Air Show....Day 2
The Canadian Snow Birds flight team is really a spectacular airborne ballet compared to the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds which feature overpowering speed and power. Where else can you see nine jet aircraft flying together straight up and then spliting into a fantastic aerial fleur de lis? They are really top notch.
And top notch is a good description of today's show. I always like the Sunday show....it's less crowded, more at ease and gives me and the volunteers more time to actually watch some of the amazing flying. The weather was the best we've had in years with a warm sun along with a cool breeze to keep temperatures just right, and with puff ball cumulus clouds that give a certain perspective to the aircraft overhead. Especially for the Snowbirds and the Pearl Harbor reenactment where we have over 40 aircraft in the skies at once.
As always, I met someone rather unique today, however, not involved with aviation fame. Mr. Holiman is a rancher in Midkiff, some distance south of Midland. He was one of our gate greeters today. Mr. Holiman is 87 years old and drives up by himself just to help out in anyway he can. I had read the story of how he gave one of his ranches to our local Jr. College, and then sued them to get it back when their trustees, in effect, violated the terms of his endowment. His intent is to find someone or group to make this ranch into a multi-discipline learning experience for kids. A place to learn about their agricultural heritage along with the ecology, geology and history of West Texas. We talked for an hour about ideas to bring his dream into reality. I told him that this interested me greatly and that I would be pleased to help. He promised to give me a call. A really interesting and generous man, and I hope that I look as great as he does should I become 87 years old. Oh, and he said that now that his beloved wife had passed away last year, he was starting to notice women again, and weren't there some great looking ones in shorts at the Air Show!
Another Show under our belts and now we can get some rest!
