Well done Hackett. Nice story displaying a good attitude, keenness, and perseverance. I think you are going to have a lot of fun in flying. You say you made a written record for future reverence - great idea! I've done this a lot especially after a particularly memorable flight. It preserves the memories and the feelings of 'what it was like' better than any photograph will.
And if you ever contribute an article to a flying mag, you'll find these written memories invaluable!