Did you read my Highwater Jamboree post? If you didn’t, here’s the link https://jtm2015.wordpress.com/2019/11/05/highwater-jamboree/ The first picture for that post was a helicopter. I didn’t elaborate on it because I wanted to keep the experience as a memory for myself however it is now relevant.

After making our way through the large vehicles at the jamboree, I spotted the police helicopter. Once I saw the pilot, I bombarded him with most of my big questions. He graciously answered all of them as well as providing encouragement to get my pilot license. I was beaming from ear to ear after our conversation and it made me even happier that I attended the Highwater Jamboree. What I didn’t know was that my husband spoke with the sergeant while I was talking to the pilot. Hubby jokingly asked about a ride along in the helicopter and the sergeant gave him his card and told him how to schedule the ride along. The sergeant let him know the wait could be a while but it could be possible to get in on a cancellation if there were any.

A few days later, hubby gets a call asking if we could make it and he jumped at the chance. All he told me was to be ready by 4:00pm and wear comfortable shoes. I thought he was taking me to a fun dinner so I did my makeup (rare), got dressed and put my wig on. Later on he told me my sister would be watching the kids so I got really excited thinking he was taking me a little farther than I anticipated. Finally he comes home, my sister arrives then we take off. I spent the entire drive trying to figure out where we were going. We chatted, made a few jokes then reached the area. I was still confused as the location didn’t really reveal much. Okay I might have been too excited to see the obvious. But once I saw the pilot I lost it!

We followed the pilot to his office, saw the inside, asked questions, signed paperwork and took a golf cart to the helicopter. We got a quick lesson on helicopter safety, I asked more questions then the water works started… I couldn’t contain my excitement. I should mention I don’t cry easily but fulfilling a bucket list item made me burst with emotions. As we were in flight, he showed us all kinds of cool things in our city including our house! We headed towards a neighboring city and he began to go over the controls. I was wondering why he kept going over the controls then he asked me the most amazing question. Would you like to fly? Needless to say I lost my mind and agreed possibly before he even finished. I confirmed the controls and proceeded to have the experience of a lifetime. I followed a river, looked at an amazingly perfect sunset and flew over beautiful homes.

These of course are just highlights but I had to share. Not only did I learn you can have a ride along in a police helicopter but I got the spark I needed to ignite my imagination and show me what was possible. I can be a pilot if I figure out how to pay for school while being a stay at home parent. I don’t know how but I’m sure I’ll eventually figure it out. What the future holds I don’t know but what I do know is thanks to my husband I enjoyed the ride along of a lifetime ❤