My mind seems to have been on an emotional roller coaster these past few months. Then I logged in after a couple of weeks off...and saw this...
When Wayne Westerman sold his 182, it was very difficult for me to wrap my head around the fact that Wayne, of all people, would hang up his flying hat. However, the grace with which he worked through the sale of his plane, and the friendship that remained as strong as ever was a testament to the depth of his soul, the strength of his character, and his life-long love affair with flying. Jim, you don't have Wayne's gray hair, but you sit at the same campfire.
I'm late to the fray, but Jim, you owe no apologies. Sierra was/is a labor of love for you. Even while thinning the herd, your care and compassion run at the forefront of your decision tree. Just as you had no problem emotionally and financially working your way, dollar by dollar, upside down into that airframe (and you can't forget Queenie), there is a select group of individuals who want to love a Sierra, and have the means to do just what you did, but not the wherewithal to spend years poring over an airframe and restoring her to better than new, better than anything else on the planet level. They/he/she will be happy to write that check. And no, they won't need financing.
List it for a price just about level with the moon and expect to be impressed.
Still saddens me a bit, and I just can't put my finger on it.
