X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Received: from mx2.netapp.com ([216.240.18.37] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 5.2.11) with ESMTPS id 3395705 for flyrotary@lancaironline.net; Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:58:54 -0500 Received-SPF: softfail receiver=logan.com; client-ip=216.240.18.37; envelope-from=echristley@nc.rr.com X-IronPort-AV: E=Sophos;i="4.36,279,1228118400"; d="scan'208";a="103029033" Received: from smtp1.corp.netapp.com ([10.57.156.124]) by mx2-out.netapp.com with ESMTP; 24 Dec 2008 11:58:16 -0800 Received: from [10.62.16.115] (ernestc-thinkcenter-kubuntu64.hq.netapp.com [10.62.16.115]) by smtp1.corp.netapp.com (8.13.1/8.13.1/NTAP-1.6) with ESMTP id mBOJwGVS005053 for ; Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:58:16 -0800 (PST) Message-ID: <49529473.8050107@nc.rr.com> Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:58:43 -0500 From: Ernest Christley Reply-To: echristley@nc.rr.com User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.18 (X11/20081125) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Rotary motors in aircraft Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays References: In-Reply-To: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Ed Anderson wrote: > > Before my grandchildren descend on this household later today I just=20 > want to take the opportunity, while I have it, to wish all my =93Rotary= =94=20 > friends a Great Holiday. I truly enjoy our =93conversations=94. Though = > there are a number of you I have not personally met =96 yet, I think=20 > truly kindred spirits indeed are those who undertake this endeavor. > I would like to wish everyone the merriest of Christmases, and to that=20 end I would like to pass along this heat-warming internet story that was = recently passed on to me. May you always land heads-up and wheels down. In 1986, Peter Davies was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from=20 Northwestern University. On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant=20 standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, = so Peter approached it very carefully. He got down on one knee,=20 inspected the elephant=92s foot, and found a large piece of wood deeply=20 embedded in it. As carefully and as gently as he could, Peter worked the wood out with=20 his knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot. The=20 elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on its=20 face, stared at him for several tense moments. Peter stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled.=20 Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away. Peter = never forgot that elephant or the events of that day. Twenty years later, Peter was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his=20 teenage son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the=20 creatures turned and walked over to near where Peter and his son,=20 Cameron, were standing. The large bull elephant stared at Peter lifted=20 its front foot off the ground and then put it down. The elephant did=20 that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the ma= n. Remembering the encounter in 1986, Peter could not help wondering if=20 this was the same elephant. Peter summoned up his courage, climbed over=20 the railing, and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to=20 the elephant and stared back in wonder. The elephant trumpeted again,=20 wrapped its trunk around one of Peter legs and slammed him against the=20 railing, killing him instantly. Probably wasn't the same elephant.