I might be getting old - and have the hat pin to prove it

CJones

CJones

Final Approach
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
6,051
Location
Jawjuh
Display Name
uHaveNoIdea
Home Airfield
KCCO
Got a small package from AOPA in the mail. Wife jokingly said "Oh boy is it a keychain!!?". Opened it up and it's a hat (lapel) pin that has the AOPA logo and "25 years" on it. My wife less-jokingly said "You're not 'hat pin' years old." My first thought was "Huh.. I thought AOPA has been around longer than that". Then I did the math and it hit me - I got this pin because I've been an AOPA member, and as such, a licensed/certificated/whatever'ed pilot for 25 years. Did my PP-ASEL checkride on 7/20/2000 - 2 months + 5 days after my first flight lesson. When I explained that math to my wife she said even less-jokingly "OK.. You might actually be 'hat pin' years old. You can wear it on your lapel at church, but don't wear it anywhere else, please."
 
CJones said:
You can wear it on your lapel at church, but don't wear it anywhere else, please."
Click to expand...
Where else WOULD you wear it, if not on your lapel? (Or don’t I want to know?) ;)

You’re not old until you’ve been flying long enough for the Wright Brothers Award.
 
I thought a hat pin was used by women to hold a hat onto their hair?
 
I got my license in 1976, so the only correspondence I get from AOPA is a surprised: "Wait, you're still flying?" Whether I fly or not, they really want me to throw money at their foundation and they think it would be a good idea if I included them in my will - before it's too late...
 
MauleSkinner said:
You’re not old until you’ve been flying long enough for the Wright Brothers Award.
Click to expand...
And they ask you to share anecdotes* about them. :biggrin:

Edit *I hate spell-wreck: anecdotes = antidotes
 
Of course you know the old way to tell if you are old or young.

Fall down. If you friends and family laugh at you then you are young. If everyone runs at you with looks of horror on their faces, you are old.

Unfortunately, I fall into the later half of the above sentence...
 
Zeldman said:
Of course you know the old way to tell if you are old or young.

Fall down. If you friends and family laugh at you then you are young. If everyone runs at you with looks of horror on their faces, you are old.

Unfortunately, I fall into the later half of the above sentence...
Click to expand...

It is said there are two signs of old age. Memory loss and something else ... :biggrin:
 
Zeldman said:
Of course you know the old way to tell if you are old or young.

Fall down. If you friends and family laugh at you then you are young. If everyone runs at you with looks of horror on their faces, you are old.

Unfortunately, I fall into the later half of the above sentence...
Click to expand...
Don’t fall.
 
That is not a hat or lapel pin, it is for your tie...if you still wear a tie.

I have a very nice one, round diamond set in a rectangle of onyx, gold border, and gold plated brass pin. Also worn with my monogrammed white silk scarf.

All those were worn when I was wearing 3 piece suits. There is still such a suit in the closet, but the pants are 2 inches to small to wear.
 
For me, it is not 'might', it is a certain fact. I am getting old. :)

First flight with an instructor, 79 years ago.
First flight with logbook, and me flying the plane most of the flight 68 years ago.
Joined a flying club 56 years ago, still a non flying privilege member.
Received my PPL 56 years ago.
COMM and INST added.
Last flight as PIC 2 years ago.

I have not flunked a medical, just quit taking them, as my ears are marginal.

:)At one time, I had been flying out of the oldest airport in the USA, KCGS, for more than half the time it existed.
I was also the oldest pilot there with a valid medical. :):)

I still have a valid drivers license, and drive to downtown Washington DC, and on the interstates. Nobody honks at me, and if they did, my wife would tell me, as she has very good hearing.

I do not complain much about the onset of age related limitations. It has been a good life so far.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top