“About a year later, to the great relief of my parents I finally did sign up for college. I agreed to go to Kent State University in Ohio if I could take flying courses with the intention of becoming an airline pilot. At Kent I earned my Private, Commercial, Instrument and Flight Instructor ratings. In the classrooms, I had courses in weather, aviation history, aircraft engines and systems, welding and riveting, Air Traffic Control and a few other aviation courses. And when I wasn’t in class, I worked on the line crew at Kent State Airport, fueling and towing the airplanes and plowing snow off the runway. I was the first female to get a line job there. Getting that line job is a story in itself, but another time…”
“So, did you get your degree in Aviation?” John asked.
“Well, almost. I did get a minor in it. During my Junior year I had to find a way out of the Calculus and Physics courses as they would have meant certain death to my B+ grade point average. So, I went to the Dean and he told me I already had more than enough aviation credits for a minor and talked me into switching my major to Art which has always come easily to me. I made the switch and graduated in 1981 with a B.A. in Art and a minor in Aerospace Flight Technology.
After college, I added on one more rating to my pilot certificate, a Multi-Engine Rating that I got by taking a three-day, 'crash course' in an old dog Apache in Blythe, California. I had driven there by myself in my motor home from Ohio, painting signs and names on the backs of boats along the way. "
“So, did you become an Airline Pilot?” John asked as we could see the grass runway and hangars of Antique Airfield a mile ahead.
“Well, no…but I did make use of my CFI, teaching two primary flight students back in 1982 and give a biennial flight review now and then... I’ve found painting pictures and signs is less life-threatening. But now my new ambition is to become a Skywriter or a Spray Pilot– except that I wouldn’t want to handle the chemicals, so I guess those are out.
So, am I nuts, John?”
"I haven't made my assessment yet, but I'll let you know in the future," he said.
~