A tall man waves vigorously at the Cessna plane taking off at the Turner County airport. It’s not a wave good-bye. Well, then again it sort of is a way good-bye.
You can’t see the big man’s eyes because he’s got sunglasses on as he watches the plane soar off. But, you know what those shades are hiding.
The tall man in sunglasses is watching a lifelong dream happen as the plane disappears from sight. The airplane trip, piloted by Jay Leatherwood, is a ride sponsored by the Ashburn Pilot’s Association. Seated next to Mr. Leatherwood is a special passenger. A passenger who is stooped over, and has a head covered with gauze, a medical bracelet on his right arm, a passenger who is getting a dream 80+ years in the making come true.
The special …show more content…
Tina Zabriskie, Mr. Z’s granddaughter films the ride from the ground. Nicholas Zabriskie, Mr. Z’s grandson rides in the plane’s back seat. The plane leaves the runway and Mr. Leatherwood pulls back on the yoke. The plane rises.
Craig Z waves as hard as he can.
THE NEXT MORNING
The next morning at the Zabriskie house, walking in the house from the shop out back, Craig Z said his dad had a wonderful time Thursday afternoon.
“He was grinning from ear to ear,” he said. Inside, Mr. Z is laying back in a recliner at the Zabriskie home. His nurses are leaving the house, having prepared him for another day.
“It was good. He took me for a nice ride. We got a good view of what Ashburn, Ga., looks like from the air,” he said.
The first destination in the air was the Z family house and the shop. From there, they flew around the County. Mr. Z said he saw “big drainage ponds somewhere.”
The afternoon ride was rescheduled from Thursday morning. Late Thursday morning the winds picked up. Mr. Leatherwood was concerned it would be too rough in the air for Mr. Z so the flight was rescheduled with hopes for calmer winds. “He was afraid of shaking me. He could have shaken me like a salt shaker and I would have gone,” Mr. Z
You can’t see the big man’s eyes because he’s got sunglasses on as he watches the plane soar off. But, you know what those shades are hiding.
The tall man in sunglasses is watching a lifelong dream happen as the plane disappears from sight. The airplane trip, piloted by Jay Leatherwood, is a ride sponsored by the Ashburn Pilot’s Association. Seated next to Mr. Leatherwood is a special passenger. A passenger who is stooped over, and has a head covered with gauze, a medical bracelet on his right arm, a passenger who is getting a dream 80+ years in the making come true.
The special …show more content…
Tina Zabriskie, Mr. Z’s granddaughter films the ride from the ground. Nicholas Zabriskie, Mr. Z’s grandson rides in the plane’s back seat. The plane leaves the runway and Mr. Leatherwood pulls back on the yoke. The plane rises.
Craig Z waves as hard as he can.
THE NEXT MORNING
The next morning at the Zabriskie house, walking in the house from the shop out back, Craig Z said his dad had a wonderful time Thursday afternoon.
“He was grinning from ear to ear,” he said. Inside, Mr. Z is laying back in a recliner at the Zabriskie home. His nurses are leaving the house, having prepared him for another day.
“It was good. He took me for a nice ride. We got a good view of what Ashburn, Ga., looks like from the air,” he said.
The first destination in the air was the Z family house and the shop. From there, they flew around the County. Mr. Z said he saw “big drainage ponds somewhere.”
The afternoon ride was rescheduled from Thursday morning. Late Thursday morning the winds picked up. Mr. Leatherwood was concerned it would be too rough in the air for Mr. Z so the flight was rescheduled with hopes for calmer winds. “He was afraid of shaking me. He could have shaken me like a salt shaker and I would have gone,” Mr. Z