John & Anne Wiley

2012/04/22

Dreams

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,Relationships,SB Region — John @ 22:17

I woke from flying dreams this morning, and they felt related to the passage of our Fathers. As I’ve described before, flying itself seems dream-related. So yesterday’s flight with friends was probably a catalyst for last night’s dreams too. Looking at pix from yesterday’s flight, it’s easy for me to see why flying and dreams can be so healing for me.

0054 Dreamscape

0054 Dreamscape

I can feel the refreshing air from the open window and I’m right back in Tripp over this Lompoc flower field. The colors, shapes and textures draw a deep nourishing breath of relaxation through my body and soul. I’m a child wandering that river bank.

0066 Quiet Hilltop

0066 Quiet Hilltop

I’m alone on a hill looking at the rusting water tank, strolling through the mustard flowers, and gazing out over the hills and valleys. And I’m a passing bird glancing at the lone figure.

0069 Crossing

0069 Crossing

The road across this creek evokes the sense of passage permeating my consciousness right now. Through the flow from one shore to another with Life all around.

0074 Greens

0074 Greens

Spring greens along our way filled my heart to overflowing with the healing joy of Life renewed. Climbing past the colors and shapes for the return home, the rolling hills hid our future in an inviting way.

0075 Here & Beyond

0075 Here & Beyond

2012/04/19

Scale

Filed under: Aviation,Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,People,Random,Relationships,SB Region — John @ 06:01

We returned from our very emotional and tiring trip to San Diego just before sunset, with our hearts full of appreciation for family and friends. We were well ready for rest and recuperation. It was a surprise then, as we taxied Tripp to her parking spot, to see this USAF plane that looks far to large for moving under its own power, much less flying. Yet fly it does, and pretty fast, with lots of big and heavy things inside. Take a long look at this pic for a sense of the scale of this thing.

1806 Big Bird Butt

1806 Big Bird Butt

Not just the people standing next to it. Check out the large jet at the left, that itself dwarfs our 4-passenger Tripp. Or the line of large tanker trucks on the right. At the same time, giving it a human scale is this other pic.

1807 Family Size

1807 Family Size

This big scary machine is operated by caring and warm-hearted people supported by their families and friends. It seems the crew, rarely landing at SBA where military planes from any service are unusual but USAF planes even more so, got permission to show off their bird. It was so sweet to see them all ogling it and looking in awe at what their loved ones operate. Seems to fit perfectly with our reaffirmation the last few days, of the value family and friends have in creating and sustaining a meaningful life.

May your family and friends always be the wind beneath your wings.

2012/04/17

Farewell Friend

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,People,Random,Relationships — John @ 06:58

I’ve always loved waves, and we’ve been riding some of the emotional kind. We said a fond farewell to Anne’s father and my dear friend John F. Humphrey. We each held one of his hands as the life gently left his eyes, and I asked what he could see. “Colors,” he said. After a long pause, “A pilot,” he added. We aren’t sure whether the pilot had come to fly him away, but from what we could gather in his broken sentences it seemed so. Today we joined with some family in a celebration of his life, and for me especially his joy of flight. More family and friends will gather again in a few weeks, for more tears and laughter.

Joyful John

Joyful John

He was learning to fly before WWII in this pic, and the delight just shines from every pore. In case you missed it, he’s the guy who went on to earn the DFC for some exceptional courage and flying skill including the “Bouncing Betty” story. Not long after I met him, we took him to see this visiting B-24 very similar to the PB4Y-1 he flew.

John At B-24

John At B-24

That light was still in him, especially when around (or better yet flying in) airplanes. A couple of years ago we flew him out to the Anza Borrego desert, and though he was reluctant I convinced him to take the controls for a few minutes while I consulted charts. I wish there were a way I could describe the change that came over him. Calm, alert, confident, in his element, and deeply content are words I could use. The essence was so strong though, that in such moments during our friendship I could clearly see the man in both of these pix. I love him, and miss him, more than all but a very few men I have known.

Clear skies and fair winds, precious friend and second father.

ps: we created a website in his honor at http://humco.wordpress.com/

2012/04/15

No Escape

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,People,Random,Relationships,SB Region — John @ 04:47

Long ago when I lived a winter in the woods far from any towns and 10 miles from the nearest neighbor, it was a surprise to learn that hunters on snowmobiles enjoyed coming to that area for their riding and shooting. I felt sad to learn that there is no escape from “civilization.” Now of course, I love living in sunny Santa Barbara and have no desire to “escape.”

This place might have been built back when I was in the woods, and gradually upgraded to the lovely escape it is now.

1407 Geodesic Home

1407 Geodesic Home

I thought at first it was an observatory, but looking at the full-res pic now it’s clearly an especially creative private residence in this neighborhood on a ridge this side of Santa Monica.

1408 Mountain Escape

1408 Mountain Escape

That’s the dome house just below center. Just out of frame to the left on the ridge is another structure I find interesting.

1400 Communication Problem?

1400 Communication Problem?

How do the people who have built their homes so far above the city, feel about the graffiti on this communication tower? How does the owner of the facility feel about vandals apparently being undeterred by the razor wire? Since there are no other apparent attempts to prevent or paint out the tagging, is there some sort of detente in place? Is there any contact between the residents, taggers, and tower owners? I wonder what if anything the taggers’ form of expression has to do with their powerful need to communicate their inner feelings and creativity. Maybe similar to my motivations in snapping this pic and typing these thoughts atop this little “hilltop” I’ve claimed in cyberia.

2012/04/13

Blooming Luck

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,Inner World,Nature,People,Random,Relationships — John @ 18:15

Coming home from Easter with family in San Diego we chanced to pass the famous flower nursery at Carlsbad Ranch on an especially clear day when some flowers were in peak bloom.

1530 Fun Flower Farm

1530 Fun Flower Farm

It was tempting to land and find a way to get there. If we’d had our “tweaky tandem” bike along, it would have been a great outing. As I circled waiting for other planes coming and going at nearby Palomar, the flowers and falls at the Crossings golf course were accented by wild mustard on the hillside.

1527 Crossings Colors

1527 Crossings Colors

At last cleared by the tower to cross the departure path of the runway, I flew directly over the flowers and snapped these with maximum zoom. Cropped down they give some sense of how magical it is to wander among the blooms.

1531 Childhood Enchantment

1531 Childhood Enchantment

The gentle mood of this pic is so refreshing. The girl standing and taking in the field of color is the stuff of dreams, and the rest of the family seems almost reverent. In the crops of the few snaps from our passage there are lots of cameras visible, and this is my fav pic of a pic.

1532 Moment In Time

1532 Moment In Time

Old family pix of ours often include strangers who happened to be in the background. As the entire world gets wired, it’s fun to imagine that someday soon their loved ones can google our pix and discover snapshots of long-lost friends and relatives who chanced to be there. Is this a honeymoon couple who will chance upon this pic found by their domestic robot to supplement their 50th anniversary in 2062?

« Previous Page — Next Page »

Blog at WordPress.com.