I've got less than 100 hours and now working on my IFR ticket but my
best moment was on my first cross country. First leg from SQL to
Davis (0O3?) where I met my friend who I hadn't seen for 3-4 years
for a coffee. then got caught in a some rain to STS. Nothing
major but on a first cross country I was a little scared. then
flying home, I climbed over the mountains near Marin and then
seeing San FRancisco and all the very familiar places....alcatraz
off the left of my nose, teh bay bridge to my left, Marin underneath me,
and then while over the bay seeing the sun getting ready to set mid-span
of the Golden Gate Bridge and realizing I was all alone. A minute
later I got my clearance through Class B, overflew SFO listening
and watching all the heavies waiting to take off.

the next best time was getting ATIS on my checkride.
"Palo Alto Information Brave. time 23:30 Zulu on
December 17th, 2003. The 100th anniversary of powered
flight by man....." I really wish I had a recording
of it. I got goose bumps. The DE said, "wow that's pretty
cool."

These were the 2 times I said, "Damn, yes I am a pilot."

I'm sure there will be another 40+ years of memories on the way.....

Gerald