It was a defining moment. "Y" at one time was simply the 25th letter of the alphabet. In kindergarten, this was often represented by the little three-letter word "yak." Unannounced, and quite by surprise, an important shift occurs. This particular little noun springs into action, taking on a life of its own. The event transpires one hazy October afternoon.A former classmate has called to inform me of a local Commemorative Air Force gathering. Fly Day will be held on Sunday afternoon at the Livermore Airport. Bob Burnett disperses with a litany of information that the answering machine divulges freely. It terminates his conversation abruptly, however, just as he mentions, " ... and you especially want to know ... " He has discovered a sure-fire method for a return call.News is received of the celebrity line-up. A P-40 -- which alone would persuade me to embark on a much longer drive -- is among the honored guests.The Sunday afternoon in question has been reserved far in advance for a children's birthday celebration. As I receive directions to the party, I discover that only a few miles separate this occasion from the CAF event. Proximity unleashes an ever-hopeful spirit, willing to explore any excuse for a brief visit to view the planes.My arrival at the children's celebration finds that mature adults have graciously covered all of the bases. This allows me to be dismissed for a few hours of free time play. It has been suggested that I can go shop in the mall, or go to Starbucks. For me, the choice is delightfully clear -- I can go to the airport!
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/features/y-is-for-yak