Spirit Magazine - September 2013 - (Page 22)

Your Words Dear Spirit, I read “American Idol” by Bruce Anderson [July 2013] with great interest on a recent flight. It was about Pinnacles, America’s newest national park, and the sanctuary it has become for the California condor. It was great to learn of the amazing comeback the condor is making after facing near extinction and the contribution it makes to our environment by being a carrion feeder, feasting on the carcasses of expired animals. The California condor truly serves a valuable role in our ecosystem, and I am happy to know that, unlike me and my fellow travelers, it isn’t limited to just two carrion. National parks are the crown jewels of our country. But our newest, Pinnacles, raises the question: What does it take to be one? AMERICAN IDOL BY BRUCE ANDERSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID H. COLLIER ROCK OF AGES A dusky, distant view of the stony spires that give Pinnacles its name. Opposite: A hiker sizes up the park’s Balconies Cave. 60 SPIRIT JULY 2013 JULY 2013 SPIRIT 61 —JAMES JENKINS LINCOLN, NEBR ASK A On the other hand, James, both your bags and the condor fly free. SEND ’EM IN Write to us at 2811 McKinney Ave., Suite 360, Dallas, TX 75204 or email letters@spiritmag.com. For comments or questions directed at Southwest Airlines that don’t pertain to Spirit, please visit the “Contact Us” page at southwest.com. Our favorite letter each month wins a Spirit diner mug. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/spiritmag Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/spiritmagazine 22 SPIRIT SEPTEMBER 2013 TIES THAT BIND I enjoyed reading your July article “Made in America.” I clearly recall a visit to the Tonka Truck factory in Minnetonka, Minnesota, when I was in elementary school. Seeing those little trucks pieced together before my eyes sparked my 6-year-old imagination; it taught me that every object has a story, whether it’s made by the thousand or by the dozen. I’ve always been in love with fashion and all things historical, and, at 18, I started making custom corsets. At the time, I thought it would be me and maybe one other person producing these garments. Twenty-four years later, I have a staff of 15 that helps me design, pattern, cut, stitch, and sell these creations out of our storefront in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. Who knew that an 18-year-old’s dream of making pretty things for people to wear and feel better about themselves in could turn into a world-renowned business with a celebrity clientele—and every single garment is proudly made right here in America. Thank you for sharing the stories of other enterprising folks. It all starts with a dream. —AUTUMN ADAMME SAN FRANCISCO We doubt that many corset makers were inspired by toy trucks, Autumn. You clearly had the Yankee ingenuity within you. http://www.southwest.com http://www.facebook.com/spiritmag http://www.facebook.com/spiritmag http://www.twitter.com/spiritmagazine http://www.twitter.com/spiritmagazine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Spirit Magazine - September 2013

Contents
Gary's Greeting
Gary's Greeting en Español
Star of the Month
Freedom Story
From the Editor
Your Words
Your Pictures
Media Center
Eat Drink Sleep
The Numbers
Business
Chomp, Chomp
"Are You Famous Amos?"
Health
Calendar
Fun!
Spotlight
Community Outreach
Products and Services
Flight Service
Terminal Maps
Information
Rapid Rewards Partners
Route Map
The "If" List

Spirit Magazine - September 2013