Storytelling can often bring family members closer or at least back on level ground. Often just chatting about memories brings up how varying the recall is based on our perspectives. Sometimes enough people involved in one incident can sound like multiple different incidents. Adults and children have unique perspectives of the same moment. The adult will recall and know things that are often hidden from the child maybe for their protection sometimes just things the adult doesn't realize the child isn't aware. The child can be left with a certain take on an incident that will shape how they view future similar experiences.
Showing my mom my writings brought out her telling of her perspective of the same experiences. It certainly changes my perspective of the events.
I recall flying with mom in the Citabria which I recall it being dark and knew there was weather. I didn't know yet that this could be a bad thing. I remember singing a lot as a little kid, usually when I was unable to be reading a book (my other love affair..books). So since I entertained myself well enough I sang on that trip. I don't recall why we were flying off in the dark, but I never thought it unusual either. This might have been one of those refresher courses she often had to attend and I often went along. I know I was singing loud enough to hear myself since I had no headset. Funny to realize how much everyone flew without headsets back then. Mom usually checked on me every so often so I never thought about her asking me if I was ok, or even considered the question as odd. Asking me to sing a little quieter was par for the course.
Mom on the other hand recalls things slightly more detailed. It was an early morning flight to one of her refresher courses. The weather drops into low clouds as well as storm forecasted to. No worries, just low ceilings in a minimally equipped plane. She found herself extra busy and more than a little worried not so much because of the weather, but that the gyros had failed. Not the easiest under decent conditions, dark, low ceilings and weather and your only child in the backseat who sounds like she is crying (further proof I shouldn't sing), yeah no stress. She really thought I was as scared as she was, and when she finally got a moment to check on me only to realize I was just singing to my hearts content oblivious. Retrospectively was probably a good thing I was not worried about anything, one less thing on her list of 'to deal with.' she did ask me to hold it down a little.
We did come back the airport safe and sound obviously. One might say I was a very trusting child to just accept that they would deal with whatever and all was going to be perfect, but I can say this was just one of many incidents where along the way I learned to be calm in the face of danger and panic on the ground. I learned from the example they set and perhaps a little of a childs natural intuition.
Comparing our various memories of aviation is an eye opening experience which now has me sharing with my children and seeing the unique perspective of the world and how I shaped (warped) their views. How do your kids/ family view your world?
