Tribute to Human Spirit

You might have seen this photo before on an old project; you're not seeing double. No worries. When I found the vintage-aeronautical themed paper, I had to use the photo again. This picture is of my partner when he was 17 years old(about 1970). He had just received his pilot's license. At 16 he began lessons with money he earned from an after-school job. Despite his parents that often took his money to have utilities turned back on or buy food because they had spent it all on booze, he had the fortitude to make something of himself. Among other things, after graduation, he became foreman of a steel plant within 3 years. His father who had been at the plant for 20+ years was now under his son's supervision. Anyway, eventually my sweetie became a professional pilot; which had always been his dream. Even though I never knew him then, I feel proud of him. These days, he cannot fly due to diabetes, but has successfully risen to VP status at a casino; having never been to college. I love my take-charge guy!