THE BACKSTORY
Saying YES is a powerful thing!
UNEXPECTED VISITORS
It all started with two strangers showing up at my farm…..
The farm I used to own had a Bed & Breakfast. We were a working farm, not a drop-in kind of place, and guests made reservations online.
One day I unexpectedly see two strange men walking around the farm and I go and see if they need assistance. They are looking for a room for the night, toothbrushes, and a pick-up from the local airfield later in the day.
Hmm… two men, one with a heavy Russian accent, no luggage, pilots: “YES!”
NEW PERSPECTIVES
When I go to pick them up I learn that Max is a private jet pilot out of Moscow. He is the instructor to Alexei, a banker from Moscow, who is here to pass his instrument rating exam.
They had flown out of Ft. Lauderdale in morning, received a radio message that the president would be flying in, and learned they couldn’t return that day. They flew into our local airport instead, Googled B&B… borrowed a car… and ended up at Paradise Farms.
Max offers to take me up in the two-seater Cessna. I mention I had taken flying lessons when I was young and Max lets me take off!
We fly over my farm as the sun is setting - what a rush it is to see my land from high above.
CAMPFIRE STORIES
Later, around the campfire with other B&B guests, Alexie and Max share stories and… of course… the Russian way to drink vodka!
Max and Alexei end up staying a couple of days and are so much fun! Alexi is a larger than life gregarious person and after they leave I miss their fun spontaneous energy.
Several days later I get a text message from Max “Can you meet us at Homestead airport?” I get there and Alexei proudly shows me his certificate: he has successfully passed his pilots exam.
SAYING YES
I am to be his first passenger on a night flight into the executive airport on the north side of the very busy Miami airport and now without Max at his side. I say “YES!”
It is amazing to see Miami up close at night from the air.
We arrive at the airport and Max, who has driven my car, is already there to greet us. I ask him how is it that he arrives before us when we are going fast in an airplane and he has rush hour traffic to negotiate. His proud response is “I’m Russian”.
We then drive to the departure terminal at MIA to see Alexei off on his flight back to Russia.
SERENDIPITY
This whole exercise to pick me up was so I could join in on waving Alexei off at the airport. Later, after Max departs, I drive home feeling like I’m still flying and cherishing an invitation from Alexi to come to Russia.
A year later I have the opportunity to go to Florence as part of Lenoir-Rhyne University’s creative writing class. It’s a great opportunity but it’s not an adventure as I had been to Florence before. I can’t imagine going all that way without an adventure…
I reach out to Alexei and say I’ll be in the neighborhood - could I come visit? Alexei immediately responds: “Yes come!”
Russia, here I come!