Digging in the Dirt almost cost me my Soul !
The story of one man’s “escape”
Every real pilot has a dream, live on an airport or better still have a runway and/or heliport at your home. Think of it. Up in the morning, out the door, into the chopper and away for the day. What could be better!
When the time comes to purchase a new home or piece of property to build, the underlying motive whether conscious or not, is how are the approaches - clear of obstacles? If not, can I clear a path? Where will the hanger be? I can put a pad here and easily land on my new dolly and simply slide the chopper in and out. Too easy! All these questions, but I can overcome.
Take my case - I got lucky. I found 22 beautiful treed acres, 1700 foot grass runway, a hanger, some fencing, 2500 feet of driveways and the nearest neighbor lived 1500 feet on the other side of the woods. What could be better - NOTHING! All that was needed was a little fix up here, a little touch up there and Walla - instant perfection.
I’d seen it before, but it couldn’t happen to me - man digs in the dirt and stops flying - beyond comprehension. Not me - I’ve got it made! Runway behind the house, hanger beside the house, just a little work and everything would be grand!
The TRAP!
With terrific enthusiasm - attack - make it perfect! Lots to do - where to start? Park the chopper - let’s see - need a dolly - OK build one. It shouldn’t take more than a few days. Oh damn - the runway needs mowing - go buy a tractor and mower - 7 acres of grass to mow - how long can it take? Back to the dolly. Rain - this is the northwest. The drainage isn’t right - must clean out the ditches. Buy a backhoe and dig ditches - How long can it take? Back to the dolly. What now - potholes in the driveways - Buy a dozer - grade the driveways - How long can it take? Runway needs mowing again - How long can it take? Back to the dolly. What now! The taxman says if you don’t have animals - you don’t have a farm - no farm = big taxes.
Buy cows, goats, pigs - fences need mending - how long can it take? Buy fencing and tools - fix the fence - mow the runway - grade the driveways - clean out the ditches - Pig’s pregnant - fix up the barn and pig pen - How long can it take? Buy more stuff! What do you mean - the runway needs mowing again - how did the cows break the fence?
We should clear more land and erect another building - we’ve got too much stuff - How long can it take? Can I get back to the dolly?
During all this time, the chopper is sitting outside on the trailer - we’ll get the damn dolly finished. Perfection and peace will once again be in my life.
Calls from friends “ We’re going to the John Day - should be a lot of fun “
“How long can it take? “
“Three or four days, it’ll be a blast! “
“Three or four days! - don’t you know I’ve got to cut the runway, fix the fence, work on the barn, clear some land, move some trees and get the damn dolly finished! I don’t think I can go, besides the driveway needs grading again and somebody ran into the gate - Maybe next time. “
Fix the gate - Buy a welding machine. Make a new gate - How long can it take? What do you mean we need more ditches - the well has gone dry! Fix the well - How long can it take?
“ Hey, do you want to go fly the ‘Coulees’ in eastern Washington. Just a few days - It’ll be great fun.”
“ Maybe next time, I’ve just got to get this dolly finished and need to put more power to the hanger, the welder doesn’t work properly. - How long can it take? Call me next time, I’d love to go - should be caught up by next spring.”
Damn - helicopter is still outside, dolly’s not done - runway needs mowing - ditches again - weeds growing along the driveways and ditches - need a sprayer - Buy a sprayer and lots of Round Up - How long can it take?
You know I’m not using the chopper - should probably sell it - need the money for the new building and the contractor. Anyway, I need to fix the gate down by the barn - first the wiring - need to weld. Need to install another power pole - How long can it take?
If I could just finish the damn dolly I could get the rest of this stuff done and maybe, just maybe go flying - Gosh, do I remember how? It’s been a while. I’ll just mow the runway, grade the driveways, mend the fence, clean out the ditches, burn the trees and brush from the land clearing, put up the new pole, fill the well, weld the gate, run new power and I’ll be good to go! How long can it take?
“Would you like to come flying this weekend. A bunch of us are going down to the ‘Head of the Mettolious’ - you know where the water just comes out of the ground and forms a river - wonderful thing to see and then we plan to fly around the ‘Sisters’ and just have a wonderful time!”
“Sounds great, but I’ve just got to mow the runway and get to the animal auction and I heard about a tractor for sale. Besides I’ve got a guy coming to look at the chopper - he’s interested in buying it. Thinks he might take the trailer and the motorhome as well. Maybe next time - Thanks anyway.”
To paraphrase, mowing the grass, fixing the fences, grading the driveway, digging the ditches, clearing the land, planting the trees, etc. etc. etc. can be referred to as “Digging in the Dirt”
Although, in and of itself “Digging in the Dirt” is not a bad thing, it can and will consume you. At some point you will sell your chopper and you will just “Dig in the Dirt”
I’ve seen it before. JL, CJ, LW and SJ all pilots - not just pilots, but chopper pilots. All had their own choppers, all fixed up their homes with hangers, pads and a great system for flying in and out of their very own home heliport. But somewhere along the way they fell victim to “Digging in the Dirt”. There is always something to do. Besides the usual, mowing, grading, mending, planting etc. there is yet another thing that must be done. It is often referred to as the “Honey Do List” - Yes you know the one - no matter how much of it you get done, it never gets any shorter. After all, how long can it take?
I’ve seen it, You’ve seen it, the only solution is to sell your chopper so that you will have more time to “Dig in the Dirt”.
THIS IS NOT A SOLUTION - YOU CAN BE SAVED!
Why did you buy a chopper in the first place? Freedom - your very own magic carpet. To see things nobody else gets to see - to go places nobody else gets to go. Passion - you don’t just have an intense interest in aviation - you are a chopper pilot - you are aviation! It’s your life - it’s your soul - it’s your reason for being. There is nothing like it and you know it. If you couldn’t fly your chopper, why would you go to work?
Yet it happens - “Dig in the Dirt” or Fly. Even in the best of families the choice is made - Sell the chopper - “Dig in the Dirt” - thus your soul has been taken away and a part of you dies. You can however, be saved - after all “how long can it take?”
I was almost lost! It was late one evening, I was fixing something (Digging in the Dirt) and planning tomorrow’s day of Digging in the Dirt - when, what appeared to be a complete stranger rode up to the house - How did he get through the gate? - is it broken again? I recognized the voice but for the life of me could not remember this strange figure - leather clothes, helmet, gloves - everything including the Harley - Why was he here? - What did he want? I guess I would listen, after all - how long can it take?
He explained to me that I really didn’t need to mow the runway - heck, I didn’t even own an airplane. Dig ditches - if the water is higher than the grade - the ditch is useless and moreover, after the flooding, it goes away and if all else fails - water runs downhill. Why do you have tractors parked in an aircraft hanger? Move them out and protect the chopper! After all, how long can it take? He asked about the cows - where are they? In the freezer - so you really don’t have to mend fences! The conversation went on like this for a couple of hours and each time I spoke about digging the dirt the stranger’s response was always the same - if you dig in the dirt - your soul will be lost!
The next day I awoke renewed - knowledge is power! Dig in the Dirt or Fly? Stupid Question! I must Fly, as you must fly; it is part of us - our very soul!
Out to the trailer - spread the wings - preflight - start and go! I still know how to do this! Fly - be free - this is what has been missing from my life - my soul has been restored. Get on your magic carpet and ride. After all, how long can it take?
I have since discovered the “LIST’ never seems to get any longer or shorter - it always stays about the same. Near the end, you’re not going to look back and say “I should have worked harder” or “I should have spent more time “Digging in the Dirt”. You’re going to say “I wish I’d seen….” or “why didn’t I go here and do…” or why didn’t I try…”. So you might just as well go flying every chance you get or you may find yourself “Digging in the Dirt” After all, how long can it take?
Carpe Diem!
