Shoup Airlines

August 14th, 2000

We spent the entire day yesterday travelling. Up by 6am, we packed, showered and cleaned house before saying our final goodbyes. At 8am we headed for the market where the women went nuts trying to buy inexpensive furniture and then later realizing they couldn’t bring it on the airplane. Bummer. I got some souvenirs for family and friends and nearly bought some Cuban cigars but figured with my luck would have them confiscated at Customs. So I got some Honduran cigars for El Forke Grande when Judd gets into town.

From the market we rushed to the airport and waited two hours to check in. Finally checking in at 12:15pm we barely caught our 12:25 departure for Houston. The flights back were pretty uneventful. Customs didn’t even check our bags so I was rather pissed I didn’t get those Cubans. Those Honduran cigars were probably some of the worst as Judd can attest to.

On the flight into Minneapolis we got to watch one of the most beautiful sunsets any of us have ever seen. After having just passed through a couple thunderstorms, the sun was half set and Venus was burning bright on the horizon. As the sun finally set, rays of light pierced upward into the darkening horizon, turning it from a deep blue to a rich violet and finally into a pitch black night sky with stars ablaze. Seemed similar to one of those clips of sunrises and sunsets you see in NASA videos. It’s events like this that really make a pilot love his job. ed. note That was as true then as it is today. I saw some of the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises from the sky while at an airline.

Once in in Minnie, we grabbed the van and headed for home. Almost five hours later, I walked into the apartment at 3:30am! A very long dad indeed. Back to the grind tomorrow, standardization in the Seminole (multi-engine trainer), students needing to be caught up or finished up and Judd needs to be picked up.

Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done!

Revelations 22:12