Once we were in the air the Major relaxed a bit but he was continually looking at the surrounding and must have checked the radar every minute. I was settled in and was just looking out the window and checking the instruments. The radar showed nothing around at our altitude but some commercial traffic below us. We were about 30 minutes into the trip when Jim looked over and asked kid, how are you doing and don't bull shit me? Jim, the week away really helped and the head doctor not so much. I know I have a solid team in place and you and Tim have my back, I just need to let go. Mike, what about your dad? Jim, he is who he is and I'll just let him go. I did something stupid last night and Megan blasted both of us. I just need to have him stay away from Kyle and Dillon. There will be issues but I'm done fighting with him. Megan is his third wife and he has finally chosen wisely and I don't want to fuck that up. Jim laughed and said well Megan is good for the 3 of you and she isn't someone to mess with. I laughed and said well, I found that out last night. Then Jim said Mike, take over as I need to use the toilet and I'll check on the dudes in the back.
Once the Major was back and situated I asked, so Jim why you doing this trip? Well Mike, I do need hours and I thought Cole and Liam needed a relaxed trip as it will be golf this week and an international flight and repeat. So why am I sitting here? Well, while you are jabbering I'm hoping you are flying the thing. I laughed and said, well actually George is flying. Jim laugh and said well, I wanted to see how you are doing and JJ said you really wanted to down to Blacksburg and as soon as we get the golfers situated we are going there. I have talked with Tim and that character Heidikamp. While I think he is an ass he does his job and you over pay him. Jim, he ran that program I set up with Highmark and the mini clinics and I'm betting that we will be selling those properties in about a year. That same program failed in Philadelphia. By the time it's done and over it will net 4 to 6 million. Mike, then there is the fact that I want to see JJ's living arrangement. I'm not ready to accept the athletic dorm bull shit. Well Jim, I need a secure place for business and can't be on the campus system for that and Coach has agreed. Mike, the second you walk on campus the Coach is going to have a different approach. This is the year he is rebuilding and you guys will be lucky to win 3 games. Everyone knows that and if this works we will all be spending the New Years welcoming 1994 in warmer climate, but you and JJ will be on the field. Mike, they have redshirted 7 people and have the best recruiting class in D1. I didn't say anything but knew he was right. Mike, I want to see the apartment and the hanger and I'm more concerned about the hanger than that additional pad.
Mike, I'm going to turn George off and we have a number of other things to discuss but we have all day and I hoping we can get all you want done and manage lunch as well. I'm hoping we can avoid the coaches. I laughed out loud and said well as soon as the jet with the tail number of NMJS2 lands at the airport some asshole named Scullen will call the athletic off and by the time we get the jet secured the entire staff will know I'm here. Jim just shook his head and said Mike, my jet. With Jim in control I said that I would be right back. I did need to piss but a quick chat with Cole and Liam was in order. In the back, I went right to the toilet but notice Liam was asleep and Cole was still looking over a course book. When I finished taking care of business and cleaned up I found Cole had put the reading material down and was waiting for me. So MJ, why did I get this very special trip? Cole, the Major needed hours and he is checking on me. Cole smiled and said well MJ, you do need a responsible male in your life. This shit with your day has been building and while he gave you a lot he got paid back and is way ahead of the game. I smiled and said Cole, for your mom's sake, stay out of it. They are good together and it's time for me to move on. MJ, move on? Well Cole, I'm not sure I'll be back in the apartment. I'll need to be in Virginia a lot for the next 3 years. So I'll be pretty much in and out. You will be gone a lot as well and that leaves our rents and Ashley. I smiled and said Cole, just ignore all the noise and win before the Masters. Cole smiled and said MJ, that's the plan and with the money from the Palmer and the Callaway contract and the Peter Millar contract and these super casual clothes and the money I only have to worry about golf. Then he laughed and said MJ, I'm planning on you flying me and Liam to Scotland for The Open. I just shook my head and rejoined Jim up front. The rest of the trip was all business and easily accomplished. We taxied to the terminal and Jim asked if we should get fuel here or in Blacksburg and I said here as I'm not sure how easy that will be in Blacksburg. Jim shook his head in agreement and went to arrange that. Cole and Liam also went inside and arranged the rental car for the trip to the hotel and to use for the week. I laughed as at 17 Cole was too young to rent a car. With every one back we unloaded the Jet and helped put the luggage in the trunk and back seat. Cole wanted to go right to the course but Liam said he wasn't going anywhere until they at. With all that accomplished and Cole and Liam on their way I went into the terminal and got two cups of coffee. When I returned Jim thanked me for the coffee and we waited for the fuel truck. That didn't take long and as we didn't have an account there I went inside and I used my personal card to pay for the fuel and our landing and takeoff fees.
We were third in line for takeoff which wasn't a surprise as being a Sunday a lot of executives were on their way to their Monday meetings. Once in the air I decided to start the conversation with Jim as I was sure he was concerned as JJ was moving to the next thing in his life. So Jim, why are you concerned about the living arrangements at VT? Mike, George is flying the Jet. Then he said well JJ needs to belong. In Texas it was a natural progression and once he felt be belonged he took over. I know he was running things back in Texas and that I needed him to find a new environment. That why coming here was perfect. JJ was pissed when we move here as nothing was the same for him. Mike, it seemed that the stars were aligned as you both were offered scholarships to VT and then your aunt and uncle were selling that house right near you and you JJ would be on the same high school team. I don't know why or how but it was great that you and JJ became great buds. I get the impression that you both have a dark side and yet you are more reserved than JJ and that rubbed off on him. I have no illusions that you are an angle but keep it well hidden. Mike, I'm grateful for what you did for Mr, the family and especially JJ. You also need to know that I'm not going to let you fuck things up and I will always have your back.
Jim, I don't know how to respond to that. I've never had anyone say that to me. I know there is always Tim but that is limited to business. We think a lot alike but I pay him well to keep me legal and that is important for a lot of reasons, down the road. So Mike, is Tim your "fixer". I laughed and said, God no, he stops things before things need fixed. Jim, I'm tough, I get my way more than a lot and people don't necessarily like me but they fucking respect me and that's all I want. The rest just follows. So Mike, when will you run for office, you are a natural politician? Jim, that is way down the road and may or may not happen. It is amazing how a group of people react to me but that will be what it becomes. There are other ways to make an impact. Jim smiled and said let's get this thing on the ground. I want to see the hanger and get something to eat.
As soon as we were on the ground the Major went in the terminal and damn he was in full military mode. About 10 minutes later he returned with the keys to the airport terminal. So Jim how did that happen. The Major laughed and said I went all military on him and quickly gave him a lesson on proper Coms. So was it that jerk Pat. I think but this attitude her needs to change. I have a buddy at the international airport about an hour away and it's time to get them straightened out. Mike, he wasn't all that impress until I told him you were on the flight. He said, fuck and handed over the keys. We jumped in the truck with me driving and it was about a 10 minute ride to the hanger. I pulled right in as the sides and roof were in place but there was no door. Jim looked around and said well, there is no doubt it will be ready for July. Let's see if it will last the winter. I laughed out loud at that and got out of the truck. It turned out that the shell was complete, except for the hanger door. The guts in the inside which involved heating and plumbing were there but not finished and the small office was roughed in. Jim was pleased with what he saw and felt it would accommodate 2 jets or a jet and 2 small planes. We spent about 30 minutes looking around and returned the truck. I returned the keys and when I got a funny look I just smiled. At the door I stopped and said Pat, I see you made a new friend and just walked out. We took the shuttle into town after securing the jet. It was the usual sports bar and while we were seated quickly and the food was good I needed to talk with Sean about a less public place. We order iced tea burgers and fries as we wanted to be on our way to the apartment building. The drinks came and as that happened Coach B arrived as well. We both stood up and we all shook hands and Jim said Coach, have a seat. Coach sat down and looked at me and said Mike, you should really let us know when you are coming to town. The Major jumped right in and said Coach, Mike didn't know we were stopping here. I needed to get the Pro Golfer to Florida for a tournament and I needed a copilot. I am wondering why you need a heads up when he is coming? Well Major, just so one of the staff can check in. Well Coach the NCAA lets you roster 105 student athletes, do you check in with all of them? Coach laughed and said well actually the staff does that but there are a number of recruits and players that I concentrate on and for the record you son is one of those as is Mike. I will say JJ cooperates more than Mike does. I just shook my head and said Coach, you need to understand that I'm not JJ and while we are very close we don't do things the same way. I'm cooperating as I was told to gain weight and while I think that's not a good idea, I'm cooperating and have gained the 5 pounds. Oh, I have adopted the workout program you staff recommended but I recently discovered splitting logs is a fantastic workout. The waiter came with the food and Coach said Mike, I'm not worried about you and your physical condition and I'm aware of the real estate purchase and the hanger. Basically, I'm sure you are going to report in July or sooner but I still haven't figured you out. I laughed and said well Coach, I'm easy just be honest and upfront and I'll be the same. Well Mike, we should be good, enjoy your meal and he went on his way. Jim laughed and said damn, it is hard being you. Do you think he bought that bull shit. Jim, I would've be here if I thought for a minute that he bought that. Jim laughed and bit into his burger. When we finished I was asked so how do we get to the apartment? Jim, we walk and it is about 15 minutes and it's a nice evening.
Actually we took a bit of a shortcut and cut across the drill field. The academic builds are on one side and the dorms are on the other. My building was a block away from the dorms. Basically it was on campus but actually wasn't. When we got there Jim looked around and then asked so how did you make this place available? Jim it must be that horseshoe that's up my ass. I was down here as they put up the for sale sign and just offered the asking price and paid cash. Once we closed I got a mortgage. we were looking around the outside as I hadn't brought any keys as I didn't know we would be here. I tried the front door and it was locked but a guy came up and asked, do you need something? Well I'm the new tenant for the fall and I didn't know we were stopping and I would really like to get in. The guy laughed and said well, I'll let you in and I think the chick on the first floor has a key to your place. I would have the owner change the locks if I were you. I said thanks and introduced myself and that brought instant recognition. I knocked on the door of the apartment and when it was answered I introduced myself again and said that I was told you might have a key. She smiled and said just a minute and when she returned I was handed a key. The Major and I went upstairs and the key actually worked. Jim wasn't happy about that and said change the fucking locks. Inside Jim was pleased as it was 2 bedrooms and a kitchen and a large living room. I was pleased as the place was clean and freshly painted and had new carpet. We didn't stay long and I locked the door and kept the key.
We chatted as we walked back to where we could get the shuttle. At the airport Jim went inside and said Mike, we will be quickly cleared to take off, let's get to work. Everything was quickly accomplished and we were in the air in record time. The flight home was quickly done and Jim had a couple of students deal with the Jet once we at the service line. As we walked to the car Jim said Mike, I'm serious, I have you back but I'm not hovering. Just know I'm there. We shook hands and I was pulled into a hug. It was a great trim and I was very relaxed but really tired.
Thanks for reading and for the notes.
Please, if possible remember nifty, it's important.