He bid off that thing the moment he could, just as I did

A rite of passage is a ritual event that marks a person's progress from one status to another. It is a universal phenomenon which can show anthropologists what social hierarchies, values and beliefs are important in specific cultures.

Rites of passage are often ceremonies surrounding events such as other milestones within puberty, coming of age, marriage, flying Douglas jets and death. Initiation ceremonies such as baptism, confirmation, bar or bat Mitzvah and "wing ceremonies" are considered important rites of passage for people of their respective religions.

Like most Rites of Passage, flying a Douglas jet is miserable at the time, but is remembered fondly. After all, your greatest life long humiliation serves as others' momentary amusement. Flying a Douglas jet for 500 hours will provide you with enough experiences and stories to make conversation during the next 30 years flying Boeing equipment.