First to fly on air.

My Grandfather told me this story every time I met him. And now I tell it to you. It was almost 100 years ago. July 2, 1900. He was but 7 years old, but he remembered it as it was a week ago. He was with his father who was a great friend of a man he knew as Zepp, which is what his father called him. He didn't know much of this man. Just that he was the one who invented the flying ship his father was to fly. Out on Lake Constance I waited for him. I heard them say it was the first to fly. This was his most fond memory. I am certain, and happy to know that this had never left him. This memory will never waver and never forgotten. Rest in peace GranDee. Sleep well and I shall hope to see you soon. As I sat down I looked to my father. I knew he had heard more of that story then I did. 1

After the service I walked home. It was beginning to rain. I didn't care. Summer showers always reminded me of GranDee. To imagine living for 115 years. I can't imagine it. As I walked the sidewalk that was all I could think about. I majored in History. Top of my class. It all intrigued me. As I kept on walking an odd fellow bumped into me. He wore a top hat, bow tie, and over coat that seemed to have been made when GranDee was born. I chuckled a bit at him, then frowned for in his hurry he didn't see that he had dropped something. A peculiar watch. 2

"Hey! Sir! Wait a minute, come back you dropped your watch!" Still the man kept his way. I jogged myself back to him and tapped him on the shoulder. Seemingly I gave him quite a scare. "Forgive me sir but you dropped this," I said handing over the watch with my right hand. He looked up to me with widened eyes and took hold of my right wrist and with his left hand he took hold of the watch. What feeling took place thereafter was odd. I couldn't describe it even if I was able. It seemed though to pass in a blink of an eye. And when I opened my eyes...everything seemed different. 3

Horse and carriage took the streets, or road should I say for it was gravel. Where was I? What had happened, to me and the odd fellow. I looked around to see if I could place where and when I was for I knew it to be not my time. Just then I saw the odd fellow walk into a shoppe. I ran over to the door and yanked it open. It was a bar, or saloon I'm sure they called it. I go up to the little fellow. "Where am I!? Where have you brought me?" I yelled at him irate. 4

"W-w-well," he began to sputter, "We are in Friedrichshafen..."5

"Germany!" I shouted.6

"Yes!" The man said in reply. "This wasn't supposed to happen."7

"But it did. Now I wish to know why!" At just that time a young fellow came in and shouted something. My German was quite rusty but I knew what it was.8

"They're about to take off! The Zeppelin!" At hearing this my eyes widened then ever before. I then looked to the man.9

"July 2nd, 1900! You brought me here!?"10

"Shall we go and watch?" The man said as if it was normal. I followed reluctantly. I didn't know what to expect. Seeing, first of all, my Great-Grandfather and my Grandfather. As we got to the lake of Constance there was a large crowd that gathered to watch. Out on the lake was a floating dock then held about 20 men. The Zeppelin was enormous. Especially being the first one. It had two cockpits on in front and one in the back. It was a grand sight to see. A boat was ready if front of us. A man from behind excused his way through. In his arms, a 7 year old boy. I stood there in shock.11

The boat veered off onto the lake and over to the Grand Zeppelin. I was still in shock of it all. It didn't take long until the Majestic Balloon was in the air. And it didn't take long for it to come down either. 18 minutes it was up for. Just as it was coming down for whatever reason I felt a hand touch my arm. The next thing I knew the little odd man looked up to me after taking the watch from my hand and giving a 'thank you' he was off. The rain was coming down harder now. Now I know you may not believe what I just told you, but My Grandfather told me this story every time we met.