Earlier this month, I received the FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot award. The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award is presented to pilots who have 50 years from their first solo and no accidents or incidents. So this is basically an old-person award! I am, however, honored to be recognized for many years as a pilot. I soloed when I was 16 years old, taught by my Mom, Ruth Tolley Gwinn. On the day I soloed, Mom flew around the pattern with me a few times at the Hinton – Alderson airport (WV77). She got out with the engine running, looked at me, and shouted, “Three times around the pattern, three landings, and then taxi it. And don’t do anything stupid!” Mom was a great instructor, and I still use the lessons that she taught me today.