It was one of the usual days of May: hot, humid, windy morning. The first thing I did when I woke up was run to my instructor and asked him if I can fly solo that day. He replied and asked me to pre-flight the plane..... In no time we were airborne, doing take-off and landings until he was satisfied I truly can fly a plane. After getting used to flying with him for 11 hours of flying time, he commanded me to stop the plane on the third landing and went down the aircraft. 
Knowing that I was alone in the cockpit and with so much freedom, I felt like a bird spreading its wings for the very first time. The airplane reached the rotation speed earlier than I was used to. At last I was alone in the cockpit and airborne, I alone can land this magnificent thing called aircraft. Everything he thought you before became instinct. Aerodynamics, Wind corrections, flap setting, power setting became second nature.
I can still remember every detail the first time I flew solo as if it happened yesterday (smell, sight, sound and the feeling). I owe my wings to my instructor. The guy who smoked a dozen cigarettes when I was up alone, thinking if I can make it back to tera-firma in one piece... 
I finished the 3 solo Take-Off and Landings required by our school. My instructor and my classmates were waiting for me at the ramp. After the engine shutdown, I was asked to remove all my valuables and kneel in-front of the propeller. My instructor was the first one to pour the "MIX". I didn't care what was included on that bucket, one thing I was sure is that it was my most expensive bath and boy it felt good!
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