The Mitt

By now you have heard that Mrs. VFR and I are moving to Michigan. It is probably fair to say this is as big a surprise to us as it is to everyone else. Amid finding a place to live and making moving arrangements, there have been a few times that we've looked at each other and said, "Can you believe we're moving? ... To Michigan?"

It is fair to say we're a bit blindsided by this new reality, but we are very excited. It's a great town, great job, great paper. I don't think I could have envisioned a better overall situation. We're ready to dive in head-first.

A couple people have asked how and when this all came about. I sent in my stuff a while ago, and got the first phone call a couple of days before the Nov. 4 event. There was a hiatus for about 10 days, then it progressed once things settled down. We visited in late November. The offer came about 10 days later.

A couple people have also asked what all this means for flying. It means that I'm going to stop considering it as a career and return it to favorite hobby status. At this point, it wouldn't make sense to go from square 11 in journalism back to square one in aviation.

I will most certainly keep all of my licenses current and use them often to travel around our new state. I've already checked out a few landing strips in the area.

Once I settle into the new gig, maybe I'll even look to do a little freelance instruction if the opportunity presents itself. We'll see. Right now, my focus is on the new job and helping Mrs. VFR get settled.

So that probably spares all of you future snooze-inducing posts on stall-spin dynamics and acronyms like TOMATO FLAMES plus FLAPS and GRABCARD in FAR 91.205 (c) and (d).

You may even be rewarded by the move, because it will only enhance my music-related entries. Out here, I can only count Big Head Todd and the Monsters and The Fray as hometown influences.

In Michigan, we will be in the home of Motown, The Supremes, Gladys Knight and The Pips, Bob Seeger, Madonna, Eminem, Ted Nugent of Damn Yankees fame, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and The Jackson 5. Not saying I'm a rabid fan of all those, but when you put that group up against the Colorado exports, it's a slam-dunk.

Our movers arrive one week from today. We will hit that sweet highway, as Dave Brown would say, the day after Christmas.

Hope you all have a great holiday.