MONDAY THRU WEDNESDAY:
These three days were spent preparing for our trip to Oklahoma to see our grandson, Alex, graduate from pilot training. We both needed hair cuts! We needed small containers for our personnel bath items. While in Rochester shopping we had lunch with (GD) Annalynn at the Olive Gardens. Great news! They had an offer accepted on a house they are in the process of buying.
THURSDAY:
Up and at em @ 2:30 a.m., be ready to leave by 3:30a.m. grab the luggage, and go to the airport. The 45 minute ride seemed to drag on and on. Betsy left us off at doorway and she went to park the car. She met David, Donna, Eric and Nikki in the parking lot. (glad she didn't have to walk in the dark by herself)
We hung out waiting for Debbie. We called her, no answer. No show! We went thru security and they never batted an eye about my stainless steel knee. (I had called my doctor to see if I needed a card in my wallet) Eric lined up a golf cart shuttle for me.
We were all comfy in the gate area, and here comes Debbie-Do!. Loaded down with her IPad, big purse, suitcase and a bag full of decorated wedding candles to show Erin. (bride to be)
I was pretty hyper about this flying stuff. Take off was on time, we flew into Chicago.
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| FANCY LIGHTS ABOVE WALK WAY |
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| BIG AIRPORT, I'M DRAGGING! |
Our next flight was another air line so hurry and get to that gate. Once there, our group all had coffee calls, they scattered. The flight wasn't bad.
As soon as we reached Wichita, David went to the Budget car rental place as he had a large van reserved. Well, a large storm with hail had damaged the van the night before so they substituted with a Ford Expedition. We were jam packed in it and we had a two hour drive to Enid.
Arriving at the Vance Air force base, we had to show our driver's licenses for an id. (each entry) Alex had registered us. We went to the housing area, David had reserved four rooms. The storm the night before flooded two of them. They were unavailable. We walked around while the clerks figured out what to do with us. Another guest cancelled a room so we were called. It all worked out.
Bob and I had a family suite used for student housing until they place them else where. (complete with refrig oven, microwave etc.) We had a beautiful patio, were we visited with families from Michigan, Wash., and Illinois. Airplanes were flying over head constantly. The base was beautiful, neat and clean, not many big trees though.
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| PATIO |
After getting settled we went to Alex's house.
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| ON BASE HOUSING |
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| AL'S AIR FORCE TUX |
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BADGES EARNED
ALEX HAD POSTERS OF ALL THREE PLANES THAT HE TRAINED IN. |
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| THEIR DOG - JETHRO |
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| LITTLE WINO |
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WE TOOK OODLES OF PICS
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| AL/PARENTS & GRANDPARENTS |
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A SMOOCH FROM AUNTIES!
BETSY & DEBBIE |
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| NIKKI, ERIC, ALEX AND ERIN |
FRIDAY:
The graduation ceremony:
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| DIPLOMA PRESENTATION AND SALUTE |
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DAVID PUTTING ON HIS WINGS
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ABOUT FACE
PRESENTATION OF CLASS
ALL VERY PROFESSIONAL WITH COMMANDS! |
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THE CLASS SINGS!
ALEX IN PROFILE |
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| ALEX AND ERIN |
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COL. JAMES DERMER
VICE COMMANDER McCONNELL AFB
ALEX'S NEW ASSIGNMENT COMMANDER |
After the ceremony, we changed into casual clothes and Alex gave us a tour of the base.
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ERIC WAS THE FIRST TO TRY THE FLIGHT SIMULATOR
ALEX OFFERED EVERYONE A CHANCE TO TRY IT
EVERYONE CRASHED! |
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NIKKI WAS THE BEST PERFORMER
Maybe Nikki will want to become a pilot! |
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| ALEX GIVES INSTRUCTIONS TO GRANDPA |
Then we walked around the grounds, more planes, the hangers, and the base store.
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ALEX HELPS GRANDMA OFF THE JET TRAINER!
WHAT A RIDE! |
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ALEX & DAVID AT THE CONTROLS OF JET TRAINER
THE LAST PLANE THAT ALEX TRAINED IN.
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Alex and Erin brought us to a bakery sandwich shop for lunch. Our food was delicious. They had several display cases of desserts; I had a piece of delicious homemade coconut cream pie. It was so good.
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OUR THREE KIDS
DAVID, DEBBIE AND BETSY
RIPPING IT UP
We had to return to our rooms and get ready for the formal evening ball at the country club. |
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THE WHOLE GROUP AT COUNTRY CLUB FORMAL RECEPTION
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THE RECEIVING LINE
ALEX HAD TO INTRODUCE US ALL TO THREE COMMANDERS!
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ALEX RECEIVES HIS DIPLOMA! YEAH!!
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| BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS BUT ALEX DID IT! |
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SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT EACH CLASS DESIGNS THEIR BADGE.
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This was a pretty fancy evening considering "men" planned it. One highlight was the folklore that went with the plastic wings the students received upon acceptance of the school.
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ERIN & ALEX
EACH STUDENT WAS TO BREAK THE PLASTIC WINGS IN HALF
THEN PRESENT HALF TO A SIGNIFICANT OTHER
THEN THE WINGS WOULD BE MATCHED UP IN ETERNITY |
The meal was served but we could not eat a bite until the Commander started eating. Alex remained standing until this was approved.
After dinner and awards:
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| SOME STUDENTS HAD REMOVED THE WHITE LONG SLEEVES FOR THEIR ALMA MATER PRINT |
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THE FUN BEGINS
A SELFIE!
NIKKI, BETSY AND ERIN |
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GRADUATING CLASS
DAVID ORGANIZED A GROUP PICTURE.
OF THE CLASS, THREE WERE WOMEN! |
SATURDAY:
Alex and Erin brought us to WEE TOO restaurant for breakfast. All the pilots eat there. It's cheap and every side dish was included. We pigged out! Bob looked in the kitchen and he said the chef was knee deep in egg shells. (no health dept inspection, apparently)
It was time for us to say our good-bys and depart.
The two hour trip back to Wichita airport was quite.
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I WAS SEARCHED!
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Well, all my fears of holding everyone up, came true.
I told the attendants I had a knee replacement and right away one attendant calls another. They didn't want any proof; they had rules to follow. The gal explained that once the "new airport" is opened this wouldn't be necessary. MY KIDS SAT NEARBY LAUGHING! After 17 hours, we were back home. Bob says we should have driven the motor home. Okay, Bob.
SUNDAY:
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