Above and Beyond

Airplanes climb with power over and above that power required just to stay aloft. I am convinced that people do the same. I remember when I learned to water ski. At first, it took all of my knowledge, skill, and strength to stay on top of the water. Later, I could stay up easily and had some power left over to cut across the wake; then, eventually, I could ski backwards, go over a ski jump, and even ski with someone on my back. (I even reached the Georgia State water skiing tournament. If I remember right, there were 15 contenders and I came in 13th.) Today, I couldn’t begin to do all that stuff. I was doing it with the power I had over and above what it took just to stay on top of the water. As I got—and continue to get—older, I don’t have the excess power. Pilots experience this. At first, every flight scares you, because you can barely fly at all. Later—with more experience—you can fly an ILS and do a thousand things the student can only dream of (to paraphrase John Gillespie Magee). There was a time when I could—to hear me tell it—leap tall buildings. Now I don’t have the excess power above and beyond what it takes just to walk around. The moral? Pilots also loose skills and strength as they age. We should change our limits, our hours, and the stress through which we put ourselves. So, what got me started on this tirade? Gail and I are moving this week. In our youth we could pack it, load it on the rental truck, drive 300 miles, and unload it. This move (only 40 miles) we are packing it, but professional movers will do the rest. We are absolutely exhausted. Next time we will let the professionals—young and experienced—do it all. If, that is, we live through this move, which is doubtful. We'd love to publish your comments. Please click the comment tab at the top.