THE EPIPHANY, PART ONE - COURTNEY'S MOMENT
Before I get to the meaning of this week's title, I have just a few short comments. The first is that I completely forget to mention last week's posted question in the Ask Cap'n Meryl section at Ask Cap'n Meryl The question is about how long it takes to start the engines and whether this is the cause of the short wait to start taxiing after the pushback is complete. The engine start procedure is actually not the reason for this delay. Click here to see my answer: Departure Delays
This week's question has to do with how pilots are replaced when they call in sick, especially mid-trip at stations smaller than those maintained as crew bases. You'll see the link at the top for this one. I threw in a personal account of my involvement in one especially memorable occasion when I replaced a pilot who managed to break his leg on a Honolulu layover.
I also forgot to mention the start of a new album in my Photo Gallery called Colorado Wildlife. The photos posted there were taken by Ron, one of Al The Web Guy's sons, but more photos are welcome. These first photos are mostly of a social bear trying to break into the Carmickle family mountain house near Kremmling, Colorado, about 100 miles west of Denver. Colorado Wildlife
There are also some new photos of the final approach views to Lindbergh Field, taken out the left-hand window, posted in the San Diego Album. They were taken last month when I flew to San Diego to help celebrate my mom's birthday. There is also a photo of the Salton Sea and Lake Havasu City. The first eight photos are all newly posted: http://www.fromthecockpit.com/Gallery/thumbnails.php?album=lastup&cat=-28
My own idea of a good time after retirement from United would have been to go fly the B-777 for a foreign carrier for awhile. That did not pan out as most of them would not even consider interviewing a female for the position of captain, even though some of them do have females of their own nationality flying as copilots. The one exception was an airline in India, but the conditions were just not ones I could consider. Although many foreign carriers cater to American and other foreign captains, with schedules allowing them to commute home at least once per month, the airline in India would have required a move to an undesirable location with a long commute necessary just to get to the airport and not nearly enough time to ever get home to the U.S.
So that didn't pan out at all and instead I am pursuing some other, more personal interests, while continuing to do TV and radio interviews, writing for various publications with aviation-minded topics, trying to get my next book out (about fear of flying) and enjoying some time at home with Al The Web Guy and our host of critters, all of whom are featured here in our At Home album: http://www.fromthecockpit.com/Gallery/thumbnails.php?album=8 If you're new to the Gallery, please note it has three pages which you'll see on the central right-hand part of your screen.
As I write this newsletter, Courtney and her mom Peggy are in their car (I know because I just spoke with Courtney on the phone) about to drive over the Arkansas border into Tennessee. They spent the night with Al The Web Guy and me, along with all our critters (bunny, ferrets, birdie, fish and dog) on Thursday when they stopped by on their cross-country journey from Seattle to Orlando. There are additional photos of Courtney and her Mom in the At Home Album. This link will take you to all the latest additions in this particular Album. The first eight photos are new additions: Gallery
In April of this year Courtney, who turns 25 today (Sunday, September 10, 2006 is when I'm writing this), had just read a series of books with depressing subjects and was in the mood for something upbeat. The cover of my book The World At My Fee tis unmistakably upbeat and she reached for it on her bookshelf at home.
She didn't get too far before she experienced a life-changing moment similar to the one I had in college, and which I wrote about in my book. Courtney is well-traveled just as I was by my early twenties. She knew she had to travel, but hadn't yet come up with a career suited to traveling.
When I figured out that I wanted to be a pilot--in fact needed to be a pilot--the idea materialized in an instant. It hit me over the head like a ton of bricks as the result of a poster that said, Private Pilot Ground School--Learn to Fly that I noticed while waiting for a foreign language class to begin at San Diego State College (later San Diego State University).
Courtney's moment--her epiphany--came as she started reading my book. Here is her very first email to me dated April 12, 2006 and entitled, An Inspired Reader:
"Dear Captain Meryl Getline,
I just wanted to email you saying a HUGE thank you. Your book has inspired me more than anything else has in my entire life. I am twenty four years old and I was born with a passion for traveling. I have spent my entire life trying to find ways to travel the world, taking a five month break from college in 2002 to backpack around Europe alone. Now, the problem has been that I have constantly been trying to figure out a career path that can lead to accomplishing my goal of traveling the world and touching down on every continent before I die. For the past several years, I have been "flip-flopping" around, switching from University's and changing my major several times...and then I read "The World At My Feet". I felt as though your words were my words. Your undying passion for foreign cultures and foreign lands, adventure and flying, is exactly how I have felt since day one. However, what was lacking in my life, was the determination and drive that you showed me in your book. In your book you talk about the moment the "lightbulb went off"...when you were sitting in Hebrew class and saw the poster advertising flight lessons. That is exactly how I felt as I read your book. I can't believe it took me this long to put two and two together. As Beryl Markham's father says in West with the Night, "Hope and work. But don't hope more than you work." I found that I have been hoping a whole lot more than working.
I am scheduled for my very first introductory flight lesson this Saturday April 15th at 1:30 with Galvin Flying at Boeing Field (weather permitting), and I owe it all to you.
THANK YOU,
Courtney Riecan"
Whether you are interested in aviation or not, Courtney's story is already destined to be an inspiration to others so stay tuned. Next week I'll tell you how Courtney dealt with her epiphany, every bit as intense as my own over three decades ago, and why in the world she is driving from her Seattle home to Orlando at this very moment with her mom, Peggy, to further her newly chosen career as a professional pilot.
This week's question has to do with how pilots are replaced when they call in sick, especially mid-trip at stations smaller than those maintained as crew bases. You'll see the link at the top for this one. I threw in a personal account of my involvement in one especially memorable occasion when I replaced a pilot who managed to break his leg on a Honolulu layover.
I also forgot to mention the start of a new album in my Photo Gallery called Colorado Wildlife. The photos posted there were taken by Ron, one of Al The Web Guy's sons, but more photos are welcome. These first photos are mostly of a social bear trying to break into the Carmickle family mountain house near Kremmling, Colorado, about 100 miles west of Denver. Colorado Wildlife
There are also some new photos of the final approach views to Lindbergh Field, taken out the left-hand window, posted in the San Diego Album. They were taken last month when I flew to San Diego to help celebrate my mom's birthday. There is also a photo of the Salton Sea and Lake Havasu City. The first eight photos are all newly posted: http://www.fromthecockpit.com/Gallery/thumbnails.php?album=lastup&cat=-28
My own idea of a good time after retirement from United would have been to go fly the B-777 for a foreign carrier for awhile. That did not pan out as most of them would not even consider interviewing a female for the position of captain, even though some of them do have females of their own nationality flying as copilots. The one exception was an airline in India, but the conditions were just not ones I could consider. Although many foreign carriers cater to American and other foreign captains, with schedules allowing them to commute home at least once per month, the airline in India would have required a move to an undesirable location with a long commute necessary just to get to the airport and not nearly enough time to ever get home to the U.S.
So that didn't pan out at all and instead I am pursuing some other, more personal interests, while continuing to do TV and radio interviews, writing for various publications with aviation-minded topics, trying to get my next book out (about fear of flying) and enjoying some time at home with Al The Web Guy and our host of critters, all of whom are featured here in our At Home album: http://www.fromthecockpit.com/Gallery/thumbnails.php?album=8 If you're new to the Gallery, please note it has three pages which you'll see on the central right-hand part of your screen.
As I write this newsletter, Courtney and her mom Peggy are in their car (I know because I just spoke with Courtney on the phone) about to drive over the Arkansas border into Tennessee. They spent the night with Al The Web Guy and me, along with all our critters (bunny, ferrets, birdie, fish and dog) on Thursday when they stopped by on their cross-country journey from Seattle to Orlando. There are additional photos of Courtney and her Mom in the At Home Album. This link will take you to all the latest additions in this particular Album. The first eight photos are new additions: Gallery
In April of this year Courtney, who turns 25 today (Sunday, September 10, 2006 is when I'm writing this), had just read a series of books with depressing subjects and was in the mood for something upbeat. The cover of my book The World At My Fee tis unmistakably upbeat and she reached for it on her bookshelf at home.
She didn't get too far before she experienced a life-changing moment similar to the one I had in college, and which I wrote about in my book. Courtney is well-traveled just as I was by my early twenties. She knew she had to travel, but hadn't yet come up with a career suited to traveling.
When I figured out that I wanted to be a pilot--in fact needed to be a pilot--the idea materialized in an instant. It hit me over the head like a ton of bricks as the result of a poster that said, Private Pilot Ground School--Learn to Fly that I noticed while waiting for a foreign language class to begin at San Diego State College (later San Diego State University).
Courtney's moment--her epiphany--came as she started reading my book. Here is her very first email to me dated April 12, 2006 and entitled, An Inspired Reader:
"Dear Captain Meryl Getline,
I just wanted to email you saying a HUGE thank you. Your book has inspired me more than anything else has in my entire life. I am twenty four years old and I was born with a passion for traveling. I have spent my entire life trying to find ways to travel the world, taking a five month break from college in 2002 to backpack around Europe alone. Now, the problem has been that I have constantly been trying to figure out a career path that can lead to accomplishing my goal of traveling the world and touching down on every continent before I die. For the past several years, I have been "flip-flopping" around, switching from University's and changing my major several times...and then I read "The World At My Feet". I felt as though your words were my words. Your undying passion for foreign cultures and foreign lands, adventure and flying, is exactly how I have felt since day one. However, what was lacking in my life, was the determination and drive that you showed me in your book. In your book you talk about the moment the "lightbulb went off"...when you were sitting in Hebrew class and saw the poster advertising flight lessons. That is exactly how I felt as I read your book. I can't believe it took me this long to put two and two together. As Beryl Markham's father says in West with the Night, "Hope and work. But don't hope more than you work." I found that I have been hoping a whole lot more than working.
I am scheduled for my very first introductory flight lesson this Saturday April 15th at 1:30 with Galvin Flying at Boeing Field (weather permitting), and I owe it all to you.
THANK YOU,
Courtney Riecan"
Whether you are interested in aviation or not, Courtney's story is already destined to be an inspiration to others so stay tuned. Next week I'll tell you how Courtney dealt with her epiphany, every bit as intense as my own over three decades ago, and why in the world she is driving from her Seattle home to Orlando at this very moment with her mom, Peggy, to further her newly chosen career as a professional pilot.
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