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Inside Spirit's February 2013 Issue

JayHeinrichs
Adventurer B

Do you surf? I just learned, inspired to try after reading this month’s cover story in Southwest’s inflight magazine, Spirit. Alex Hannaford, a British-born writer who contributes to GQ and the Atlantic, did the story. It’s not just about surfing. It’s about how surfing can save your life. The girl on the cover, 13-year-old Taylor Cottrell, has a rare primary immune deficiency order. Until recently she was hooked up to an IV. After surfing therapy from a former pro surfer named Van Curaza,  Taylor has fallen in love with the sport—and finds it the best medicine. 

I’m a skeptic by profession, so found it hard to believe until I got up on my first wave. It’s an indescribable feeling. Plus the paddling is the greatest exercise there is. And just sitting on the board in the ocean, waiting for a wave…well I’m a convert. It’s easy to see why Van’s nonprofit group, Amazing Surf Adventures, has helped many challenged people surf their way to a better life.  

Spirit February

We at Spirit love doing stories like this—not puff pieces, but real-life tales with heart. We think they fit well with this heartfelt airline.

The issue also contains a piece by a pal of mine, Doug Humes. Doug and his wife, Barb, have troubled the country looking for “slivers of history,” signs of the past where you can get up close and personal with America’s story. They found the table of one of America’s greatest traitors (you can stay overnight in the house), the town where Jesse James lost his gang, the hotel where “California Dreamin’” was written, and more.

So what “slivers” can you recommend? Where are your undiscovered  places where you can literally touch history?  And, while you’re at it, where are your favorite Southwest-served surfing destinations?

4 Comments
schmidt-wolfi
Explorer C
My best Spots so far: Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil, Noth Spain, Portugal Riverwaves: Munich "Eisbach" & "Thalkirchen-Floßländle"
dsouzaba
Explorer C
Was flipping through the latest Spirit and noticed the Rapid Rewards Freedom Story. Was curious if anyone knows how SW selects the featured frequent flyer monthly?
laurina-cottrel
Explorer C
My daughter Taylor is the strongest person I have ever met in my life. She is full of love, compassion, honesty, and every other thing that I can thing of thats good in this world. Unfortunately not too long after this story was written it got cold here again, and she was unable to spend time in the ocean. She picked up a flu-bug which is hard on her, and she hasn't been feeling well since. However since she often tells us that we should live each day to the fullest, we've decided to look for a way to help her see the places she talks about visiting one day. She has a lot of friends around the world, some in England, Canada, Hawaii, Australia, and other beautiful places in the world. We are hoping to find a charter plane that we can rent and send her to visit soon. So we will keep you posted on our progress. May life fill each day with all the beauty this world has to offer, Taylor's Mom.
Brooks
Retired Community Manager
Thank you so much for sharing, Laurina. We'll be following along Taylor's journey, and I greatly enjoyed reading her story.