Happy vernal equinox, everyone! Happy spring, that is. I hope that the weather is getting more spring-like where you are! It certainly is here. Today we found ourselves in the 80s (degrees F). It was heavenly.
Last week was a wonderful week for Alex and I. It began with graduation festivities. Alex got his wings! He was Top Gun in his class for academics. He only missed 5, yes, FIVE, questions in all of pilot training. Here are few pictures from graduation.
Alex and Colonel Seguin, graduating!
Breaking of wings. There’s a tradition and it goes a little something like this:
“Since man started flying, he has taken to the air with a certain amount of risk. To counter that risk, a tradition was established years ago when the Army Air Corps first started issuing pilot wings to their young aviators. This tradition is called “Breaking of Wings.” At every Undergraduate Pilot Training graduation, the Air Force issues the pilots their first pair of wings. As tradition has it, that first pair of wings should never be worn by the pilot. To bring good luck, the pilot should break the wings into two parts. One half should be kept by the pilot, the other half should be given to the pilot’s best friend or relative. To preserve the good luck, the two halves should never be brought together while the pilot is still alive. After death, the two halves are once again united with the pilot for good luck in the next life.”
Alex giving me half of the broken wings. Apparently, I’m his best friend. I suppose I’m okay with that. 🙂
Pinning on his wings. Officially an AF pilot.
Did I get them on straight?
I love my pilot.
Wings look good on him, don’t you think?
Alex and his proud parents.
Alex and I with my proud parents.
Uncle Mike, me, Alex, Sondra, Grandpa Rusty, Connie
Aunt Janice, Cousin Jack, Cousin Hannah, Dennis, Dave
One of the IPs (instructor pilots) let Jack try on his gear.
Alex teaching me how to fly the simulator. I took it a little seriously, obviously, but it was a lot fun. And I think I did a good job. I didn’t even crash. I’m saving up a million bucks to get one for our living room.
Alex got in the sim to show us how it’s done. And heavens to Betsy, he sure did crash the daggum thing. I was lucky enough to digitally capture this moment. He looks a wee bit embarrassed if you ask me. He later blamed it on the computer and something with the weather…suuuure.
Alex and I all frilled up at the banquet. Notice the wings.
Congratulations to the Columbus AFB UPT class of 11-06!!
This is a T-38 (what Alex has been flying) on a stick by the gate on base. If you look closely at the tail, you will notice that it says CB which means the jet is from Columbus AFB. Just below, it says 1106 which is for Alex’s pilot training class. They update it every 3 weeks for each graduating class.
Our first home together.
There were three F-16s from a guard base in Fresno, CA visiting Columbus AFB. We were able to watch them take off and do patterns, which was really awesome. We were also able to meet the pilots and talk to them a bit. This was really neat for Alex, since he will soon be strapping on these jets to fly himself.
Trying out his new jet for size.
F-16 taking off! SO COOL!
Graduation was so much fun, and it was a very exciting but long and exhausting day. We really enjoyed getting to spend some quality time with our families. We can’t thank them enough for all the support and advice they’ve given us over the years. Our weekend ended with Alex and our dads working on the car (sounds like a blast, doesn’t it? Yeah, I thought so, too.) and myself and our moms stretched out in lawn chairs, soaking up the sun in the 70 degree Mississippi weather and reading good books. Oh, and we worked in a trip to the Ford parts department for a tube of gear lube (was it?) or something like that, for the men since they forgot to get it themselves. And of course, we topped it off with Hank’s BBQ, the best in the south. Ahh, bliss. What a fantastic weekend!
Be on the look out for more blogs SOON! This week was full of so much excitement that I just don’t think I can pack it all into one post. I took a ton of pictures on our vacation and I think that generally pictures are more interesting that my boring words, am I right?
Up next will be our visit to the Tupelo Automobile Museum and just to give you a sneak peak, it involves Charlie Sheen, Elvis and a hybrid Camry. Get pumped up for this one, folks.
Have a great day and y’all come back!
Alison says
I am SO PROUD of you and Alex and all you've accomplished! Just think of where you lives are taking you! Amazing! I'm so excited for you guys. Oh and as a side note, it took me a while to figure out your hair in the picture of you and Alex at the banquet. The girls hair behind you makes it look like you've got a marge simpson thing going on! Haha! You guys looked great though, as always! CONGRATULATIONS! Miss you, love you 🙂