What's your right stuff?
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Greetings!
 I fell in love with
planes and flying because my father loved them. A naval fighter pilot during WWII, flying remained a part of my dad's naval career for much of my
childhood. As a young girl of the 1950's, I didn't dream about being a pilot. Because
girls weren't pilots.
So I dreamed about being a flight stewardess, instead, just like Vicky Barr
from the popular Helen Wells series. That way I could fly and, along the way, solve
mysteries just like she did. Then I grew up and thoughts of flying faded away. Over time, women have become pilots in the Navy, in the Air Force, on commercial
jets and even in combat. But women pilots when I was a young girl? Not a chance! Until I learned differently
from June's Quest Maker.
Cheryl Young's quest sought her out more than 20 years ago on a summer afternoon in a
university library, when she discovered that more than 1,100 women had piloted planes during WWII.
Spread out across the U.S., WASPs (Women's Airforce Service Pilots) undertook duties that included teaching WWII aviators
how to fly and how to engage in aerial combat. Yet not one word of their achievements appeared in history books. The oral historian in Cheryl was
thunderstruck as she realized these women were still alive to tell their
stories. Her quest had begun.
Cheryl's determination to
meet a live WASP led her to Elizabeth Wall Strohfus. After
hearing Elizabeth's
experience, Cheryl was on fire to tell the story of this amazing woman and her aviation sisters. Along the way, she experienced firsthand the power that
emanates from women on a mission.
You can experience some of that power for yourself. Now
in their 80's and 90s, the surviving WASPs still have stars in their eyes when they talk about flying - some of them still fly, by the way - in WASP Speak, a YouTube video. WASP Deanie Parrish's rap song, "We got the stuff. The right stuff." captures that essence in song.
These women who came from every walk of life had the stuff. To earn their wings, to keep on flying, to do what they
loved to do. They would say to each of us: "You have it within yourself to set your own course and be the pilot of your own dream."
What's your right stuff?
P.S. Cheryl's favorite flower, a "really red" rose, is in bloom here.
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Interview with Quest Maker Cheryl Young
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Cheryl Young's quest sought her out in a university research library when a book literally landed on her head, setting her off on a journey that ignited an exciting second life for 69-year old Elizabeth Wall Strohfus. Along the way, Cheryl wrote two books and helped spread the word about unsung WWII heroes - Women Airforce Service Pilots - (WASP). Just as WASPs have shown her how to be the pilot of her own life, over the last 20 years, Cheryl has done the same for young girls so they can set their own course and fly!
When did you decide to embark on your quest?
In 1984, I was teaching middle school social studies in Vermont. Having grown up in the Midwest, I felt I needed more education about New England so I attended a summer institute as a humanities scholar at Dartmouth College. Part of the work involved creating a curriculum project that was important to my teaching.
What interested me was that there were whole groups of women left out of the history books. We've been taught about white men and the generals. History books traditionally have cited individual women such as Betsy, Eleanor and Sojourner. That wasn't enough.
Every day I did research in the Dartmouth library. I'd spend my afternoons on my project researching women of the Industrial Revolution, the first employees of the mills. One day as I reached for a book on a high shelf, it fell out of my hand and onto my head. When I picked it up, chills went down my spine as I read the title: Those Wonderful Women in Their Flying Machines: The Untold Heroines of World War II by Sally V. Keil. (1979). It told the story of WASPs, Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII. What attracted me most to the WASPs was that the women were in their 60's and 70's at that time and still alive. I could interview them instead of read about them.
[Editor's Note: WASP was born in 1942 when 1,102 women pilots spread out across the country and "undertook in ground-to-air anti-aircraft practice; towing targets for air-to-air gunnery practice with live ammunition; flying drones; conducting night exercises; testing repaired aircraft before use in cadet training; serving as instructors; and transporting cargo and male pilots to embarkation points." They were still considered civilians, never receiving any of the benefits their male counterparts did. During duty, 38 WASPS were killed. The military would not allow the flag to be put on their coffins. Once the war was over, the women pilots received absolutely no recognition from their government. Source: Kevin Bohn, CNN]
It wasn't until I had left teaching, however, and moved back to Minnesota, several years later, that I was able to locate a WASP by calling the Ninety-Nines - a flying organization for women aviators created by Amelia Earhart - and asking if they had any members who had piloted during the war.
That's how I met Elizabeth "Betty" Wall Strohfus who lived about 90 minutes from me. On my first visit, I knocked on the door, expecting to meet an elderly looking woman. Instead, I found a very lively, funny, loving and amazing woman. I spent 7 1/2 hours with her.
After the interview was over, I got into my car. I was so overwhelmed by her story: how do you educate a population about something they know nothing about? As I put my key in the ignition, I said to myself, I have a choice here: I can put roots down in the driveway and do nothing about this unknown story or I can do something.
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June Journal Sparker
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With its questions and exercises, a Journal Sparker can be a spark for reflection or action that can help you take the next step on your journey to where you want to be.
 Have confidence in yourself and tell yourself "you can" twice for every time you are told "you can't." Confidence that you can succeed is everything. Take every negative remark as a challenge to achieve more and progress to newer heights. You are able to do anything you believe you can do. You might even surprise yourself.
Alinda Wikert, pilot and the first woman owner of an airline
This was today's quote on my "Believing in Yourselves" day calendar. It found me, just as Cheryl's quest found her. Many of the WASPs encountered "you can't" as they set out on their quests to fly. This month's Journal Sparker provides an opportunity for you to increase your confidence by doubling your "you can's!"
We've also created a cover sheet if you would like to begin a binder for your Journal Sparkers. |
| Do you know a Quest Maker, a woman who has realized her dream?
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Do you know a woman in her 40s or beyond who declared "now it's my
time," and realized her dream, just like Louise Grasmere has done? Perhaps she's a friend, a family member, an
acquaintance. Perhaps it's you! If she or you would like to considered for an upcoming Quest Maker column in the Chronicles, please send me an email with a brief description and the best way to reach her.
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| Need an idea spark to ignite your own quest?
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Have you decided that now it's your time to claim your own realm and undertake your own voyage of discovery? Except you're not exactly sure how (or even where) to start?You may need an Idea Sparker to help you figure it out. That's where I can help. Learn more about me at www.yournextquest.com.Take the next step with a free 15-minute consultation with me. We'll talk about where you are now and where you want to be and how I can help you get there. Learn more about how I can help you at www.yournextquest.com. Start your journey now by contacting me at info@yournextquest.com or by calling me at 781.583.7185.Together, we can start you on the journey to where you want to be!
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