The Kirby Krew!: Frequent Flier Update.

On January 2^nd, I chronicled the flights that I have under my wing since leaving Minnesota in July. Today I landed back in in Kivalina for potentially the last time. Next time I shove off from the Rock and in to the friendly skies, I won’t be returning. Not anytime soon anyway. I am less than 4 weeks from being homeward bound.

I have learned a valuable life lesson though. The easiest way to avoid collecting on that additional Life Insurance plan that’s deducted four bucks from my monthly paycheck is to matchup the same number of landings as takeoffs.

Red Dog to Kotzebue 4/17/16

It’s that easy.

Here’s my flight log – continued.

Kivalina to Ambler & Ambler to Kivalina. (Bball – Jan.)

Kivalina to Noatak & Noatk to Kivalina. (Bball @ SIVU – Jan.)

Kivalina to Kiana & Kiana to Kivalina. (Bball – Jan.: weathered in and extra day)

Kivalina to Noorvik & Nororvik to Kivalina. (Bball – Feb.: weather in 2+ days.)

Kivalina to Selawik & Selawik to Kivalina. (Bball – Feb.)

Kivalina to Kotzebue & Kotzebue to Kivalina. (Bball – Mar. @ Regionals.)

Kivalina to Kotzebue – snowmobile to Selawik (Week of R&R for Spring Break.)

Selawik to Kotzebue & Kotzebue to Kivalina (Spring Break trip “home”)

Kivalina to Kotzebue. (Red Dog Mine/Science class meet up – April)

Kotzebue to Red Dog & Red Dog to Kotzebue. (Red Dog Mine Teacher Trip. – April)

Kotzebue to Noatak to Kivalina. (Red Dog trip “home”.)

While on the final approach to the runway in Kivalina this afternoon, I realized that it was truly my Final Approach. If everything goes as planned. I am here on the Rock for only a handful more experiences. The next time I wrestle on that lap belt while trying to listen to the Safety Brief, I can go in to my regular routine of the Lord’s Prayer followed by asking for a Safe Take Off, Flight and Landing knowing that I will be South East Bound and Down and not flying Round Trip.

Paying particular attention to the landings to take off ratio has given me great joy…no where near as comparable as to what I expect to feel when my family awaits.