Remembering Jimmy Buffett,

 Remembering Jimmy Buffett:

Like so many people, I have an enduring bond to Jimmy Buffett.  His music made me yearn for the water, and adventures in the air and on dry land.  Schoolboy Heart was my JB mantra.  While not a life-long fan, I started listening to his music in the late 80s, and really enjoyed his books as well (esp. "Where is Joe Merchant"!). A Pirate Looks at 40 might be my favorite song, as it relates to me, but there are so many songs and lyrics that speak directly to my heart that it's hard for me to pick a true favorite.

I remember flying with a Captain at Northwest who was one of Jimmy's flight instructors when he was getting his seaplane rating.  I didn't know what to expect from a story about my mythical "hero", but wasn't surprised about what he had said about JB. "Buffett was a great stick at times, but other times it was like he was somewhere else."  This Captain was not with Jimmy when he flipped his seaplane during a landing (which he wrote about in "A Pirate Looks at 50"), but he knew the guy who was.  Guess it was just one of those days.

I loved how enamored Jimmy was about flying, and how he would write about it in many of his songs.  Jamaica Mistake-a, School Boy Heart, and Tree Top Flyer (first performed by Crosby, Stills and Nash) immediately come to mind.  That yearning for the skies, and pure joy of flying I could relate to.  Many of my like-minded pilot buddies were also true Buffett fans. In fact, a good sized group of us took many a "flotilla-pilgrimage" down the Detroit River to listen to his concerts, and of course...drink far too many margaritas!

Jimmy Buffett's mariner heritage gave us all a glimpse into what it was like to be a sea-faring man long ago, shared through his own writings and those of others about him. "A Good Life All the Way" was a great book about how Jimmy became Jimmy.  Mostly about his music, but also about the man he was.  His wild antics while younger left him many lessons about how to be successful without losing his soul or his style. Many thanks to author Ryan White for doing the research and writing a book that was a gift to us all!

I can't write as many words as I have memories of where Jimmy has taken me and my friends, but he has given me the gift of relaxation while measuring what to truly not give a shit about. Confidence that it will all work out...one way or another.  And if you pursue what you really love, you will be a success...even if it's only in your own little world.

Since my ramblings are all linked to aviation and/or my website, there is one last connection that I have to make.  Much like Jimmy, I always wore a ball cap when flying. And the ones he wore are the ones I chose as well.  Like our lives, they were broke-in, maybe a little worn, and comfortable. The actual description is "unstructured, low-profile" which really sums it up! 

Find us at PilotBallCaps to see what I'm talking about, and thank you Jimmy, for reminding us that we can grow older, but not up!

Cap'n Spud and Connie in Key West

It's been 15 years... so what have we learned?

This August marks our 15th year since we started pilotballcaps.com.  This little "hobby" business has been a real gift, especially after I hung up my flying "spurs" for a more grounded life.

The kindness shown by our customers is sometimes overwhelming.  It's not the business-end that I am thankful for though: it's the personal interactions, the aviation chit-chat and great stories and pictures we receive.  

Here's just a few brief examples: After emailing an Air Force Pilot whose son was an Army Aviator (he ordered both type of ball caps) , I said "I'm guessing this is another Aviator hat for your son... I hope he's doing well."  His reply brought me to tears, as I read that the Army Aviator hat was for his grandson, and that his son lost his life in Iraq while serving our country.  I felt horrible, and sent my condolences.  His response was simple... "thank you for remembering him."  

Many of the interactions are just "hey, did you know xxxx?" or swapping random flying stories.  We've had customers who flew everything from ultralights to Thunderbirds (and Blues!).  Every once in awhile I get someone that I actually knew from my time in the Air Force. I've been able to reacquaint with some of my old crew chiefs, Boom Operators, Navs and Pilots... Squadron Commanders and other ops folks as well.  It's been a pleasure to see what's transpired over the many (many) years since I was flying Tankers.

Then, there's our part in some "final moments".   The first was George, a fighter pilot waaay back in the day. His daughter bought the cap to remind him that he was the "toughest guy she knew" as he was fighting cancer.  I checked in from time to time, and found out he had passed, wearing the hat.  You'd think this was an unusual story, but there were a couple more after that!  Pure gratitude came from their loved ones, often saying that it was the best gift they could have given their aging fathers.  You see, if it's got your wings on it...something that you fought for, worked so very hard for, and wings that you cherished... this often is the best gift.  Just a simple reminder of your service, your career, and your accomplishments.  So very simple.

Thank you to every customer, the one-timers and the ones who come back year after year. But a special Thank You to all of you who share your lives with us.  So, what we actually have learned is that: You are the gift, and you are the reason we keep going!

Spud (and Connie) at pilotballcaps.com

#flyingstories #gratefulpilot

Great background customer's story

Every once in awhile I get a cool story from one of my customers.  This one was from a conversation with a fellow Air Force Pilot and Delta Captain, who flew the F-104 Starfighter!  These stories are a big reason I keep pilotballcaps.com open for business!

Hey Spud, 

Thanks for your reply. I checked out in the F-104 Starfighter July 1958 stationed at Hamilton AFB, Ignacio (San Rafael) California. As the the youngest Officer in the Squadron I had the distinction of being the youngest if not the youngest pilot in the free world to fly a single engine jet twice the speed of sound. As part of our training I also flew my aircraft to over 90,000 ft. In March of that same year 2 members of the 83 rd, FIS set the world speed record of 1404 mph and altitude record of 91,249 ft. As the junior officer I was in charge of stocking the fighter room and PR officer. Said duties came with the name Mr. Vice which of course I had painted on my aircraft ship 769. If you google F104 Bay Bridge, you will see me flying formation over the San Francisco bay area. This same picture is on an issue of Jane's World some consider the bible of the aviation world. I was fortunate also to be the Air Force advisor for a TV special moderated by Walter Cronkite.  That's another story too long to tell here. lol  Was drafted in the Army in 1954 2 months before my 19th. Birthday. Joined the AF instead and was commissioned Sept. 1955. Transferred to the Louisiana Air National Guard in 1960 and flew the F-102 for 6 years. Hired by Delta 4/17/61 and retired 6/1/1995 flying the L-1011 to Europe. Hope I have not bored you with my rambling and bragging. lol Looking forward the new addition to my cap collection. 

Regards Ralph(Spike)

Gratitude for our Veterans and Friends

Just a few thoughts to express my gratitude for our friends and customers... this week I received two phone calls from recent customers thanking me for selling them a ball cap! It makes me realize how important our memories are. For us to provide that small link to past friends and relatives and their service or collective experience gives me great joy. For those of you who have shared your stories with Connie and I, tales of brothers and sisters-in-arms, of parents whose service must be remembered and carried with us...it's priceless to us.

We're getting fewer and fewer WWII and Korean War stories (but still some), but many more from Viet Nam. and more from Desert Storm, OIF, and Iraq and Afghan wars. Sometimes our paths have crossed by mutual friends or units we may have served in at different times, or how our ball caps have been recognized by others wearing them.

I've heard and read anecdotes from many of you about how you have helped your fellow veterans. And those stories are not isolated, you know who you are (even though you would be the last to recognize it), that one who checks in (Buddy Check) on fellow vets, visits or volunteers at the VA, takes in a homeless vet while they try and get back on their feet. The Honor Guards, Wreaths Across America, Veteran's Cemetery Challenge, Patriot Riders and too many others to name.

You know the depth of connection that many will never experience. For all of these gifts you have given us, we truly Thank You...for including us here at pilotballcaps.com into a small part of your lives! And Thank You for your Service!

Honoring our Veterans and building a business

Honoring our Veterans is what we're doing here.  At first it started about me.  I wanted MY wings.  I was proud of them, and wanted a reminder of my accomplishments.  The hats came out so well that I thought others would like them as much as I did.  And many agreed.

Next step...make pilotballcaps.com a reality...with no budget. No experience.  No knowledge of how to build a website, of market products, or using social media.  But learn I did... with many mistakes, I finally got a groove and realized my biggest strength was personal relationships.  I could relate to Veterans, we shared a common bond... and that was the easy part. That's why we try and connect with all of our customers, and many have really become friends.

What followed was a gradual expansion to include other aviation specialties, squadrons, airlines and aircraft.  Most were at the request of our customers..and many of those did very well.  Many did not and we still have the original order in stock.

Our commitment to Vets is why we have kept our prices what they were ten years ago.  It's also why we've sent hats to some Vets when they couldn't afford them, donated to different causes, and joined a variety of Vet's groups.  We just believe in it.  The time is coming when we have to raise prices.  Not because of a profit issue, but rather due to ever increasing shipping costs much of which we have incurred.

Thanks to our thousands of loyal customers and friends. To our Veterans...thank you for your service and sacrifice. And remember to tell your buddies about our little endeavor!

Whose Business is it anyways?

Whose Business is this? Maybe I'm confused but I thought it was mine!  But is it?  Yes and no.  I believe like most businesses, it belongs to the principals who keep it afloat.  That means shareholders, board members, sometimes its employees...and its customers.  For us, I think of our customers as our "board of directors".  They drive where we are going...they influence the new product lines...they ARE our marketing department.

I started this endeavor because I liked the product that I came up with.  You see that?  It was all about me in the beginning.  But that all changed when our customers became invested.  That's when our designs expanded.  New items are usually derived directly from our customer requests.  Most of the time they're right and we do well by listening.  Like any board of directors, or marketing department or advisers...sometimes they get it wrong.  Our biggest successes have been from input from our loyal customers and friends. Ideas that we didn't want, or just didn't consider.

As we stroll though our tenth year I am ever grateful for the loyalty, friendship and advise of our customers.  They are what drives the ship.  Connie and I try and keep in touch with many of them, but their numbers are in the thousands now, and we rely on technology to keep track of everyone.  Facebook helps, but mostly it's the repeat interaction that allows us to maintain that close connection.

You see, at pilotballcaps.com you're part of it... part of the design, marketing and consulting force.  For that Connie and I would like to thank you all for your trust and your help.

Civil discourse, PilotBallCaps and ramblings!

As we close the book on 2018 I resolve to write more, listen more and make my personal connections stronger. Looking back I realized, WOW, It's been awhile since I posted anything...  Seem like I have a lot to say, but not a lot to write.  These are my latest ramblings:

Civil discourse....agree to disagree, just like grown-up adults. Just because somebody says something you agree (or disagree) with does not make it factual... no matter who says it or what position they are in, find the truth.

Whew, glad I got that off my chest!  Every year I re-evaluate where pilotballcaps.com is going for the next year.  Last year we committed to improving our website....well, we did make some minor improvements, but I'm not up to speed on our next platform, soooo kind of an old dog-new tricks issue!

This year we are going to focus on what we do well and what our purpose is for the business. We may be an online retailer, but more and more I see that we are in the service industry. Our focus is solely on the customer's needs.  That does get in the way of profit, but I'm proud that we have not had to raise our prices in ten years and can still offer a superior product with personal service.

I couldn't do it without Connie (Mrs. Spud)!  She can always be counted on to keep up on the shipments when I'm out flying (yes, I do have a "day job").  Connie would never admit to this, but aside from being my heart and soul, she is able to see things from other peoples' perspective. She guides most of our decisions, even though she doesn't know it!

What is new this year??? Well, we're still expanding.  Navy and Air Force Aircrew are getting more to offer.  US Army Air Force and Eighth Air Force and 486th Bomb Group are new this year.  And we have worked with three new squadrons, all very happy to get some great gear for their troops.

I can't end the year without thanking our customers.  There are far too many to name that keep promoting us, sharing our posts and just flat out believing in us.  Thank you one and all.