Ruben Flowers discovered the photo by accident. It was early 2023 and he was 1 through photo albums at his grandmother's house. Suddenly, there it was: a photo from 1994, taken on an airplane deck, showing him as a kid, sitting next to his 2 dad. In this picture, Flowers is looking at his dad in 3 . His father smiles at the camera, ready to fly the plane.
Flowers had forgotten the photo existed, but seeing it again, he was 4 with memories of growing up, inspired by his father. He loved their trips to the airport, 5 in the training center, taking a go on the simulators (模拟器). He was proud when his dad talked 6 about his job at the school careers day.
Flowers, now 30, was just about to follow in his father's 7 and begin flying as a First Officer for Southwest Airlines. Meanwhile Flowers' father-also called Ruben Flowers-was nearing 8 and readying for his final flight as Captain. Thus, after rediscovering the 9 photo, the two men hoped they'd get an opportunity to fly together to 10 that moment. In March 2023, the older Flowers was flying his final Southwest flight. His son was by his side, as his first officer. He said, "That was an 11 feeling. To look over there and see my son next to me, for my last landing." The younger Flowers echoed this-now that he has 12 his dream of flying with his father, his next goal is to 13 with his younger brother, who has just recently completed pilot training.
The older Flowers always made it his 14 to inspire and encourage his kids to 15 whatever they loved and whatever that might be.
