“Attaboy, Girl”

The “Attaboy, Girl” herself, aboard the famous Miss Montana DC-3 at the Museum of Mountain Flying in Missoula, MT

If you missed Julia’s episode, click on the arrow below to listen!

Julia Cannell is a force of nature, but not the kind that we all board up our windows against and run away from, piling the children frantically into the back of the car and telling them to eat their Slim Jim’s and keep quiet for the long drive to grandma’s house.

No, she’s more of the “Whoa, look up at that comet streaking across the sky - you don’t see those very often” kind of force. She draws attention through just how she IS, especially when she is leading leaders, inspiring innovation, and working with children. I’ve been fortunate to see her work those kinds of magic many times in a number of places, and what I can tell you is that wherever she goes, she is remembered for many good things. She’s one of a kind.

I hope you got a glimpse of what I mean by all that from her episode, and I am looking forward to bringing her back on the show in the future. If you want to know more about her and the work of Airway Science for Kids, be sure to visit airsci.org, or reach out for more information via email at info@airsci.org.

There a couple of things we wanted to get into the episode, but just plain ran out of time:

• The title of the episode, “Attaboy, Girl”, refers to the nickname of sorts given to Julia by her pilot father. After every aviation or life success, big or small, he’d say that to her - “Attaboy, Girl” with a half-smile of satisfaction and pride, what Julia describes as his unique way of acknowledging her uniqueness in the aviation world and in his own life. It’s a name she treasures, and more than that, it is a point of connection with her father unique to Just Them.

• Connected to that, in light of Mother’s Day, Julia wanted to say more about the equally important role her mother played in her success in aviation and in life. Here are Julia’s own words about it:

"While my dad was the one who first put me into the cockpit, which led to so many profound changes for me and in me, I have to also give my mom equal credit in that whole thing. When it became clear I didn't want to wear little dresses to school, that I preferred being around airplanes and my dad and brothers rather than with girls my own age doing "normal girl" things, she didn't fight it. She could tell how much flying fed my soul and my confidence, and she supported all my efforts to guide myself down life's path using aviation. She worked hard in her own life, facing her own challenges personally while raising me and my siblings, but always provided everything we needed to each pursue our dreams. When I had my kids, she backed me to the hilt, often working as a partner with me in raising them. She never chastised me for not being a "normal girl,” or pushed me to be anything other than what I wanted to be. To this day, she is my number one fan and greatest advocate, and any story about any kind of success I've had in life has her in it somewhere. She's just the best. Oh and PS, Mom - I know you never really wanted me to become a nurse!"

That’s great stuff.

Be sure to check out Julia’s book and television show recommendations, and with the latter I need to add word of support - plane crashes really DO teach us a lot about aviation and how to make it even safer, and flight remains far and away the safest way to travel. And I get where Julia’s coming from - I really like those shows, too. In fact, back in high school, for a time I considered becoming an aircraft accident investigator. I ended up loving history so much that I went in that direction instead, but I still retain my deep interest in those investigations. They end up saving many lives, including those of the people I love, and for that reason I’ve always deemed them important to follow.

So there. I’m not (that) weird.

And, if you want to learn more about Julia’s hometown of Federal Way, WA, with its wayward ducks and animal-loving civil servants, click over to the Federal Way Mirror newspaper. And if you ever visit the city, be sure to experience a visit to Dick’s Drive-In Burgers yourself. It’s a local institution.

Finally, I’ll sign off with a shout out to my own mother, who has vocally supported my various projects, and I don’t thank her often enough for that. She’s celebrated with me in my highest moments and been there for me at my lowest, and she’s her own kind of fierce advocate for what she believes is right. I have a lot of her fighting spirit in me, and I’m grateful for that daily. Learning how to stand up - and stand for - what I believe in began with her.

So thanks, Mom, for showing me that strength, passion, and commitment. Let’s keep it going. I love you.

Thanks for listening to this episode and for reading this post. Be sure to share it with all your friends and family. And tune in next week for another episode and after-show follow up post.

Chins Up, Everyone.