17 December 25

On this date in 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved the first experience in human air flight. My special tie shows the building plan for the Wright Brothers Flyer. It was a Christmas gift to me in 2022 from nephew Matt Lang.

18 August 24

Tomorrow (19 August) marks the birthday of Orville Wright (1871-1948). He and his brother Wilbur are most famous for being the first humans to achieve powered air flight (December, 1903). My tie shows the building plans for the Wright Brothers Flyer!

24-25 June 23

My first nephew C. Nolan Huizenga has a birthday every year on 24 June! Nolan recently became pastor at Highland Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in Louisville, KY. Here's his response to my invitation to choose my tie: "I was so close to choosing the Millennium Falcon, but let’s go with the Wright Flyer because in real life it (and they!) began a transformation in how we travel — and how far and how quickly. Following the Wright’s first controlled, powered flight covering 120 feet, only 44 years later Chuck Yeager flew faster than the speed of sound. Another 21 years after that humans flew to the moon and back on Apollo 8 — some 250,000 miles away. Astounding progress. While I’ve made no accomplishments like that, I did learn to fly small airplanes in my 30s and I love living a couple blocks from a general aviation airport. I often walk over there and watch interesting aircraft come and go." Happy Birthday, Nolan!

1 January 23

Brand new year, brand new tie, brand new tie clip! 119 years and two weeks ago, Wilbur and Orville Wright first achieved airplane flight, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. My tie is a gift from nephew Matt Lang, featuring the diagrams from the Wright brothers' patent application. My tie clip was given to me by Beth - it is engraved with the words "Papa Seeds," my grandpa-nickname. Off we go, into the wild blue yonder of 2023!