Benjamin Barlow

It’s been two months, I know, but there was a purpose. I did not feel comfortable keeping on with this while briefly unemployed. It would look awfully silly to be carrying on about going to New York City/DC, Flying a plane, and Washington State while not working.

But I was offered, accepted, and started a job! I am thoroughly happy with the situation. So I am now going to carry on all about the stuff I should have carried on about.

First things first, New York City! Amber and I did spend quite a bit of time early May in DC and took a 30 hour trip up to NYC. We got on the bus early (like 6am) and got up there at just before noon. We dropped off bags at the Millennium Hotel on Times Square, went up the Empire State Building, went to the Broadway show Cabaret, got program signed by some of the cast (including Alan Cummings!), visited Strawberry Fields in Central Park, ate at the Hard Rock on Times Sq, enjoyed dessert at Junior’s famous NY Cheesecake, roamed around Times Sq at night (very bright), slept, saw Good Morning America in progress, went to Battery Park and got on the boats to Liberty Island with Lady Liberty and Ellis Island, saw the Wall Street Bull, stood near the base of One World Trade Center, walked by Trinity Church, ate at NYC’s famous Pizza Suprema and rode the Subway many times in between.

Now that show? Cabaret? It was an absolutely incredible experience. It is far-and-away the #1 show on my long list of favorite shows. It feature my absolute favorite performer. It also had a fellow North Crawford Alum in the show. The lighting, sound, choreography, direction, just everything was absolutely stunning. An experience that will forever rank among my top 10, easily.

On to the next, on, on to the next one…

I FREAKING FLEW A PLANE! It was a Beechcraft Sundowner and had been planning it for months after Amber got this experience as a birthday gift last September. We got there, went over the flight plan/weather/wind/etc with the instructor, took a tour of the aircraft, took a tour of the controls, and actually took off!

Now, I have exaggerated the amount I actually had control over the controls, but I really did spend a good chunk of time with sole control of the aircraft. I didn’t do much taking off or any at all landing, which is not something I would want to do much with… but in between. It was crazy cool. The craziest, most uncomfortable part? Banking! To be in a small aircraft banking, it feels so… unusual. Like really being titled was really bizarre.

Now we flew out of Chicago Executive Airport, straight to Lake Michigan, Flew about a few football fields over,  turned toward the Chicago skyline, turned back, and retraced the flight.

Just Awesome.

Next most amazing experience? I spent a week out in Washington State and spent most of the days checking out the most amazing sights. It was my first time being West of the Minnesota.

Due to the sudden fatigue, I’ll expand on that whole adventure for next time. Until then…