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Well 2009 has arrived and the Outer Banks was a bustle of activity this past week. Restaurants were busy, grocery stores were packed, and the roads were more active than they have been in about 6 weeks.
Outer Banks 105th Anniversary of Wright Brothers’ Flight
Today my assignment was to travel to the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, NC and report on the 105th anniversary celebration recognizing the world’s first successful sustained powered flight. I was very excited about attending this event especially since it would be my first visit to the memorial site. Taking my seat in the auditorium, I mentally prepared myself for a typical ceremony that would undoubtedly have it’s moments of boredom. But it was quite the opposite. The speakers were wonderful, the stories they told brought you back in time to a place and era much different than what we see around us today. I was struck by the realization that 21st century life and the world as a whole would be so much different if it weren’t for Orville and Wilbur Wright and their courage, tenacity and perseverance towards a personal goal that would change the course of history.
Sitting in the pavilion and looking around at it’s surroundings, listening as they recognize and thank people for coming I am made aware of who surrounds me; descendants of the Wright brothers, politicians of all rankings, many vets of many different wars, historians, pilots, and so many others who just came to be a part of this very important day. The guest speaker James C. May (President and Chief executive officer of Air transport Association) shared stories and quotes of many famous inventors of our time proving that anything is possible despite what we may believe. He also told several funny but true stories about the man that was inducted today into the Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine- Herbert D. Kelleher the founder of Southwest Airlines and the winner of many prestigious rewards. Herb is a funny down to earth man that credits his success to his employees. He is a humble man that deserves this honor. He expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the beautiful painting and for being inducted into the Shrine.
Amazing Message In a Bottle Story
On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, my 11 year old son took our dog for a walk on the beach and found a message in the bottle, resting at the waters edge. It was a Gatorade bottle with the letter, 3 – $1 bills, a pack of Skittles and a pen. He picked it up because he saw the money and brought it home. When our family read the letter it brought us to tears. It speaks of how you should live your life, and suggested that the universe had chosen Thomas to receive the letter. The intriguing part is it was addressed to “the adventuresome beholder of this message” and written by someone who had less than two months to live. It is ironic that this message fits Thomas perfectly. I am certain this message was meant for our family. My father, Thomas’s grandfather, died 4 weeks before after a relatively short illness. It really speaks to how important it is to be a good person, live a good life, and cherish the good things in life. It is a message important for everyone.
Outer Banks Hotline Festival of Trees
Signs of Christmas are all around us on the Outer Banks. Heck, we even had a 3 hour snow storm the week before Thanksgiving! While traditions around the country start to kick in, one of the happiest traditions on the Outer Banks is the 20th annual Outer Banks Hotline Festival of Trees.
OBX Marathon 2008
Diary of an Old Hurtin’ Runner
So the 2008 OBX Marathon has come and gone, but a week later it is still a lasting memory. Every time I try to get out of a chair I am reminded of how bad it hurts. It was the thrill of a lifetime however. Here’s how I remember it going:
