Remembering and honoring

What I'm about to write might seem out of place in this blog, but I hope readers will indulge me and read on. Today is September 11, 2011. In just over 8 hours, many Americans will observe a moment of silence, as we remember the day 10 years ago that changed our lives and our nation's landscape forever.

For me, September 11, 2001 started out as just another day. I was on my way to work in my office on the perimeter of the Scottsdale Airport. I had the radio on in my car, and usual, I was frustrated with morning commute traffic. Instead of stopping at the local Starbucks, which I did nearly every morning on my way to work, for some unknown reason, I pulled into a neighborhood sandwich & coffee shop. As I walked in, the girl behind the counter commented that a plane had just flown into the World Trade Center in New York City. I remember thinking, and I believe I even said; "it's probably foggy in New York, and some guy in a little plane got lost". The shop had no tv, and I honestly didn't think any more of it. I just figured some private pilot got lost or confused, and hit the skyscraper. No big deal, right?

Less than 5 minutes later I walked into my office. The hallway was still dark, but I could hear voices. Loud voices sounding worried and rushed. Instead of going into my own office, I turned the corner into the call center area in time to watch the second airplane hit the WTC, almost as if in slow motion. Could I be seeing what I thought I'd just seen? Could a jet really hit the World Trade Center? And why? The sky looked clear. I didn't see any fog. How does a jet hit a skyscraper on a clear and cloudless morning?

And suddenly our phones went crazy. In September 2001 I worked as the director of training and development for a software company that designed, implemented and maintained crew lodging and transportation software for airline crews. Our largest customer was a US based freight company, for whom we assisted hundreds of crewmembers each day. Because we held hotel rooms world wide, and because aviation in the US came to a complete standstill, it seemed that everyone was calling us looking for help accommodating their crewmembers who'd been stranded. The callers were polite but obviously anxious and they needed help quickly.

I don't know how many calls we took that day. I don't remember who we called to come in and help us field the calls. I don't remember what time I left my office late that night. I don't remember who I spoke with that day, or even that week. I do remember someone ordering pizza's to be delivered for lunch. I also remember feeling ice cold that day and for many days after. And living in Phoenix Arizona, September's aren't cold. But I was. From the inside out, I just felt cold.

The following Summer I met a commercial airline pilot that I would eventually fall in love with and marry. He's a great pilot, a professional, someone whose skill and judgement I trust implicitly. I've often told him that he somehow becomes part of his airplane when he's in the cockpit. I can't explain that, it's just a feeling I get when I see him flying, whether it's the Boeing 777 he fly's for Continental or our little Cessna 150.

I can't say that I never worry about Keith on his trips. In our early years, when I'd drop him off at the airport for a trip to Tel Aviv Israel, I'd have to stop to get through a panic attack brought about by my fears for his safety there. Even now, whether it's a hurricane on the east coast or a frigid winter in Beijing, I worry about my husband. But weather and city safety are small potatos compared with the worries I and other pilots' wives have about the possibility of a repeat of the events of September 11, 2001.

Today my husband is in Hong Kong. He'll leave there late tonight, returning home tomorrow evening. And from the time he boards his plane, until I hear his voice shortly after landing in Newark, New Jersey - I will track his flight online and hope and pray for his safety, just as I do for every single flight he takes.

I pray that we never again experience the sort of violation our nation experienced that September day 10 years ago. I pray that no spouse, parent, child or sibling has to again lose a loved one at the hands of religious fanatics. I hope that we as a nation never take our safety and security so lightly that we become complacent and again fall victim to madmen.

More than anything, I pray that time somehow eases the pain of that September day and that we as a nation can someday watch September 11th pass as just another date on the calendar. But today won't be that day. Today we will remember, and mourn again the loss of so many innocent lives, and perhaps, our greater innocence in general.

God Bless America

Off to a good start

We've been busy! Busy creating new designs and products. Busy working with new customers. Busy getting ready for the 2011 season of Fly-In's. If you love aviation like our family does, you probably plan at least a few of your family calendars around Fly-In's.

In our house, that means we check www.flyincalendar.com on a regular basis. This well organized website lists events state by state, month by month. We especially look forward to local Fly-In's like the Cactus Fly-In at Casa Grande Airport (http://cactusflyin.org) at which La Petite Pilot baby bodysuits and tee's for all ages will be available.

So what's your favorite pilot wearing this year? La Petite Pilot aviation-themed apparel has introduced several new designs for children and adults. Here are just a few;













You've just seen a few of our new designs, available on baby bodysuits (onezies), and t-shirts (childrens & adults), and NEW for 2011 - BABY BIBS!!! And we've got so many more colorful designs to offer you and your favorite Flyguy or Skygirl. See us at the Cactus Fly-In March 4 and 5 at the Casa Grande Airport in Casa Grande Arizona.

Dress your pilot in style with La Petite Pilot!

Celebrating the holidays and going international

La Petite Pilot received very good news from our national distributor AeroPhoenix last week;

Our baby bodysuits (onesies) are now available in Madrid Spain ... Ole!

In just the few short months that La Petite Pilot has been in business, we've seen our business double thanks to word-of-mouth advertising and handing out the occasional business card here and there. Looking forward, we'll be establishing a website and webstore where existing customers and hopefully future customers will be able to see examples of my work and place special orders.

Recently I was asked if all I do are aviation-themed baby bodysuits (onesies)? The answer is a loud and clear "NO" ... I'd be delighted to do items for infants, toddlers, school-age children all the way up to and including your great grandpa's Happy 100th Birthday t-shirt!

Looking for t-shirts to mark a Family Reunion? I can do that. T-shirts for your daughter's Sweet 16 birthday party? I can do that? Just adopted a St Bernard named Rosie and you wanna wear her picture on your t-shirt? I can do that too! And I can do it all the way up to a size 4X!!

I've been fortunate to do a good bit of traveling with my airline pilot husband. And I'll admit it, I'm one of those travelers who loves to dawdle in the airport gift shops before my flight. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to the day I walk into an airport in say London or Paris or Tokyo and see my work being sold there! I honestly believe that day is just around the corner!


With just 22 days till Christmas, I'm getting the last of my shopping finished and plan to have everything wrapped and the gifts I need to ship out the door by the 15th. That brings me to what I hope you dear readers will find helpful; some gift suggestions for those "hard to buy for" gift recipients;

Gourmet dipping oils ... a favorite of mine to give and receive, these beautiful to look at and delish to dip into oils are easy to find in most gourmet or high-end grocery stores, or at stores like Home Goods. Add a loaf of fresh baked French bread and you've just turned a simple meal into a regal repast!

Personal journals ... as a writer, I like nothing better than starting a new journal, and I wouldn't dream of using a plain spiral bound notebook! Journals come in all sizes with covers of velvet, felt, even wood! Personally, I like soft covers and single ruled lines, but there's something for everyone if you just take a little time to look around.

Coffee's, tea's and cocoa's ... it's hard to beat a good cup of coffee, tea or cocoa (along with a good book or a favorite magazine) and today, there is no shortage of gourmet coffee's, tea's and cocoa's available at very attractive prices at stores such as Cost Plus or even your local Starbuck's. Pick out a pretty cup and saucer, or a mug and slip in your selected coffee, tea or cocoa and you've got a gift that's sure to please!

Travel charging valet ... are there 3 electronic devices your favorite traveling man can't live without on any given day? Keep 'em charged and ready to go with the Portable Charging Valet from the good folks at The Sharper Image.

There are some wonderful companies, both on-line and brick & mortar with goodies both big and small that would be appreciated and adored by even the pickiest person ... and you don't have to break into your childrens' piggy banks to afford any of the items I've suggested here.

I hope your Christmas is merry and bright, I hope your Christmas wishes all come true, and above all, may you keep the spirit of Christmas alive in your heart all the year through!

Merry Christmas!

Lori