The sky was gray this morning, and the ceiling low. Lower than 1000 feet. Lower than the landing pattern at Pearland Airport. But Jose headed out for his 9:00 lesson and I went with him. He dropped me off at a good spectator spot and drove away to Jeff’s hangar where the little yellow plane waited. I sat down on the deck and waited. And waited.

No one was flying. No one was taking off. I heard nary an engine. I called the automated weather service repeatedly, as the cloud deck began to rise ever so slowly. An Aero Club plane took off to do some pattern work, and the little Piper Cub, but still no yellow plane. The Aero Club plane and Piper Cub both came back, but still no little yellow plane.

Finally, around 11:00, the little yellow plane appeared! Jose and Jeff did 6 landings and then — and then! — the little yellow plane pulled over to the fueling station and Jeff hopped out. As we walked over to the edge of the runway, Jose taxied away. He was alone in the little yellow plane for the first time ever.

And then Jose soloed!

The little yellow plane, piloted solely by the coolest boyfriend in the world, revved its engine and took off into the still gray (but with a higher cloud deck) sky.

He made a left turn, and another, and headed back parallel to the runway.

Then the little yellow plane, piloted solely by Jose, glided to a landing on the runway. He pulled off long enough for Jeff to shake his hand and congratulate him on his first solo flight, and then he was gone again for two more landings.

“Look Ma, no instructor!”