Wichita Falls Chapter Ninety-Nines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN PILOTS
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Join the 99s
  • Links
  • Featured Members
  • Secretary's Blog

Christmas Dinner, 3 December 2011

12/3/2011

0 Comments

 
Over twenty guests joined in the camaraderie at the local Thai restaurant, the Thai Orchid. Our guest speaker, Pete McElvain, characteristically entranced his audience with smart bits of aviation suggestions, and threw in some poetry, too. 


Picture
Mr. McElvain suggested following five points that he learned from aviation to apply to life. 
1. If your first reaction is action, then it is probably wrong. He cited the charming example of when his father's plane was turned over by the wake of a passing large aircraft. Calmly, his dad said, "Hm, we are upside-down." Then proceeded to right the plane. McElvain reminded us to analyze, assimilate, and then take the proper action. 
2. No matter how good you are, an airplane can make a fool out of you. 
3. If you have to tell someone how good you are, you probably are not. 
4. Life is not a holding pattern. Here he stated that many people get up in the morning, drive to work, return, sleep, repeat, while pilots tend to enjoy life more by getting out of that "holding pattern."
5. It is still a beautiful world. McElvain spoke about the magnificence of sunsets, sunrises, or the moon shining on the clouds, all seen from the aircraft in flight. 
He finished his talk with Hermann's poem, wishing his audience a Merry Christmas. 

"Desiderata," Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, 
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, 
be on good terms with all persons. 
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; 
and listen to others, 
even to the dull and the ignorant; 
they too have their story. 
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; 
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, 
you may become vain or bitter, 
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. 
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. 
Keep interested in your own career, however humble; 
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, 
for the world is full of trickery. 
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; 
many persons strive for high ideals, 
and everywhere life is full of heroism. 
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. 
Neither be cynical about love, 
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, 
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, 
gracefully surrendering the things of youth. 
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. 
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. 
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, 
be gentle with yourself. 
You are a child of the universe 
no less than the trees and the stars; 
you have a right to be here. 
And whether or not it is clear to you, 
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, 
whatever you conceive Him to be. 
And whatever your labors and aspirations, 
in the noisy confusion of life, 
keep peace in your soul. 


With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, 
it is still a beautiful world. 
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Picture
0 Comments

    Author

    Elizabeth Hawley serves as secretary and is past president of the Wichita Falls chapter of the 99s. She donated her Cherokee 180 to a non-profit aviation school, the GIFT, and now flies a Bonanza with her husband.

    Archives

    November 2018
    October 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    June 2015
    April 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    July 2013
    December 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010

    Categories

    All
    Christmas Dinner
    Desiderata
    First Post
    Flying Poker Run Was Fun
    Joint Fly-in With Golden Triangle
    Max Ehrmann
    Organizational Meeting
    Thai Orchid

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly