Tale of two parties
Are you in it for the fun or not?
For the softball get-together, the girls decorated gingerbread houses and played games before trading your typical tween girl gifts: bath bombs, journals, hair ties, and the dreaded Pop It (why are these a thing?). There may have also been some dancing and lots of talking, so much talking. The girls all said the party was a great success, as not one tear was shed, and they got to relax without someone telling them to focus and throw the ball to the target.
The airport party was another thing entirely. There were a few groups of quiet conversation, some crockpot chili, and Ms. Sherron’s mini pecan pies (these alone made the party a success for me). A range of presents included a pocket compass, a perfect black logbook pen, a red cockpit flashlight, and a huge map/scarf thing that was perhaps meant as a joke. However, I know several of us were considering the possibility of hanging it on a wall somewhere and marking with pins for where we’d been and where we wanted to go. The conversation happily centered around flying, as often happens when a group of pilots get together, much to the dismay of my nonpilot husband.
Why am I telling you The Tale of Two Parties? Because there’s a connection in there somewhere, and it’s been plaguing me for a while, well, since last Christmas. That’s what we writers do: go around believing that the everyday, mundane things have something to teach us. After almost a year, I was finally able to draw a conclusion. (Terribly slow, I know.) According to the Notre Dame Center for Ethical Education, kids get into sports because it’s fun and they get to be with their friends. Most of them don’t care about the competition or the building character part until much later. It makes sense then that when young softball players bring presents to a Christmas party, they bring fun things, games and toys and such. Nothing practical like a book on becoming a better hitter, or the latest batting glove, because all that stuff is just secondary.
Sometimes it’s OK, maybe even wise, to make decisions based on the fact that something sounds like a lot of fun and we get to hang out with our friends.But when pilots come to a party at the airport, they bring practical stuff, things they can really use, logbook pens and the like. Why? Because usually pilots get into flying for practical reasons, to be able to get from point A to Point B faster, or to take a step in an aviation career. Very rarely does someone get into flying simply for the fun of it. Who has that kind of money to spend on frivolity? (I know there are some of you out there, and if you could go ahead and contact me, I’ll give you my Christmas wish list). But somewhere along the way, an interesting thing happens…We pilots start having fun, lots of it. We go to Oshkosh and camp under the wing of our airplane. We have hangar parties for no special occasion. We do pancake breakfast fly-ins and take a buddy up flying just because it’s a pretty day and we can’t stand to stay on the ground. So, what started out as a really rational reason to get into flying turns into a lifelong passion that continues to grow.
I hate to admit it, but what were we serious, logical pilots doing at the airport Christmas party last year? Seemed suspiciously like the same things those little girls have been doing all along; having fun and hanging out with friends. (Minus the squealing of course). Does aviation build character and advance us in our careers and carry us from point A to point B? Of course it does, but why do people stay with it year after year and get more and more involved in the aviation world? Because it’s enjoyable and we get to be a part of a thriving community of like-minded people.
So, here’s the lesson learned from our 10-year-old friends: Sometimes it’s OK, maybe even wise, to make decisions based on the fact that something sounds like a lot of fun and we get to hang out with our friends. The rest of the important stuff will probably fall into place eventually.
As far as what to get that special someone this year for their stocking? Well, the ever-practical pilot would most certainly appreciate a hand-held radio or a water bottle that fits into the flight bag. But if you are lucky enough to have someone very young to buy for, remember to keep it fun. I’m talking toys, games, candy, maybe a cheesy joke book.
Your pilot friends might enjoy that stuff too. Just don’t make them admit it.
