Ben Franklin, and a B-24

by Anna Arnett

"One today is worth two tomorrows.  Never leave to tomorrow what you can do today."  So said Ben Franklin, and if I hadn't read this recently, I'd be in bed now instead of trying to write this blog.  I'm as bone tired as I can remember.  

Okay, so I have a short memory.

Yesterday I drove with three of my children to Marana (near Tucson) so Wayne and Kat could hop a ride on the only B-24 that's still in flying condition.  Literally at the last minute, I heard, "Mom, there's room for you, too.  Do you want to go?" 

I couldn't say no to such a great opportunity, so instead I said goodbye to David.  

Everyone else ducked under the open bomb bay doors and easily climbed aboard.  I had to wait for someone to find steps  for me.  Even bending low posed a small problem for a hefty, old lady with a strained muscle in her left leg.  With many helping hands, I made it.

The hour flight from Marana to Glendale thrilled me.  Nothing plush, noisy, I stood by the large, open windows, my hair blowing everywhere, and occasionally had to hold my skirt down.  At only a thousand feet, I could pick out individual trees in an orchard.  

I thought of Charles, who had enjoyed piloting this same kind of bomber, and of my maternal grandmother born in covered-wagon times (1847) whose life span included an airplane ride.  I wrote pages about it in my journal, and would like to give you a short version of all I felt.   However, after yesterday's flight, today's Diamondback baseball game, and a three-hour writing class this evening, I'll simply have to change the focus on Ben Franklin's quote. 

 "Never leave to tomorrow the sleep you need today." 

Goodnight.