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SALT LAKE CITY — Age is just a number for a great-grandmother who celebrated her 90th birthday Friday by flying over the Salt Lake Valley on a paraglider.
Myrtle Jessie Smith is no stranger to the skies. During World War II, she worked as a stewardess for Western Airlines, sometimes flying as the only woman on board.
"A full plane was 21 passengers," she said. "You can't beat that with a stick, any way you look at it."
But for her birthday, she wanted to fly more like a bird than a plane.
"It's gonna be an adventure. Not the kind you drive around in a Uhaul," Myrtle said. "It's gonna be a real adventure."
Myrtle's husband went paragliding on his 90th birthday three years ago. And, not one to be outdone, Myrtle waited three years to do the same thing.
"My mom's a pretty unconventional person, she's always done a lot of crazy things," said her son, Wes Smith. "All the women in the family were saying she's kind of raised the bar, now they're going to have to get out here and do this themselves."
Almost as quickly as her flight began, Myrtle was back on solid ground, having accomplished the feat she set out to.
"Beautiful! That was terrific," she said of the flight.
She said she might even do it again, as she plans on being around for a long time and hopes to go on a few more adventures in the meantime.
