Adventures In The Desert

Dear Mom and Dad,

I landed my plane in the desert. It was a safe landing. I could not go another mile without gas. I had to land.

Well, someone will find me before too long. I have my plane to keep me safe until I am found. I shall withstand.

I have supplies and food to last me until I am rescued. When that runs out I have some ability to live off the land, although water is a problem.

Water is my limiting factor. Can I find a water source in the desert? I have such little experience with the desert. I feel so dumb.

If someone doesn't find me, I am in big trouble. People know my route as I had to register that and it should help, as I didn't go off course.

It will be important to relax and don't use my energy. I wish I had a camel or even a horse.

Relax and save yourself. Maybe I could take a nap. I won't be missed yet for awhile. It is so hot!

How could I mistake how much gas I had to get to where I was going. I am going to rot!

After dark, I will try to make a fire as a signal. I will make it in the shape of help. Maybe I can look around the area for a water or food source.

Yes, I will take a nap. I am so glad I didn't crash land. Now I just have to stay the course.

How do people survive in the desert anyway? They don't right?

Go to sleep and do what you can tonight!

I wish I had paid attention to you Dad when you wanted me to watch all those shows with you on survival and the shows about the desert.

They find cacti and cut it to eat and drink from. I even saw someone make a cactus dessert when watching cooking shows with Mom.

As soon as it got dark, I began my hunt for wood or anything that I could burn, including materials in the plane. Passenger seats went too.

Before lighting the fire, I went around the perimeter looking for cactus, and other signs of life. Nothing, but I had those seats to burn - two.

So, I went for it! And once I started the fire, and ate my dinner, making sure to eat just what I thought I could afford to eat in a cup.

I sat down and shed a few tears and I took time to beat myself up.

My fire worked! I am found! I did something right. Here they come in for a landing and I will be out of here anytime now.

They had extra gas on board and helped me to put some in my tank and get my plane started and off we were in less than an hour. Wow!

As we landed at our destination there was a news crew there to take my story. I knew I had to be humble and not take a bow.

It was my mistake not filling my tank with gas and it was dumb luck that I had the material to make a fire to be found.

And here I was, exactly where I set out for only several hours later than expected. When I got out of the plane I did kiss the ground.

The next morning the paper had a statement that made it sound like I was a hero. I was quoted as saying, that it is search and rescue that are the heroes we can for sure depend.

They went on to quote me - I did bumble that one. If it wasn't for them I would be dust in the wind, but their statement was better and I will get that too by the end.

Would adventures in Alaska have been the kind of adventure where I would feel like I did in the desert all chagrined?

This is what the paper said: Engulfed in the desert's parched silence, I was nothing but another grain of sand in the wind.