Art is not just for sale.  It is also for celebration.

When we lived in Pennsylvania six years ago, I made weekly runs to several local thrift shops.  I would find stacks of perfectly preserved LIFE magazines and Saturday Evening Posts from the 1940’s and 1950’s.  I would pour over these magazines with great intrigue, both from a historical and creative standpoint.  The photography was amazing.  The articles were crisply written.  The advertisements were colorful and representative of that “dress to the nines” and “white picked fence”  and wartime era. 

As I perused one Saturday Evening Post, I came across a fabulous, full page ad for United Airlines.  Most people would just keep flipping, but this 1954 ad was special.  It caught my eye because my brother-in-law had spent his entire career at Continental/United Airlines. 

Tracy began his work with the United (then Continental) airlines after graduating from Texas Tech in 1986.  He successfully moved up the ladder, starting with crew tracking and pilot scheduling, he has overseen manpower, dining, inflight services, cargo, food services, flight operations, labor analysis, operations, planning and efficiency.  Over the course of  these positions and earning an MBA from the University Texas, he advanced from manager to Senior Vice President of Customer Service and then Senior Vice President of  United Express.  His career has not been without exhausting challenges, yet he remained without complaint.  In hard-working 1950’s fashion, Tracy was dedicated to one organization, without chasing dollar signs and higher titles, and without being fortuitous or opportunistic.  I have always held him in high regard because of this.  He was still enormously successful.

I had to preserve this United ad and someday, when Tracy retired, I would work it into a piece of art to commemorate his stellar professional journey.

In June of 2019, and after 32 years with the airline, Tracy made the decision to retire. I pulled out the ad (which had thankfully survived four military moves) and pondered what to do with it?  It sat on the counter and I would walk by it and try to think of what might be interesting, and it took a while.  Why not place it in an airplane window, making the window somewhat vintage, to reflect the 1950’s spirit?

Clearly, I thought of the national and worldwide travel that United has provided.  I also thought of the places Tracy was able to generously explore with his family and friends. Vintage postcard paper became wallpaper.  Papers with compasses and American flags frame the window.  Looking out the window, you see the advertisement on the tarmac. 

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The ad itself is a reflective and entertaining work of art.  Zoom in and check it out.  Travelers are dressed in their Sunday best and walking on a red carpet with cameras running.  The ad mentions games, music, meals by world-famous chefs, and white-gloved treatment of your luggage.  Folks did not take their ability to travel lightly.  It was an event and a gift.  For the first time people were more connected.  It was really a celebration.  Wouldn’t it be great to get a glimmer of those days?

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This piece is primarily a celebration of Tracy, but also a reminder to be our best and be grateful.   Times have changed.  The world has become more casual, less appreciative, and takes things for granted.  But not my brother-in-law. He is optimistic. He has known for years that hard work and dedication pay off.  He just started a new adventure in retirement. He’s relaxing, playing more golf, dating my sister, watching football, traveling with family, cooking up a storm, and evening brewing some beer.  He is grateful. He has earned it.  His smile says it all.