAST! I would guess the only thing that would make people move out of their present is EXLAX!
     If this is my father's attitude in relation to my being here, there is really no need to hurry to the house. My brothers and sisters are in school. My mother, like my father, would have little concern of how I arrived in Ekalaka. Certainly, they would never believe I flew in from California especially in the winter time. So, I can't share my excitement or accomplishments with anyone. Turns out, this feeling would continue to be a lifetime experience.
     WHO IS THERE THAT WOULD FOREVER UNDERSTAND AND SHARE IN MY DREAMS?!? SOMEONE WILL!
     All of my life would be an experience of being outside looking in and wanting to be accepted. Whether it was with relatives or friends, the experience was the same. Relatives seem to show no love or interest in me, and a friend is a rare person. A friend loves you all the time.
     The fourteenth of November, I would find a new acquaintance and fly this land of south east Montana where I grew up.  We would first fly west and pick up a few rolling hills, the short grass country, and the famed Powder River which is sometimes described as being about 400 miles long, a mile wide, and an inch deep. Too this to plow, too thick to drink, and it runs up hill from Texas. Powder River Let'er buck was a battle cry of the paratroopers in the second world war.

Page 20 -Only a Few Minutes to Home

     A good nights rest. Up at a early morning hour for breakfast. Now, out to the airplane at sun up to fly over a band of sheep and let my distant cousin try out my plane. He liked it.
     On my way home now. Only a few minutes to go. Soon, I land at the airport at Ekalaka. It is about a few miles from town. My dream has come true. Yes, daddy, I did learn to fly, and I own my very own airplane. Now, come and see what it has done for me.
     Very carefully, I put the plane in a vacant hanger. I am so excited! I would not trade anyone for this moment.

Photo by Beth Lang

     I set out for town on foot. I had to walk as I told no one that I was coming home.  I head for the New Life Bar because I am sure that my father will be there.
     He was.
     My father was surprised as he greeted me. Being in the Navy, I had precious few chances to come home to see my parents.  "Harlan, how did you come in from Baker? Did you come in on the stage?" I quickly explained that I had flown into Ekalaka from San Mateo, California. In my own airplane! He didn't believe me!  I was devastated. From the high of completing my journey to an unbelievable low of my father not believing me.  I had come from California to Ekalaka with some overwhelming experiences along the way. Yet, my father doesn't believe me.
      When I walked into the bar, my father was right where I thought he would be. He was sitting at a blackjack table playing solitaire. His brother at one end of the bar out cold having had too much to drink. Now, I am cold and ready for a cup of coffee. Pilot has been patiently waiting at the door of the bar for me to come back out.  We have a cup to give fuel to the conversation. We talk about all things BUT my trip. I am dying to go back to my airplane, but my heart reminds me that I really want to see my mother. Oh, and my brothers and sisters.

Page 19 - Night Fall Surrounds the Path of the Airplane

     My mind now explores the magnitude of sounds that come from the airplane as night fall surrounds my path. In the distance, I think I see a light. Possibly, it is a car light. Gray to black colors below and all around me little detail as to what is really in front of me.
     I see a stationary and a moving light. Is it a car? A truck? Is that Highway 212?  As I get closer, I can see that the light is coming from a vehicle passing by a building as I pass over.  I'd like to make a turn to the left but if I do, I might lose the building with the light. If I turn to the right, maybe I can land behind the light of the vehicle. There is no longer a horizon as I turn and come to a level I think the vehicle might be. There! There is the light again.  I fly to the level of the light. I'm on target.  A light in the window, with the words that say "Stockman's Bar. Hammond, Montana"  I can see a man standing at a bar. I see that I'm exactly on course, but now where to go with the airplane?
     No lights on the highway or anyway to tell me just how close the building is from the highway. One more time around and maybe I can land the plane using the light of the window to judge the level of the ground. I just want to go home!  As I come around, the night has closed around me. I judge where north should be from the angle I crossed the top of the building, but where to go?  I should of landed. A lot of guess work as I try to judge north from the few colors below. I'm not sure how high I am from the ground. There! I see a light spot on the ground. GOD BE WITH ME.  I hope I don't hit a fence post as I touch down because Enough is enough!
     Excited, but mentally exhausted. So close to home, but I will spend the night in the airplane.  I hear a huff, huff. Clap. Clap. What is that?  I get out of the plane and I see someone is riding up on a horse.  All is well! I have landed on a ranch of a distant relative. I didn't see it when I landed but there was a hanger on this plot of land.  We put TWO planes in a one airplane hanger. Cowboys can do that sort of thing.