Uhm, okay. I think this is probably unseemly of me to mention, but may I say that Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, pilot of Flight 1549, is kind of sexy? I looked forward all day to his “60 Minutes” interview (with Katie Couric) tonight and halfway through the segment, I looked over and announced at MB, “Yes. Okay. I have a crush on Sully Sullenberger now.” “Okay.” Hahaha. He is, as ever, unfazed. Dammit. Be jealous. Look, man: “I HAVE A CRUSH ON CHESLEY ‘SULLY’ SULLENBERGER, OKAY???”
“Okay. Frankly, so do I.”
Well, he’s mine, Peaches; back OFF.
Anyhoo. I’m sure many of you saw this interview, so I can’t be alone here in my response. Or if I am, then make something up so I don’t feel alone. Part of the sexiness comes from the fact that he did something amazing and heroic. That’s a given. Heroes are just dead sexy. But the other part of his sexiness, the unexpected part for me, was his demeanor during the interview. Here’s this thin white-haired man, pushing 60, porn mustache, not really empirically attractive, and there’s just something about him. I could not look away from his face. Something about his gaze, how unwavering and direct it was, but not in a confrontational way, no, not at all. He seemed warm but reserved and steady. Just so steady. As he told his story, he showed absolutely no sign of ego, no sign that any of the accolades had gone to his head. He seemed almost too … complete for all of that. Too much of a grown up. Okay. I’ll say it: Too much of a man.
And I’m sorry, but he made me a little tingly. He’s a little bit yowza. When he was looking that look at America’s Chipmunk, Katie Couric, I felt this wave of resentment and wanted him to be looking that look at me. “Look at me, Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger! Look at me!”
But no. That Couric person got all his looks and, you know what? You could tell: Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger was getting to The Chipmunk too.
Yowza McGowza.
Ooooh, I wish I’d seen it, but I don’t have Picture Radio.
*goes off to look for a video online*
I would think maybe you could find it on YouTube, Maura. He was just really great.
Tracey, I got linked into your site about 8-9 months ago and I really like it. I have liked everything you’ve written except for the church rant you did a while back. This pilot is not the exception to the rule; he is the rule with many military and civil pilots. These people are cool, calm, professionals that we can all admire. Keep blogging and hopefully smiling through all of the twists and turns of life.
G.
Giovanni — Thank you for the compliment. Glad you like the blog — and too bad you didn’t like the ‘church rant’. Oh, well! I can’t please everyone and I’ve certainly stopped trying! ht
As far as the pilot — I’m sure most are incredibly admirable people. This man did have the opportunity to do something exceptional, though, and he came through under pressure. Since my aunt and uncle were, well, murdered by a pilot on Egypt Air 990, any pilot who can safely land a plane instead of deliberately crashing it into a building or the ocean is pretty much a hero to me.
Thanks for your comment!