NEGLECT

This blog has been undeservedly neglected.  I owe it to myself and family to have it rise from the ashes.  Well, that's a bit melodramatic

Although the blog has been quiet, the last few years have definitely not been.  The last time I posted, it was about the story of a job interview with the airline I was hired to fly for in Nigeria.  Due to their inability to pay my salary on time, I was forced to search for "greener" pastures.  Nothing is more frustrating than being 8,000 miles from home and your salary has not been paid.  What is the point of being there?

I'll get more in to that later.  First I have to talk about the summer of 2010, when the storm clouds that were brewing. That summer was filled with bouts of bliss, melancholy, opportunity and finally despair. 

First, the bliss.  I had purchased a motorcycle to save money on gas.  It was my daily driver for a while.  Not a big displacement bike, just a 750.  Initially, my wife was at odds with me purchasing a motorcycle.  She didn't even remember that I had a motorcycle license.  My hard headed nature won out and I bought the bike.  About a week after, I talked her in to going around the block with me on it.  Reluctantly, she accepted.

From that moment on, she was hooked.  We made a point every single evening to take the motorcycle out and enjoy the wonderful Kentucky summer.  The area we live in is filled with beautiful back-country roads.  There are lakes, creeks, hills, roads with tree canopies, fireflies, the Ohio River and so much more.  Each ride was magical.  It was a way to leave the days stresses behind.  It seems like the time not spent on the motorcycle or with the kids was full of melancholy.

There were flying jobs, but most paid too little to justify.  I love flying, but will not do it just for the sake of flying.  Nothing comes before my family and the whole point of flying is to provide for them.  I interviewed with a small airline in Cleveland, but was shocked to hear that their Captains made less money than I made at Comair.  Shameful.  I was offered a job with a freight operator flying Commanders, but it was from Blueash airport in Cincinnati, which is easily 40 miles from where I live.  An 80 mile round trip, 5 days a week just wasn't in the cards.  I also turned down a job flying a single engine cargo route.  The time off just wasn't adequate enough to justify it.  I didn't mind my non-flying job and they were good to me, but I just wasn't happy.

Of course, neither were about 50 million other Americans who were either unemployed or underemployed just as I was.  It was time to stop feeling sorry for myself and get serious.

I found out about the opportunity to return to flying overseas, with a good salary and rotation and went for it.  As I've already written, I got the job.  It didn't turn out to be the best job, due to their financial instability (go figure, an airline with cash flow issues) - but it did get me current again and gave me another year of experience.  So for that, I am thankful.  It was a great opportunity at the time.  Before the opportunity came to fruition, everything was almost lost.

I nearly lost my wife, my best friend, my one and only.  She almost bled to death internally and had to have an emergency hysterectomy.  She had not been feeling well for quite some time, but the doctors kept prescribing her with iron supplements and said she was fine.  One day, she nearly passed out.  We took her to the hospital, where she received a blood transfusion.  She was sent home only to have the same problem 3 days later.  Only this time, she was worse.

She was admitted to the hospital and had a hysterectomy the next morning.  It was a very close call.  He blood count was so low, that doctors were amazed she survived up to the surgery.  It was very scary for us.  I don't know what I would do without her.

Thankfully, her Mom and sister came out while this was happening.  It was a huge help to have them there and I will always be thankful to them for all of their help.  It made all the difference during that scary time.

After the surgery, her recovery was amazing.  She was back to work within three weeks and was well enough for me to start my new job.  So with that, I resigned from Staples, sold the motorcycle (it was the end of the Summer anyway) and started the next chapter.