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I must explain the significance of the United States Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. Every male in my family is completely and utterly fascinated with airplanes (except maybe my nephew Spencer, it was probably his quiet way of rebelling), my father and eldest brother, especially. When we lived in Richmond we OFTEN took day trips to the Air Force Museum in Dayton. Later, even after my immediate family no longer lived in Richmond, Bobby got a job in Dayton at NCR and lived there a few more years. Every visit to Bobby and Karen meant a trip to the museum. I knew my way around that place when I was about five years old and because I could read and was frequently an unsupervised child I would wander the museum and read all the cards of the displays that interested me. I read all about Glen Miller, the Wright brothers, wind tunnels, the things prisoners of war did for entertainment and survival, which celebrities served in the armed forces, how much a cargo plane could hold - all the things that interested ME. It was just like any old museum to me, but with a lot of cool airplanes. When Emily and Michael were little children I often took day trips with them - usually to state parks or historical sites, the zoo or children's museum on free days, things like that. One weekend when Michael was three or four I decided we would do the Air Force Museum for a day trip. We got there and I planned to check out my usual displays and Michael could see some cool airplanes. He was already pretty fascinated with them (the Pechin genes), as well as tractors (if you only knew how many times we read the page on "The Combine Harvester" in The Way Things Work... sigh....). Well when we got there we started out by walking the grounds and Michael kept saying, "Look at all the rockets!" I had to explain over and over again that they were not rockets, they were missiles. "What's a missile, Mommy?" "Well, Michael, it's kind of like a rocket, but it carries a BOMB in it to blow things up." It slapped me in the face that I had spent my childhood in this shrine to war and murder and never noticed until my little child pointed it out... I don't want to debate war or the need for a military. I am not into that kind of debate. I just realized that I had always chosen the things that interested and entertained me and never realized what this was - a government-sponsored site to promote the military.
On my trip to Ohio, after I finished the Richmond portion I still had plenty of time until dinnertime. I decided to go back to the Air Force Museum and see what it is like now. I hadn't been since that time Michael was little so 13-14 years ago. The first thing I noticed as I entered is that there are no longer countless missiles on the grounds pointed toward the sky. There is one big cargo plane (a C- 41, I think) that people can enter and see how big the hold is (I think - I did not go up to it.), and maybe one other plane. I also noticed as I parked that there is a new park-like feature on the grounds which carries various monuments to veterans and those who have served in different capacities. I did not walk the grounds to see because I was afraid the museum would close soon and I would miss the interior, in which I was most interested. The information above is based on signage and a cursory glance toward the interior of the park.
When I entered in I saw that there is now an IMAX theatre. Someday I would like to go back and see what they show. Then I entered the museum proper. Much of it is still the same - indeed the very same displays from 30 - 35 years ago. The first picture above is a bike from the Wright brothers' bike shop.
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So next time - the social part of the journey. We're getting there.
In other news - Michael arrived safely in Japan. The time there is 11 hours ahead of me, so currently it is 11:12 pm on Tuesday. He is on a train to Akihabara where he will probably walk the Gardens of the Imperial Palace. Later in the day he trains to Gotemba and sleeps at the Gotemba Station hotel.
Work was okay. Pam and Joyce did a good job on the counter customers and keeping things filed for me while I was gone. They said all the crazy people came in on Thursday and Friday and then they REALLY wanted me back! I felt calm today and managed to take a lunch, although very late. This evening I weeded and pruned for about two and a half hours and it felt great. Tomorrow I will probably not garden. I plan to go to the county Fair and eat a taco salad and at least take a "before" picture of my porch which I plan to start cleaning and making more attractive. I hope to find some nice porch chairs or a bench on clearance. It is about that time of year!
3 comments:
Forgive my laughter, Hopie, but for a minute I wondered whether it was Pam and Joyce or the crazy people who wanted you back. Maybe it's for having talked with my sister on the phone just now, laughing about a new television show and life in general. Some moments everything is funny to me.
I would like a copy of the picture of mom next to the blimp.
Heather
I bet the crazy people wanted me back just as badly as Joyce and Pam did. I already had one come in today and complain about the "new girls." The crazy people love me and although I do get frustrated dealing with them at times I am still grateful for their business that keeps me in a job.!
Heather - I plan to start sorting through those pictures little by little and boxing them in different categories to start out. I will probably find that one again soon. It must be near the top because I know I have seen it recently.
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