September 14 2004
The aviation company I work
for in Sudan, bought all their pilots that are working in Khartoum, a
free dinner at a very fancy restaurant. It was my first hot meal in a
week. At my table were 3 other pilots, the oldest was 22 years old. I
was almost as old as all 3 of them put together.
We talked about flying
and what they expected from life and aviation. Their enthusiasm,
their view of the world and of their future was very enlightening.
Near the end of the evening I thought about how many times I have
read how old people are jealous and envious of youth. In a very
special moment, I realized: I don't want their future.
They may do some things
I have done. They may get their hearts broken, and they may go to
war.
They may watch
economies crash, and they may regret lost loves.
They may watch friends
die, and they may grow old alone.
But......They will
probably not do some things I have done.
They will not
experience Alaska in the winter time, or operating a Nuclear Reactor.
They will not sail 6 of
the 7 seas, or have parachutes that malfunction.
They will not be
attacked by a buffalo, or visit 48 countries.
They will not learn to
navigate using the stars, or fight forest fires.
They will not see the
birth of the computer, or fly the African Continent without
satellites.
They will not watch
black and white TV, or cry when their President gets shot.
They will not
experience the thrill of the first moon landing, or live through the
shock of Vietnam.
I can close my eyes and
re-live the past.
Before they can re-live
the good things of life, they must first live through the bad things
of life.
Before they can re-live
their dreams, they must first live some nightmares.
Before they can re-live
the excitement of flying a damaged aircraft, they must first live
through the terror of flying a damaged aircraft.
Before they can re-live
the thrill of war, they must first know the horror of war.
I am not envious of
them at all. I would not trade my experience for their youth. I would
not trade my past, for their future.
(But
I would gladly trade my old knees for their young knees.)
When reading your adventure stories, I realize what a great life you had. So many good memories of all the good times (and referring to your encounter with the buffalo, scary times as well!). Thanks for sharing with us.
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