Monday, January 12, 2004
P.S. ON UNCLE ALFRED
Before we begin with uncle Email we have one little story about uncle Alfred that is too good to keep. I talked with my cousin Dale this morning and he related something I had never heard (or else forgotten) . I know you have seen movies of the old barn-storming days with flyers from WWI coming home and doing stunts around the country. They would fly into small towns and put up posters of their “air show” and also give rides for X-amount of money.
It seems uncle Alfred was privy to this and went out to the edge of town where the planes were gathered. He was looking a plane over when the pilot came up and with great bravado asked uncle Alfred what he thought about the plane. In his usual way, he thought long and hard before he made an answer………..”Weeelllllllpp!….I believe ………….I could fly this thing”. The pilot was amused and said, “well why don’t you get up in the thing and try?” Without a word, uncle Alfred climbed in and looked at the control panel for a little bit. The pilot is sneering with confidence and offers, "I'll even turn the prop for you." Oblivious to anything around him uncle Alfred reached for a knob, gave it a healthy pull and the engine started. The pilot was a little taken back but not impressed. While it was idling uncle Alfred continued looking at the panel…….he pulled another knob and the plane began slowly wobbling down the field. By now the pilot has his full attention on the situation at hand. As the plane got to the end of the field, to the horror of the pilot, uncle Alfred made a wide turn and after some hesitation, the plane started full-throttle towards him. By now the pilot was running towards the plane waving his arms but uncle Alfred increased his speed and flew over the head of the frightened man. He flew circles around the field for some minutes before setting the plane down once more on the landing field. Of course, there were a few bumps but he brought it back with a little dust knocked out of it and killed the engine. The greatly relieved pilot jumped up on the wing and yelled, “……..you S.O.B..!!! You did it!!!” Uncle Alfred crawled out of the plane, grinned at the pilot and said……..”yuuup”. He walked across the field, got in his car and drove off.
Some years later, my cousin Dale, had the opportunity to ask uncle Alfred about this. Dale had heard the story repeated many times by his Dad so he wondered if it were really true? Uncle Alfred thought about it for a while …….”yuuuup”. “Well, weren’t you scared?” Dale continued? Another hesitation…………..he sat smiling to himself studying his hands……then he looked over at Dale and said……..”nope”.
It is my desire to personalize our family as much as I can. The above story pretty well sums up our uncle Alfred. He truly was a quiet, humble man…..not given to wild stories and never bragging on himself. He lived his life……..he didn’t talk about it much.
Tomorrow, enter uncle Emil. Until then,
Essentially Esther
It seems uncle Alfred was privy to this and went out to the edge of town where the planes were gathered. He was looking a plane over when the pilot came up and with great bravado asked uncle Alfred what he thought about the plane. In his usual way, he thought long and hard before he made an answer………..”Weeelllllllpp!….I believe ………….I could fly this thing”. The pilot was amused and said, “well why don’t you get up in the thing and try?” Without a word, uncle Alfred climbed in and looked at the control panel for a little bit. The pilot is sneering with confidence and offers, "I'll even turn the prop for you." Oblivious to anything around him uncle Alfred reached for a knob, gave it a healthy pull and the engine started. The pilot was a little taken back but not impressed. While it was idling uncle Alfred continued looking at the panel…….he pulled another knob and the plane began slowly wobbling down the field. By now the pilot has his full attention on the situation at hand. As the plane got to the end of the field, to the horror of the pilot, uncle Alfred made a wide turn and after some hesitation, the plane started full-throttle towards him. By now the pilot was running towards the plane waving his arms but uncle Alfred increased his speed and flew over the head of the frightened man. He flew circles around the field for some minutes before setting the plane down once more on the landing field. Of course, there were a few bumps but he brought it back with a little dust knocked out of it and killed the engine. The greatly relieved pilot jumped up on the wing and yelled, “……..you S.O.B..!!! You did it!!!” Uncle Alfred crawled out of the plane, grinned at the pilot and said……..”yuuup”. He walked across the field, got in his car and drove off.
Some years later, my cousin Dale, had the opportunity to ask uncle Alfred about this. Dale had heard the story repeated many times by his Dad so he wondered if it were really true? Uncle Alfred thought about it for a while …….”yuuuup”. “Well, weren’t you scared?” Dale continued? Another hesitation…………..he sat smiling to himself studying his hands……then he looked over at Dale and said……..”nope”.
It is my desire to personalize our family as much as I can. The above story pretty well sums up our uncle Alfred. He truly was a quiet, humble man…..not given to wild stories and never bragging on himself. He lived his life……..he didn’t talk about it much.
Tomorrow, enter uncle Emil. Until then,
Essentially Esther
