RSS Feed

a January 18th, 2006

  1. Dear David: Month One

    January 18, 2006 by Gail

    Dear David,

    You’ve been gone for a month, and it’s been the hardest month of my life. I know we talked about it, about how I might have to go on without you, but nothing could prepare me for this…

    I thought of all the things you wanted me to do, and how I would have to manage without your constant encouragement. You wanted me to learn to fly, but I wanted to learn that from you, in our Tri-Pacer. I was going to finish my degree while you got your Certified Flight Instructor rating. We were in the middle of remodelling the house together. We always consulted each other, about everything.

    Photography just doesn’t feel the same anymore. My travel pictures are what caught your eye first in the online communities, but after all our trips together and how much you taught me and supported my photographic work, I feel very empty knowing I can’t share it with you anymore. (more…)

    Previous in series

    Next in series

    Category Letters to David, Loss, Photography | Tags: | 6 Comments

  2. For Sale: 1954 Piper Tri-Pacer

    January 18, 2006 by Gail

    Yesterday I went to Skyhaven Airport in Tunkhannock (north of here) with a pilot friend to discuss specs on the Tri-Pacer with a mechanic who’s very familiar with them. It’s a restored model from 1954, and FAA regulations require detailed logs on everything: engine, airframe, and pilot. Not being a pilot, I needed assistance in deciphering the many industry acronyms. We also needed more information about characteristics specific to this model of Tri-Pacer for the purpose of maintenance and fielding questions from prospective buyers.

    If you’re at all interested in history, it’s quite fascinating to flip through the pages of the logbooks and read the story of an airplane over 50 years. The aviation industry is highly regulated, and numbers are tracked meticulously. Unlike auto mechanics, airplane mechanics must sign off on all of their work and are thus held accountable (wish it were like that for cars, too!).

    Back in February, David wrote a post about 02P’s history: (more…)

    Category David's Writing, Flying | Tags: | 5 Comments

  3. More Photography Nudges

    January 18, 2006 by Gail

    Lo and behold, another reminder in the Inbox to keep taking photos: (more…)

    Category Photography | Tags: | 4 Comments

  4. Trying to Get Back Into Photography

    January 18, 2006 by Gail


    hope springs eternal

    Pentax K-1000

    The local photography club sent me a sympathy bouquet on December 19. I’d only attended one meeting (Dec 7), but David and I were looking forward to their Christmas party Dec 18th at Old Forge. I barely recall leaving a choked-up message the next day to explain our absence.

    The flowers lasted several weeks and I was about to toss them out, but the burgundy caught my eye and I took a photo. But my heart was heavy and I wasn’t really into it. The Pentax felt like it weighed a hundred pounds, too.

    I made a more concerted effort to take pictures last Sunday, in Nay Aug Park. I’ll scan some of the photos and post them later.

    Category Photography | Tags: | No Comments

  5. Dealing With Grief Through Literature

    January 18, 2006 by Gail

    So far, the Jenny has been the easiest of David’s possessions to part with, because Bill and David worked on it together. I didn’t have to think twice about what to do with it, but with everything else I’ve felt torn between being emotional and being practical. I’m usually a very practical person, but I’m on the verge of tears every time I look at David’s things. Sometimes it’s unbearable and I have to leave the room.

    Last week I received a couple of books on grieving from my best friend, Lucy, in England. I’m reading both simultaneously, one as a reference book and the other from the beginning. One is the book “On Grief and Grieving” by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler, which I’m jumping around in, and “Death and How to Survive It: A unique, practical and uplifting guide to coming to terms with the loss of your partner” by Kate Boydell, which I’m finding very applicable to my situation since she lost her husband when he was 37 and she was 33. You may recall I linked to Ms. Boydell’s website in this post from Dec 26. Lucy — bless her heart — went to the website and ordered the book for me.

    I’ve only managed to get to one therapy session with the hospice social worker (I was in a meeting with the lawyer when the group session took place last week), which I found helpful but lacking in some ways if I compare it to literature: (more…)

    Category Loss | Tags: | 2 Comments