Abstract: Have you ever made a decision that would end up nearly costing your life? And did you ever have regrets about making promises? For those who do and did, this lengthy novel with a somewhat misleading title may interest you. In fact, the "flying lessons" not only entails flying an airplane but also navigating through the temporal shores physically, existentially, and spiritually. The story begins with Lux Carey who is invited by his friend, Walt Sivaad, to join him on a veritable cross-country flight in a vintage aircraft and flying from the East Coast to the Northwest. Purposely not divulging the type of the airplane they would ferry for one of Walt's friends who owned the airplane, Walt counted on Lux's curiosity and intrigue to join him in the upcoming pilot's adventure of a lifetime' (Walt's added hype) . Other than a 'loosely' planned two-week getaway from Denver (where Lux lives) , Walt's invitation was intended for two specific reasons: First, Lux's continuing flight training toward qualifying for the ATP license (Airline Transportation Rating) . Second, Lux's marriage was faltering since the start of the year. Consequently, he thought getting Lux out of the house would be beneficial for both of them. Walt also counted on Lux would one day become a captain in the airline industry, the same as Walt's profession. Thus, the exacting excursion of some 3,000 miles would add over 100 hours of valuable training and experience in Lux's logbook. Moreover, they would take their time getting to their destination. Thus, taking their time and replicating early 20th-century aviation as so-called aviator 'barnstormers.'Given Walt's usual charm and persuasion, Walt was almost assured Lux and his wife, JoHanna, would come to an agreement. Thus, Lux would make the rendezvous where the trip would begin (North Carolina) .Initially, after hearing Walt's enthusiastic and tempting proposal, Lux soon had reservations about excepting the offer. As for the make and model of the airplane, Walt only mentioned that it was a WW II-era airplane in mint condition. Ergo, Lux would have to see the mystery aircraft when he got there. After deliberating the matter, including a couple of arguments with JoHanna (who was not enthused about Lux going away for so long) , Walt's bait and incentive worked. Later, when Lux saw the airplane in the hangar, his previous reservations and doubts were renewed. In fact, he heard a voice in his head shout, "Run away while you can!" Despite the owner's and Walt's enthusiasm for the 'limited performance' airplane, as well as his previous troubling premonitions and dreams he had in Denver, Lux walked out of the hangar and his mind was made up; that is, almost. When Walt pleaded with Lux to change his mind, Lux had a change of mine. Still, he remained tense and sensed the airplane would never make it to Seattle. Sitting in the front of the tandem-seat aircraft, recalls what the owner had mentioned the night before: "Grasshopper (the name of the airplane) should not be overloaded due to its limited power and performance specs." Lux realizes too late he made a bad decision. He also knows he will face the consequences because he did not listen to his warning. The title of FLYING LESSONS is instructive and metaphorical--instructive in view of flight training for Lux's anticipated career change, most of which centers on Lux's abiding and cogent friendship with Walt. There is also the sense of knowing his marriage is failing because of JoHanna's growing discontent with Lux's 'Bohemian lifestyle' (her words) compared to her stressful corporate banking career. The literal title of this two-volume treatise is apt. As Lux will discover, his literal fall from wings denotes his spiritual journey to the higher summit of his life.
