Most importantly, I learned that to live in the moment is the only way to live. Yesterday is filled with regrets and Tomorrow is filled with plans, but today is what I have to work with and that's what I'll do.

No one is an island.
While the Wright Brothers were an amazing duo, they were assisted by many through the ages. From the drawings of da Vinci in the 15th Century, to Otto Lilienthal and his gliding flights in the 1890s, to the multitudes who followed them, the Wrights brought it all together and made it work. I have many people to thank for inspiring me, and I never postpone thanking them.

Moments
I am including a few amusing anecdotes about being "the girl." I remember how hard I thought life was for me when I started in High Tech years ago. How many times did I hear "It's a man's world!" Well, you ain't seen nothing yet!

I remember flying Daisy to Las Vegas for "Girls' Weekend!" On our way there, someone in another plane actually said on the radio, after hearing my voice, "Oh no, another empty kitchen!" I loved it! Yep, somewhere in the world is yet another suburban kitchen devoid of the smell of chocolate chip cookies -- the horror.

We were still giggling when we landed and the fuel truck pulled up alongside ready to help us add fuel. My friend and I were gathering our suitcases out of the back and the fuel truck driver turned to us and said, "Where's the pilot?!" Actually, we were both pilots, just not boy pilots. I still chuckle when I think of his face when he saw these women exiting an airplane and he kept searching for the boy -- you know, the pilot.

Another good story, this one is about me and Ruby. Ruby is a single seat airplane. Many times when I fly, I wear a typical military style Nomex flight suit. I was standing next to Ruby wearing a flight suit and someone asked me, "Is this yours?" Yes. "Do you fly?" Yes. "By yourself?" Huh? Do I fly by myself? Is that what you said? I told the guy, "No, actually there is a nine year old boy on the ground with a Radio Control device that is actually doing the flying, I just sit in the plane and look cute, expletive, expletive!"

From that day on, I realized that the most frequently asked question I hear is, "Do you fly by yourself?" Yes, by myself. I did it -- by myself with the help of Wilbur and Orville and everyone that went before me and inspired me.

For more details about the amazing steps we've taken see http://www.flight100.org. Happy Anniversary to all of us!

Marilyn Dash is a self-employed management consultant. For more information, see http://www.DashingForward.com. To learn more about Marilyn's racing, see http://www.RubyRedRacing.com.