Wow, having only joined in August, I'm glad I did it before September 16h!
The first thing this makes me think of is the letter I still have from an AA Pilot that I received when I was 8. I'd enjoyed a flight, gotten a pair of wings and a tour of the cockpit, along with the pilot's name. I wrote him a letter thanking him, and not only did he personally write back, he included all sorts of stuff from AA HR on how to become a pilot, etc. To an 8 year old kid enamored with airplanes, it was simply fantastic... and cemented my love of planes and flying.
Fast forward to today. I've traveled for business off and on, and as of two weeks ago am in a position to travel a LOT more. Working through an AA PLT challenge, getting my HHonors Diamond this year (already gold!), and getting back into the swing. Mostly to the credit of FlyerTalk and the amazing resources here. Not sucking up, just making clear that this community is important to me because I recognize how many knowledgeable, helpful folks are here... and I'm hoping to earn my spot among them.
I'd love to make this experience - I have the time, and more importantly, I'm close! I'm in Austin, and I'm in Houston regularly because I still work as a paramedic part time in Harris County (ESD-1) - a place where as a volunteer I was put through paramedic school for free, and now I give back by mentoring EMS students in the field on a part-time basis in a very underserved part of Houston that completely surrounds IAH.
This opportunity couldn't be more perfect for me, and I couldn't be more excited to have a chance to participate in something so immersive of the FT community.
I hope this rings true (I'm certainly willing to prove anything I've said above, including the AA letter which I still have in a scrapbook, and I'd welcome any FT'er who's interested to come ride along with me on the ambulance to experience this side of adrenaline (just PM me!)) and I hope I'm considered - it'd be something I'd never forget and that friends would have to whack me on the head to get me to stop talking about. But, if not, I'll eagerly await the "aftermath" threads to hear what the lucky two experienced.
-- Mike
