She’s practiced all the maneuvers and feels ready for everything. “Tower, ready for takeoff.”

“Cleared for takeoff.”

“First solo.”

“Roger.”

The controller glances at another: “Think she’ll be next?”

Wheels roll, wings rise, the sky opens, and heaven and earth release their graces.

Astonished, her late mother surrounds her, smiling.

MJ is an aviator, author, and speaker on ways risk and fear can work to our advantage to dream and explore. She is preparing for suborbital space flight and researching ways to improve astronauts’ long-term space missions.