CONTENTS Title Page Copyright Chapter I Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter II Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Endnotes About the Author
CHAPTER 1 IT'S LIKE YOU'RE NOT EVEN TRYING I TAUNT The deep rumble rips through the sky It's getting getting closer You can't hide from me I squeeze my eyes closed you anywhere I'd know The thundering engine roars in reply and shakes the ground as it closes in I've got you I say smiling The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as its effortless growl draws near Closer Closer Closer And just as it's overhead I yell The P Fifty One D Mustang I open my eyes just as the pilot lines up the plane with the runway
CHAPTER 1 I knew it I shout triumphantly to the sky Sitting back on the hood of my car I watch as the pilot deftly lands the P 51D Mustang plane at a nearby airport the screech of wheels signaling that both vehicle vehicle and pilot are safe and sound The sky grows quiet once more With a sigh I open my ancient canteen and sip the still too hot tea I can feel its warmth traveling down my throat I tear off the last bit of toast and jam that bravely survived the hours long road trip and pull my plaid blanket tight around me Where I come from it's usually more than enough to ward off the earliest of daylight chills but today even all bundled up I realize this colder Colorado weather is going to be something to get used to And then I can feel it in my chest before I even hear it Another magnificent rumble amidst the far off clouds I close my eyes lift my face upward and listen I've always been happiest sitting on the hood of my car with this same plaid blanket canteen full of hot tea and bread and jam listening to planes take off and land The scenery around me might be different now but game is intuitive no matter the surroundings these the
HIGHER FURTHER FASTER sounds are seared deep into my bones as familiar as a favorite song Piper Saratoga I reverently whisper I open my eyes just as the little plane soars overhead and smile as I am once again correct I check my watch I'm still early Way too early But I can't wait anymore I've been waiting my whole life And now that the day is finally here I can no longer contain myself Today still doesn't feel real A dream I once had turned into a fantasy I dared not mention aloud But then with every step every checked box every application every essay every letter letter of recommendation every physical test and every envelope that came in the mail I held my breath as I waited to see if I really would get the opportunity to become the person I'd always imagined And then the letter came And the letter became a promise And that promise became a red circled day on my calendar And then that red circled day became a packing list and then that packing list became a messy pile on my bed that definitely was never going to fit any duffle bag And then that duffle bag got loaded into my gassed up Mustang And then that gassed up into
