As was my habit, I was mindlessly scrolling through my Instagram feed when I stopped dead on the iconic Air Tractor yellow and blue, in beautiful broad strokes on a canvas. I follow a single hashtag on Instagram (admittedly I should pinpoint some more that would be appropriate..) and that is #cropduster. I was elated to have happened upon another artist's rendering of a spray plane, but better yet, it was the depiction of a loadpad in action. Now, I admit I have never loaded an AT-802, which was the model represented, but it recalled my first season which had just come to a close, and my first role in the business, ground loader.

(Photo Credit: Greg Lahti)
Having found the combination of my loves of art, agriculture and aviation in one place I contacted Greg right away through Instagram direct messaging, and soon enough, I was the new owner of "Preflight Loading", which is the perfect memento to commemorate my summer on the ground.

“Preflight Loading” - oil on canvas - 16x40 - by Greg Lahti
Greg made the transaction painless. The painting was soon shipped off with UPS to its new home North of the border. That is... after a teeny tiny 27 day vacation in the care of Canadian customs! Ironically, that is what got Greg and I talking as we were both monitoring the situation and grimly contemplated that the painting may be gone for good. It made it home safe, albeit late, despite our macabre predictions!
Throughout our chatter, we had exchanged social media accounts and photos. I explained why I insisted on owning Preflight Loading, and explained my background and the career change that Covid had expedited. We spoke of the relationship between plane and pilot, man and machine. I live for that, and miss it tremendously.
Next thing you know, the next time I am flipping through social media, I see an enormous bum that I recognize. Mine! I had given Greg permission to use any of my photos as reference material, and lo and behold; he had. I was ecstatic!
You always imagine yourself being painted like one of Jack's French girls in The Titanic. Some lavishly sprawled scenario with perfect soft lighting and a perfect serene expression. I had been represented with my large backside (exacerbated from having gained the Covid 19, if you know what I mean) and crinkled but determined bug-scraping face in the world's plainest outfit of a free company t-shirt and old freight-chucking steel toe boots; and you know what? It was perfect.
The reality is that perfection is not real and not interesting. We filter enough of ourselves in our online presence, in our daily lives, presenting only what we want people to see and what we assume they enjoy. What Greg does is highlight beauty in the mundane, an incredibly refreshing perspective to have.
Soon enough the final piece was revealed, and what Greg chose to name the piece starring my oil painted doppelganger was "The Loving Touch". I smiled so wide at the title because it was so clear by his choice of words that he had understood my fanatical rambling about the respect I afford these machines. Better yet? He composed a custom jam to accompany his post, singing f-f-f-fly girrrrrrl. I couldn't help but laugh.
