SKY’S THE LIMIT
HEY, WHO ASKED FOR BAD WEATHER?
By Jennifer Reynolds | jensunshine3@gmail.com
“I have seen many storms in my life. Most storms have caught me by surprise,
so I had to learn very quickly to look further and understand that I
am not capable of controlling the weather, to exercise the art of patience
and to respect the fury of nature.”
—Paulo Coelho, Brazilian lyricist and novelist, best known for his novel
The Alchemist.
THIS QUOTE can apply to many things, including life at the flying field, right? One minute we’re flying and the next, clouds suddenly roll in. We might be caught by surprise. Maybe not. Either way, the sight of dark clouds when we’re set on a test-flight or a long-anticipated event doesn’t really make our hearts jump for joy.
It’s the same with life off of the flying field too. Clouds come. Some linger, while others give way to sunshine and raise our spirits. Some darkness is expected, while other moments catch us off guard. Sometimes, we’re the ones who intentionally put the wind of change in motion. But you know what? Just like flying, we find ways to acknowledge the reality, navigate the change, and move forward.
August Is My Birth Month
In the past 8 months, there have been some metaphorical storms. In some cases, they’re ones I’ve chosen to create (sometimes you have to go through something difficult in order to find the kind of genuine
By Jennifer Reynolds
Significant life changes. Personal growth. Personal setbacks. In other words, life is just being life.
When the clouds come rolling in at the flightline, I do what I can to assess and move on. When it rains, I retract from the familiarity of the flightline to adjust to change, seek shelter, and protect my airplanes. It’s all accomplished with the knowledge that I will be out there once again, experiencing joy.
I also know that for the most part, many of us are often in the same boat. Ultimately, people tend to come together, bound by the familiarity of knowing what it’s like to experience some clouds and storms—and frustrations over the inability to fly for a period of time.
One warbird event in Delaware was the perfect example of this. The entire sky darkened, and the announcer frequently provided updates on incoming bad weather and extreme wind. Sure enough, a black curtain covered the bright blue sky.
Tents were taken down and airplanes moved from common areas. Larger, sturdier tents housed our aircraft and offered protection. Strangers stepped up to help other pilots disassemble or carry airplanes to campers. Others held canopy legs as an added measure to prevent the wind from lifting them up and away. Community support unfolded at a rapid pace.
Were we disappointed at first? Of course! We couldn’t fly, darn it. But just as the quote illustrates, we as pilots learn to look further. We can’t control the weather. Instead, we must be patient. We sit back, wait it out, and enjoy helping and being helped by our friends and community.
We turn disappointment into a hopeful attitude toward our flying friends. In Delaware, we helped one another, and we would gather together to share the pitter-patter of raindrops as a soothing background to our conversations. (Okay, some snicker-patterning might have been loud enough to drown out the you-know-what we really hoped to improve).
The point is that we ended up making
Jennifer Reynolds
do with the storms that arrived. We might have been sad or annoyed, but ultimately, that shifted to acceptance, fun, and getting back into it. It’s all about making the most of what comes our way.
Sometimes how we respond and behave drives how the topic at hand unfolds. We can be miserable that it rained half the day of our RC event, or we can realize that we can’t control this and, instead, chat with friends under a canopy or inside the comfort of an RV.
On the personal front, it’s often the same. We can stew in our misery, forever letting life blows or anticipated reactions take over our mood day in and day out, or we can find ways to cope by surrounding ourselves with avenues to help improve our mood and, perhaps, the situation.
We can reach out to others for help, just as we allow RC friends to help us at the flightline. We can do our best to protect what matters, and we can find our way back to the fun once again, which, of course, does eventually happen.
August evokes all that is summerlike and joy filled—delightful weather, dog mouths flopping about as their heads poke out from car windows, a ladybug crawling along a fuselage, and ice cream. Focus on the fun, summery joy, no matter the weather. In no time, the engines roaring and the whistle of wind wrapping around an airplane’s wing mid-flight will make our hearts full once again.
Even when the crosswind comes, we land. Windsocks flap, clouds fade away, and the sun shines. Finally, we’re right where we need to be—and we soar!
