The summer of 1986 found me in Tallinn, Estonia, which was part of the U.S.S.R. at that particular time. I wrote about my encounters with the KGB and smuggling Bibles and other items into the former Iron Curtain city several years ago and being followed by the local police. You know, just normal everyday things! I'd go back and read this former article if you haven't already. It has so much to do with this current, particular post.
A few days back, I opened the New York Times travel article to discover that it was calling Tallinn "A European capital of culture....a sense of optimism in the air.....it's citizens are among the continent's most cheerful people." Holy smokes. That's just something else. Who would have ever thought. The article continues on to describe a scant 36 hour whirlwind tour through Tallinn. Eating, touring, visiting, browsing, fashion and, of course, the past. The dark past riddled with watch towers, KGB, underground activities and such. Those are the days I remember. These new days that the New York Times is describing I'm not familiar with.
I decided to check out the hotel that we stayed in while we were there. (Again, read the above article first...) It was the only hotel where tourists could stay at the time. Operated by Intourist, the government agency who oversaw every single person coming into the USSR for tourism purposes. We were only permitted to be in certain places, at certain times, with our assigned tour guide. What I didn't know until today, was that the Viru Hotel actually housed the areas KGB listening post. They used a secured area on the 23rd floor of this hotel for their purposes. I can't remember which floor my room was on. But I remember the warnings about telephones being bugged, two-way mirrors, housekeeping staff who weren't really "housekeeping staff." Check out this article. I was so happy to find it. I also discovered that one of the churches we sang in housed a KGB listening tower in its spire. Fascinating!
I'd love to make a trip back there someday. To reflect and remember. And to enjoy the newfound fortune of fashion and food as well. Oh, and I could even go and stay at the newly refurbished Hotel Viru. I'm assuming that they have removed the listening devices from the lamps and vases.
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
Six Degrees of Separation
They say there are six. Degrees of separation, that is. Sometimes I don't think there are that many. And other days, I think there are about a thousand. Today, the degrees of separation were not even in existence.
I was working a San Francisco to Seattle 9:20am departure. I was at the L1 forward boarding door welcoming 124 lovely folks on board. (And their numerous oversized bags as well....did I mention "numerous"?) When what to my wondering eye should appear but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. No, wait, that's not right. I'm thinking something else...... But what was coming through the door was a very nice gentleman smiling at me and pointing. "Hey, I know you!" He went on with "I was wondering if I was ever going to be on one of your flights......I read your blog!" He was as excited as I was. And I think we were both quite surprised. Irony. Out of the blue. Complete happenstance.
And the story is made even more random because neither of us live in the Bay Area nor in Seattle. He lives way out in the Northeast United States. Visiting family. Working. But, wow, what a morning. I was able to feed and water Bill. A Bailey's Irish Cream and a snack. It's the least I could do. Bill, I loved meeting you. You made my day!
I was working a San Francisco to Seattle 9:20am departure. I was at the L1 forward boarding door welcoming 124 lovely folks on board. (And their numerous oversized bags as well....did I mention "numerous"?) When what to my wondering eye should appear but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. No, wait, that's not right. I'm thinking something else...... But what was coming through the door was a very nice gentleman smiling at me and pointing. "Hey, I know you!" He went on with "I was wondering if I was ever going to be on one of your flights......I read your blog!" He was as excited as I was. And I think we were both quite surprised. Irony. Out of the blue. Complete happenstance.
And the story is made even more random because neither of us live in the Bay Area nor in Seattle. He lives way out in the Northeast United States. Visiting family. Working. But, wow, what a morning. I was able to feed and water Bill. A Bailey's Irish Cream and a snack. It's the least I could do. Bill, I loved meeting you. You made my day!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
March Madness
I've taken the plunge. I needed just one more Apple product. That's the way they operate, you know....."You just have to have it." And on that note, I will be getting it -- my very first iPad. The New iPad Third Generation arrives at my house this next Friday. I'm hoping it's the right choice. For traveling. I'll leave my laptop at home. But the lack of a full-size keyboard on the iPad is concerning me a little. We'll see. I am very excited, though. And I've done a nice job of tempting LoverBoy as well. He's all of a twitter and going down the "Well, I can't find a decent cover for my iPad 1 so maybe I should sell my old one and get a new one so that I can find a cover for it" trail. Because all of that makes perfect sense. In the Apple world it does.
My new glasses have arrived. My first progressives -- yeah yeah yeah, I know it takes some time to get used to them. Btu I'n huving a ibt of a difiucullt tyme seying throussh thenm. I think they look pretty good but you'll have to be the judge of that. It is my first online glasses ordering. I used a company called Lookmatic. Great customer service. More than happy to do whatever it takes to make it right. I'd recommend them. The top half for distance is great....especially at night....much more crisp and clear. But the bottom reading half is a mess....I'm not sure if it's a matter of me getting used to them or not. But my older straight reading specs were much better.
The Flight Path Debrief program for flight attendants is on a roller coaster ride at this particular point. You remember...the program the took me to Seattle for 69 nights last year. That I devoted hundreds of hours to helping design. Along with 23 others. Thousands of hours and dollars to develop a top-notch grade A program is now in flux. Do we want it? Should we revise it? Let's just say that I'm tired of corporate politics. Let's just say that I'm tired of non-flight attendants thinking that they know what's best for flight attendants. I know, I know....be flexible, nimble, open minded. I'm trying. But I'm more than definitely happy to be back flying full time. Away from the office. Away from the fray of office and corporate life.
There's a new girl in town....and she's sitting on top of our condominium...up on the roof. She's a Davis Vantage Vue weather system. You can now see the weather for our area...our building!....right on the internet. You'll see the new badge on my blog...upper right-hand side. That's the weather for our building. Sort of fun. And the internet link to it is here: http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KORPORTL191.
We're putting together details of our upcoming trip to Ogunquit, Maine, at the end of April. We'll be staying in a B&B in Ogunquit and then visiting our friends Wil and Fritz for a couple of nights. We're also working on details for Bear Week in Provincetown in July.....year four! And I see a road trip maybe next week to Boise for just me and Mason....to see the parents and sister. And maybe help sis get a new laptop up and running. We saw The Descendents last night. Great movie. I had no clue what it was about or even who was in it. That's the third Academy Award nominee that we've seen -- in addition to The Help and The Iron Lady. Sounds like all movies have to begin with the word "The" nowadays.
My new glasses have arrived. My first progressives -- yeah yeah yeah, I know it takes some time to get used to them. Btu I'n huving a ibt of a difiucullt tyme seying throussh thenm. I think they look pretty good but you'll have to be the judge of that. It is my first online glasses ordering. I used a company called Lookmatic. Great customer service. More than happy to do whatever it takes to make it right. I'd recommend them. The top half for distance is great....especially at night....much more crisp and clear. But the bottom reading half is a mess....I'm not sure if it's a matter of me getting used to them or not. But my older straight reading specs were much better.
The Flight Path Debrief program for flight attendants is on a roller coaster ride at this particular point. You remember...the program the took me to Seattle for 69 nights last year. That I devoted hundreds of hours to helping design. Along with 23 others. Thousands of hours and dollars to develop a top-notch grade A program is now in flux. Do we want it? Should we revise it? Let's just say that I'm tired of corporate politics. Let's just say that I'm tired of non-flight attendants thinking that they know what's best for flight attendants. I know, I know....be flexible, nimble, open minded. I'm trying. But I'm more than definitely happy to be back flying full time. Away from the office. Away from the fray of office and corporate life.
There's a new girl in town....and she's sitting on top of our condominium...up on the roof. She's a Davis Vantage Vue weather system. You can now see the weather for our area...our building!....right on the internet. You'll see the new badge on my blog...upper right-hand side. That's the weather for our building. Sort of fun. And the internet link to it is here: http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KORPORTL191.
We're putting together details of our upcoming trip to Ogunquit, Maine, at the end of April. We'll be staying in a B&B in Ogunquit and then visiting our friends Wil and Fritz for a couple of nights. We're also working on details for Bear Week in Provincetown in July.....year four! And I see a road trip maybe next week to Boise for just me and Mason....to see the parents and sister. And maybe help sis get a new laptop up and running. We saw The Descendents last night. Great movie. I had no clue what it was about or even who was in it. That's the third Academy Award nominee that we've seen -- in addition to The Help and The Iron Lady. Sounds like all movies have to begin with the word "The" nowadays.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Afterglow
Good lord. Who would have known that turning 50 would be such a crazy time. It started out with almost 20 folks at Happy Hour on last Thursday evening. Migrated to a quieter 6-person coffee on Friday morning. An even more quiet and lovely 3-person dinner and 5-person movie ("The Iron Lady" which I loved). And a 32-person bash on Saturday night hosted by our good friend Alan. And concluded on Sunday with a 12-person brunch and a 25-person Pizza and Piano evening at our condominium. I had phone calls, text messages, emails, "likes" on FB, and wall posts on FB (truly, about 150 of them!) -- from so many of you...and from England, South Africa, and Paris. And I was able to have my very first, live phone call with a longtime reader of my site....the infamous Anne Marie in Philly. She made me feel so good about turning 50! The picture speaks for itself. Cards, cards and more cards. With sentiments. And thoughts. And reflections. And memories. Really good stuff. Thanks to you all. My friends. I appreciated all of your attention so much.
I feel like Mrs. Rich Bitch right now with my state and federal tax returns plus our company's annual performance payout. I've asked for it all in rolls of pennies. It has already been nearly spent. On things like Mason's teeth cleaning, a new home printer, and setting aside some for our annual trip to Provincetown, Massachusetts, this July for Bear Week.
I'm heading to Seattle tomorrow for a day of helping out in yet another brand new class of flight attendants. I help teach the Services Training day -- food, beverages, carts, how to pour drinks and be nice to people day. It's always a lot of fun....but oh so tiring. And the perception is always so strange -- turning into classroom training what I have spent 17 years of my life actually doing in flight. Strange.
The month of March will return me to overnight trips at work. I've been mainly doing turns...where I go out and right back home instead of staying overnight somewhere. I haven't done an overnight away in months -- probably since last November or so. That's one of the great things about my job -- the flexibility, the change, the variety.
February is truly one of my favorite times of year. For more reasons that just my birthday. I love the gentle edging up of temperatures -- we hit 62 yesterday. The crocus are already up and blooming. And the daffodils and tulips will follow shortly. The pink of the flowering cherry trees has been around for about two weeks already. I really dig our temperate climate without giant extremes of hot or cold.
I feel like Mrs. Rich Bitch right now with my state and federal tax returns plus our company's annual performance payout. I've asked for it all in rolls of pennies. It has already been nearly spent. On things like Mason's teeth cleaning, a new home printer, and setting aside some for our annual trip to Provincetown, Massachusetts, this July for Bear Week.
I'm heading to Seattle tomorrow for a day of helping out in yet another brand new class of flight attendants. I help teach the Services Training day -- food, beverages, carts, how to pour drinks and be nice to people day. It's always a lot of fun....but oh so tiring. And the perception is always so strange -- turning into classroom training what I have spent 17 years of my life actually doing in flight. Strange.
The month of March will return me to overnight trips at work. I've been mainly doing turns...where I go out and right back home instead of staying overnight somewhere. I haven't done an overnight away in months -- probably since last November or so. That's one of the great things about my job -- the flexibility, the change, the variety.
February is truly one of my favorite times of year. For more reasons that just my birthday. I love the gentle edging up of temperatures -- we hit 62 yesterday. The crocus are already up and blooming. And the daffodils and tulips will follow shortly. The pink of the flowering cherry trees has been around for about two weeks already. I really dig our temperate climate without giant extremes of hot or cold.
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Back in the Saddle
Oh, listen to me....saying "back in the saddle." Like I've ever been in one. Well, now wait...that's not entirely true. Once. North of Kona...in Hawaii. At the Kahua Ranch. My one and only venture on a horse. Old Sampson. He had gas and they put me at the back of the line. But today, I'm back in the saddle in the virtual sort of 2012 way.
We enjoyed a fantastic week-long New Year's Adventure including two evenings of The Middle reruns and another of Absolutely Fabulous reruns. There were two entire days where we didn't dress or put on shoes. Passed around the champagne bottle at midnight. And wrapped up tight on the two days that we ventured outside to both Hudson and Saratoga Springs, New York. Such great towns. You know, everything on the East Coast is so much older than it is out here in the West. It seems more historic. More blue collar. More rough, tough, used and worn. And we enjoyed one evening with as many of our Albany, New York-area friends as we could gather. And Enterprise Car Rental gave us a 2012 Mazda CX9 with 300 miles on it. Rode like a beauty on the Mass Pike. We had a fantastic week. And now we're home. Picking up the pooch from his boarding place this morning. (BTW, can you even believe that there are those that believe I talk about Mason incessantly? I've been accused of being consumed by him and, apparently, talk about him nonstop. Psht....). Oh, and one more thing before I go.....I watched two movies during our six-hour flight from Boston-Portland last night....Dolphin Tale and All the President's Men. I only cried a few times (in the dolphin movie, not the president movie).
We've got a 12th Night gathering tomorrow night, I have my very first Cardiologist appointment next week to hopefully put my adventurous mind to rest about issues that I don't even think are really there (nothing to worry about as far as I know). I'm also back into my facilitation schedule for our company's Flight Path Debrief for Flight Attendants session and will be facilitating in all of our bases over the next year. We are in high-level talks about our travel schedule for this year...planning vacations, crossing destinations off our list, adding others, fantasizing about others. And, yes, my 50th half-century birthday is in six weeks. So, we're in preparation for all of that birthday President's Day weekend (you did know that I celebrate with the President's each year, didn't you?).
I always love this time of year. Fresh starts turn me on. New things make me feel good. And my mind mulling over things that need to go...and things that need to start.....
We enjoyed a fantastic week-long New Year's Adventure including two evenings of The Middle reruns and another of Absolutely Fabulous reruns. There were two entire days where we didn't dress or put on shoes. Passed around the champagne bottle at midnight. And wrapped up tight on the two days that we ventured outside to both Hudson and Saratoga Springs, New York. Such great towns. You know, everything on the East Coast is so much older than it is out here in the West. It seems more historic. More blue collar. More rough, tough, used and worn. And we enjoyed one evening with as many of our Albany, New York-area friends as we could gather. And Enterprise Car Rental gave us a 2012 Mazda CX9 with 300 miles on it. Rode like a beauty on the Mass Pike. We had a fantastic week. And now we're home. Picking up the pooch from his boarding place this morning. (BTW, can you even believe that there are those that believe I talk about Mason incessantly? I've been accused of being consumed by him and, apparently, talk about him nonstop. Psht....). Oh, and one more thing before I go.....I watched two movies during our six-hour flight from Boston-Portland last night....Dolphin Tale and All the President's Men. I only cried a few times (in the dolphin movie, not the president movie).
We've got a 12th Night gathering tomorrow night, I have my very first Cardiologist appointment next week to hopefully put my adventurous mind to rest about issues that I don't even think are really there (nothing to worry about as far as I know). I'm also back into my facilitation schedule for our company's Flight Path Debrief for Flight Attendants session and will be facilitating in all of our bases over the next year. We are in high-level talks about our travel schedule for this year...planning vacations, crossing destinations off our list, adding others, fantasizing about others. And, yes, my 50th half-century birthday is in six weeks. So, we're in preparation for all of that birthday President's Day weekend (you did know that I celebrate with the President's each year, didn't you?).
I always love this time of year. Fresh starts turn me on. New things make me feel good. And my mind mulling over things that need to go...and things that need to start.....
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Actually, it is. I love this time of the year. And only a small piece of it has anything to do with the Christmas thing. I do love the music and food and gatherings and watching people go everywhere to see their families and friends. But you can keep the presents and financial obligations and commercialism. But there's something captivating about winter. The longest day of the year. The dark. The cold. The sky seems to be more clear in the winter (well, when we can actually see it....here in Portland). The stars shine even brighter. The wind seems to blow away bad things. It gives the mind a chance to clear and rethink. But I do enjoy it for the value it brings to the earth and to my life.
I'm home this week. With what may be Pink Eye. I've never had it. And the doctor isn't sure....if it's actually Pink Eye. If it is, it's highly contagious. If it's not, it's just puffy, red eyes with stuff in them. One eye more red than the other. So, I'm home. Certainly not at work with something contagious.
We leave one week from today for Albany, New York. We're going to kick off the year 2012 with lots of good friends in the countryside outside of Albany. Cold. Snow (maybe). Laughs. Giggles. Good food and drinks. A pajama party inside while the cold winds of the night remain outside. Actually, I've already asked LoverBoy if we can make sure to go outside on New Year's Eve. To stand together even if just for a minute. To enjoy the night...the sky....and all of those other things that the last few minutes of the year bring. He has agreed. We're flying to Boston, renting a car, and heading west back toward New York state. I'm praying for good roads on the Mass Pike (isn't that what those fancy Northeasterners call it??). We're going to enjoy a huge dinner with a ton of our close and extended friends on the 30th. Many of these guys are those that we spend Bear Week in Provincetown with each July. The rest are friends of friends who are now our friends! It's nice. And we can't wait.
Portland is on track to have the driest December on record. It is typically our wettest month of the year. And we've had barely any rain. It's been cold and clear with some morning fog. So, the other day Mason was scratching at our patio door "Let me out!" So I did. He likes to hang out there on the east-facing patio in the mornings when the sun is shining. He stares down three floors at the people below wandering to and from our corner coffee shop. Now, he knows the rules for being out there: (1) No barking (2) No throwing his toys over the edge and (3) No digging in the planter that houses a small Japanese maple tree. But for some reason, I caught him in a compromising position that I've never seen him in before:
I said, "Mason, you get down from there" in my most low-octave, authoritative sort of quasi masculine voice. He then glanced up to see if I actually meant business or not:
And then he did this.....perfectly, beautifully, innocently:
It was cold that morning....and I think that it was the warmest spot he could find. I laughed and laughed. And I grabbed my camera to capture these moments. He's such a good boy.
Merry Christmas everybody. To you. To your friends and family. To those moments in our lives when we don't feel like saying anything "Merry." To those things that are less than "Merry." Who cares! Look 'em straight in the face anyway and say "Merry Christmas" or some other happy greeting.
I'm home this week. With what may be Pink Eye. I've never had it. And the doctor isn't sure....if it's actually Pink Eye. If it is, it's highly contagious. If it's not, it's just puffy, red eyes with stuff in them. One eye more red than the other. So, I'm home. Certainly not at work with something contagious.
We leave one week from today for Albany, New York. We're going to kick off the year 2012 with lots of good friends in the countryside outside of Albany. Cold. Snow (maybe). Laughs. Giggles. Good food and drinks. A pajama party inside while the cold winds of the night remain outside. Actually, I've already asked LoverBoy if we can make sure to go outside on New Year's Eve. To stand together even if just for a minute. To enjoy the night...the sky....and all of those other things that the last few minutes of the year bring. He has agreed. We're flying to Boston, renting a car, and heading west back toward New York state. I'm praying for good roads on the Mass Pike (isn't that what those fancy Northeasterners call it??). We're going to enjoy a huge dinner with a ton of our close and extended friends on the 30th. Many of these guys are those that we spend Bear Week in Provincetown with each July. The rest are friends of friends who are now our friends! It's nice. And we can't wait.
Portland is on track to have the driest December on record. It is typically our wettest month of the year. And we've had barely any rain. It's been cold and clear with some morning fog. So, the other day Mason was scratching at our patio door "Let me out!" So I did. He likes to hang out there on the east-facing patio in the mornings when the sun is shining. He stares down three floors at the people below wandering to and from our corner coffee shop. Now, he knows the rules for being out there: (1) No barking (2) No throwing his toys over the edge and (3) No digging in the planter that houses a small Japanese maple tree. But for some reason, I caught him in a compromising position that I've never seen him in before:
And then he did this.....perfectly, beautifully, innocently:
Merry Christmas everybody. To you. To your friends and family. To those moments in our lives when we don't feel like saying anything "Merry." To those things that are less than "Merry." Who cares! Look 'em straight in the face anyway and say "Merry Christmas" or some other happy greeting.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
And The Summer Drags On.....
Holy smokes folks....the last waning days of August are upon us. As usual, I can't believe it.
I've been sequestered in a windowless room in Seattle for most of my summer. Designing. Planning. Creating. Crafting. Thinking. A lot of fun. A ton of work. For the first time in years, my mind is keeping me awake at nights -- something I have forgotten, a detail that needs to be done. A program for flight attendants on Who We Are, How We Fit, and Why We Matter will roll out in October. If I disappeared from the Design Team today, it wouldn't matter -- I've taken a backseat and my value is minimal. I spent about 50 hours on a very nice, introspective brochure to be used in the program...called "Being the CEO Of Your Life." It's been trashed and won't be used. What a waste.
I'm playing Hanging With Friends on my iPhone regularly....something I've never done in my life. I am not a game player. But for some reason, this has consumed me.
I've seen numerous trees around town with those hints of yellows and reds to them. Ah oh.
My required annual flight attendant Recurrent training is coming up in a few weeks. "Heads Down, Stay Down!"
I haven't read any blogs, commented, or even been here on my own site since May. Lordy be.
Hubby and I are going to Palm Springs for five days in early October with a bunch of friends. Should be a nice time.
My seniority at my very own Portland flight attendant base has dropped starting September. I'm 20 less senior than I used to be.
I've been sequestered in a windowless room in Seattle for most of my summer. Designing. Planning. Creating. Crafting. Thinking. A lot of fun. A ton of work. For the first time in years, my mind is keeping me awake at nights -- something I have forgotten, a detail that needs to be done. A program for flight attendants on Who We Are, How We Fit, and Why We Matter will roll out in October. If I disappeared from the Design Team today, it wouldn't matter -- I've taken a backseat and my value is minimal. I spent about 50 hours on a very nice, introspective brochure to be used in the program...called "Being the CEO Of Your Life." It's been trashed and won't be used. What a waste.
I'm playing Hanging With Friends on my iPhone regularly....something I've never done in my life. I am not a game player. But for some reason, this has consumed me.
I've seen numerous trees around town with those hints of yellows and reds to them. Ah oh.
My required annual flight attendant Recurrent training is coming up in a few weeks. "Heads Down, Stay Down!"
I haven't read any blogs, commented, or even been here on my own site since May. Lordy be.
Hubby and I are going to Palm Springs for five days in early October with a bunch of friends. Should be a nice time.
My seniority at my very own Portland flight attendant base has dropped starting September. I'm 20 less senior than I used to be.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
The Bears Return to the Forest
Good lord. What a week. Bear Week 2011 in Provincetown. Summer in Cape Cod. From drinking as much water as I could to minimize the effects of the strong summer sun to using a whole can of sunscreen, it was quite the week. Well, and then there are the alternative drinks -- the Poolboy, the Pineapple Paradise, the Watermelon Vodka Soda, the beer, and the shots of Cranberry Vodka. I'm exhausted and more than happy to be home....listening to the rains of mid July in Portland fall on the rooftop this morning. No, honestly, I'm glad to be here. I had a delightful week with my friends. My good buddy Don has always made sure I'm well taken care of, welcomed, and pointed in the right direction. He is just that kind of guy. I owe him my first born. A few of us took in the Pam Ann show which was geared totally to the Bear audience....amazing night. It was her first foray into Bear Week...and judging from the turnout and response, I'll bet that she'll be back. Oh, and she brought her Trolley right out into the aisle like any good Air Hostess would do and gave my buddy George and Me each a cold weiner...or a hot dog if you prefer. There were early mornings and late nights at 1am with pizza. There was plenty of loud dance music and crowds so jammed together at Tea Dance every afternoon that it made it impossible to even move which proved to not be my most favorite parts of the week. There were scantily clothed muscle bears, Santa bears, otters, cubs, dolphins, gummy bears (don't ask), honey bears, polar bears, and panda bears. Oh My.
We took in the Long Point lighthouse way out at the very tip of Cape Cod, ventured into the new basement digs of a leather store -- and scampered out of there like scared puppies....You Want Me to Do What??? There was one night of lighting, thunder, and torrents of rain....and there was one day of high humidity and heat that made this skinny white dolphin migrate toward shade and ice cubs (no, wait, cubes....) in cold drinks. And there was this unpleasant part of the week which seems to rear it's head whenever you jam several thousand horny guys into small spaces. Grindr and Scruff were at record levels according to my sources. And as flirtatious as I am as the next guy, feelings get all wound up easily.....and you see people doing things that you hadn't quite prepared for -- things that left me uncomfortable and unsure about. Sometimes at the end of a long day of staring at handsome men, it's nice to chill and relax and have a change of pace and divert the conversation from the sexual hype and technology that has become our world. It's hard to do in groups like this one.
My flights were perfect -- but of course knowing the crews always helps. My ride on Amtrak in the business class car was delightful and too short. And I had the chance to meet people from around the world that I would never have been able to. I checked out a baby seal that had beached itself one day for a rest and I was able to wear a fancy loaned D&G swimsuit from my friend Matthew. We stopped in the many tourist shops, looked at cool sunglasses, oh and I did buy a brand new wallet -- one that is less thick as my former one so that it doesn't look quite so poofy against my skinny pale aging ass.
But I needed to get home. To be with my center point, the balance in my life, and the peace that knows who loves you more than anyone else in the world. I'm here. I'm queer -- as was clearly exhibited this week. And I'm happy. Too all of my favorite Bears and to my housemates at the Center Street Compound I love you all........Grrrrrrrrr.........
We took in the Long Point lighthouse way out at the very tip of Cape Cod, ventured into the new basement digs of a leather store -- and scampered out of there like scared puppies....You Want Me to Do What??? There was one night of lighting, thunder, and torrents of rain....and there was one day of high humidity and heat that made this skinny white dolphin migrate toward shade and ice cubs (no, wait, cubes....) in cold drinks. And there was this unpleasant part of the week which seems to rear it's head whenever you jam several thousand horny guys into small spaces. Grindr and Scruff were at record levels according to my sources. And as flirtatious as I am as the next guy, feelings get all wound up easily.....and you see people doing things that you hadn't quite prepared for -- things that left me uncomfortable and unsure about. Sometimes at the end of a long day of staring at handsome men, it's nice to chill and relax and have a change of pace and divert the conversation from the sexual hype and technology that has become our world. It's hard to do in groups like this one.
My flights were perfect -- but of course knowing the crews always helps. My ride on Amtrak in the business class car was delightful and too short. And I had the chance to meet people from around the world that I would never have been able to. I checked out a baby seal that had beached itself one day for a rest and I was able to wear a fancy loaned D&G swimsuit from my friend Matthew. We stopped in the many tourist shops, looked at cool sunglasses, oh and I did buy a brand new wallet -- one that is less thick as my former one so that it doesn't look quite so poofy against my skinny pale aging ass.
But I needed to get home. To be with my center point, the balance in my life, and the peace that knows who loves you more than anyone else in the world. I'm here. I'm queer -- as was clearly exhibited this week. And I'm happy. Too all of my favorite Bears and to my housemates at the Center Street Compound I love you all........Grrrrrrrrr.........
Monday, July 11, 2011
Tip of Cape Cod
The Bears are out in full force this week. Plenty of good looking, fuzzy, muscle-quality sort of things to cast one's gaze (no, not "gays"....) upon. The last two afternoons at Tea Dance have been chucker block full. Zero room to move or walk. The weather has been amazing. More friends arrive Tuesday and again on Thursday. The house we stay in is the old Railmaster's home.....at the end of the railroad line that used to run out to Provincetown. And no, I haven't been out until all hours.....I've been in bed at quite a respectable hour. Gladly.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Summer Begins Today
Lordy kids, I'm so sorry. My summer has started off in a whirlwind and I don't see it changing. I am heavily involved in a work project that takes me out of Portland for two additional days each week for the remainder of the summer....and maybe even longer. That is in addition to my regular flying schedule. Combine that with the fact that I have full intention each year of getting out to one of Portland's two clothing-optional beaches, and I can see that things are not going to quite go the way I'd like them to this summer. And summer here is always relatively short anyway. Ugh.
My Sister is back on her flight returning to Idaho after a nice weekend here in Portland for gay Pride. It was her first Pride ever. She was like a kid in a candy shop! We enjoyed being first in the parade lineup and distributed 40,000 pair of mardi gras style beads. It was a ton of fun. And we helped out in our company's booth at our festival. Rained the first day. Cloudy but no rain the second. And then I had a friend with the audacity to tell me that he hated Pride...always has. That there was no good reason for it. How horrible gay people act during Pride. How Pride does not define our lives. Etc etc blah blah blah. How dare he rain on anyone else's parade. Well, of course it doesn't define our lives or who we are as gay folk. Duh. I'm doing my best to be open, available, and keep an open mind. About Pride and everything else in life. I just didn't like him spouting off on my good fortune or feelings. I had a great weekend and we'll leave it at that.
I have this one day to regroup, do a million loads of laundry, pack for a business trip to Seattle the next two days, and for Hubby and I to get our home back in order. We have left Mason alone for far too many hours the last week. I am departing July 8 for a week in Provincetown at Bear Week with a houseful of friends from years past. And, I'm going to see the one and only Pam Ann while I'm there. That'll be a first for me. And today is the first day of summer. Who knows, we may have more than one 80 degree day this year. Yee haw.
My Sister is back on her flight returning to Idaho after a nice weekend here in Portland for gay Pride. It was her first Pride ever. She was like a kid in a candy shop! We enjoyed being first in the parade lineup and distributed 40,000 pair of mardi gras style beads. It was a ton of fun. And we helped out in our company's booth at our festival. Rained the first day. Cloudy but no rain the second. And then I had a friend with the audacity to tell me that he hated Pride...always has. That there was no good reason for it. How horrible gay people act during Pride. How Pride does not define our lives. Etc etc blah blah blah. How dare he rain on anyone else's parade. Well, of course it doesn't define our lives or who we are as gay folk. Duh. I'm doing my best to be open, available, and keep an open mind. About Pride and everything else in life. I just didn't like him spouting off on my good fortune or feelings. I had a great weekend and we'll leave it at that.
I have this one day to regroup, do a million loads of laundry, pack for a business trip to Seattle the next two days, and for Hubby and I to get our home back in order. We have left Mason alone for far too many hours the last week. I am departing July 8 for a week in Provincetown at Bear Week with a houseful of friends from years past. And, I'm going to see the one and only Pam Ann while I'm there. That'll be a first for me. And today is the first day of summer. Who knows, we may have more than one 80 degree day this year. Yee haw.
Monday, June 06, 2011
And So Begins June......
Summertime......ugh, maybe, wait for it, perhaps....is it here? Perhaps. We had two days of 80 or more over the weekend....first time since last August. It felt quite good, the warmth on the skin. We ventured 100 miles east of Portland up the historic Columbia River Gorge to camp for one night with our buddies who had traveled from Idaho. They graciously opened up their fifth wheel trailer and allowed us to stay with them. It made camping so so so much easier. We stayed right down on the Columbia River at Maryhill State Park on the Washington side of the river. The river is at it's peak flow right now....super high, super fast because of snow melt and spring rains. The cliffs above the river there are sheer rock, straight up to the farm fields up on top. I suppose they were formed a zillion years ago during an ice age sheering off of sorts or something along those lines. Needless to say, it is some seriously amazing country to enjoy.
I had the opportunity to sit in on one of the most exciting meetings ever at work recently. A meeting that our airline's Maintenance and Engineering Departments holds every single morning, seven days a week, at 8am. The room was filled with about 20 folks who are in charge of our airplanes, maintenance, broken aircraft, engines, parts, mechanical issues, etc. In addition, there were maintenance heads from all over the country on the conference call. It was flawless, speedy, and proceeded like a well-oiled machine as they spoke about this aircraft, that broken plane, this part, that issue, this particular heavy check, etc. I couldn't believe how hands-on and intricate they were. Spot on. Didn't miss a beat. And clearly had the airline's best interest in mind -- getting the aircraft back in the air, safety and professionally. I'm sure my head was spinning in circles as I listened and watched them. It was so cool.
I've pissed off some very good friends of ours. No surprise, is it....Me pissing off people?? My strong opinions and mouth to go with it don't always bode well for others. I'm aware of that. I own that. I can handle that. But, still, pissing off one's friends isn't the best thing to be doing. It was nothing directed at them in particular but spoke to a wider audience. I was standing up for our most junior of flight attendants and simply brought to light some issues that we have going in our work ranks right now. I believe that speaking up for what one thinks isn't quite right -- especially for those who need to be spoken up for -- is the right thing to do. I'm sure that the phrase "It wasn't what you said but how you said it" could easily apply here. Point is that we are all entitled to our own opinions, viewpoints and such. We should make those judgments professionally with a well-rounded and balanced approach. No one else has to agree with us. And we should feel good about that. So now I'm moving on to my stomping out brush fires duty. Man oh man, I've got a lot to learn.
Next week is Portland Pride. My sister is coming over from Idaho for it. It will be her very first Pride ever. And it will my very first time that my sister and I have ever marched in a Pride parade together. Excitement mounts. We're going to be super busy setting up our company's booth at the festival, helping organize the group marching in the parade, and all of that. And with any luck, we won't have torrential downpours to deal with.
Bear Week in Provincetown is coming closer, closer, closer. I have mixed feelings about it but I am going by myself this year. We had decided after last year's trip that we were probably not going to go -- financial, amount of time needed off, and several other reasons. As time went on, Hubby encouraged me to feel free to go alone if I chose to. So I am. But I'm still wondering how it will feel to be at Bear Week all by myself without him. I mean, I will be in a house with a bunch of our good friends .... but Hubby and I have created some great memories of our very own there. It's just going to feel a little different than normal. And, I have tickets to see the one and only, the world famous, Pam Ann who will be performing at Bear Week.
I had the opportunity to sit in on one of the most exciting meetings ever at work recently. A meeting that our airline's Maintenance and Engineering Departments holds every single morning, seven days a week, at 8am. The room was filled with about 20 folks who are in charge of our airplanes, maintenance, broken aircraft, engines, parts, mechanical issues, etc. In addition, there were maintenance heads from all over the country on the conference call. It was flawless, speedy, and proceeded like a well-oiled machine as they spoke about this aircraft, that broken plane, this part, that issue, this particular heavy check, etc. I couldn't believe how hands-on and intricate they were. Spot on. Didn't miss a beat. And clearly had the airline's best interest in mind -- getting the aircraft back in the air, safety and professionally. I'm sure my head was spinning in circles as I listened and watched them. It was so cool.
I've pissed off some very good friends of ours. No surprise, is it....Me pissing off people?? My strong opinions and mouth to go with it don't always bode well for others. I'm aware of that. I own that. I can handle that. But, still, pissing off one's friends isn't the best thing to be doing. It was nothing directed at them in particular but spoke to a wider audience. I was standing up for our most junior of flight attendants and simply brought to light some issues that we have going in our work ranks right now. I believe that speaking up for what one thinks isn't quite right -- especially for those who need to be spoken up for -- is the right thing to do. I'm sure that the phrase "It wasn't what you said but how you said it" could easily apply here. Point is that we are all entitled to our own opinions, viewpoints and such. We should make those judgments professionally with a well-rounded and balanced approach. No one else has to agree with us. And we should feel good about that. So now I'm moving on to my stomping out brush fires duty. Man oh man, I've got a lot to learn.
Next week is Portland Pride. My sister is coming over from Idaho for it. It will be her very first Pride ever. And it will my very first time that my sister and I have ever marched in a Pride parade together. Excitement mounts. We're going to be super busy setting up our company's booth at the festival, helping organize the group marching in the parade, and all of that. And with any luck, we won't have torrential downpours to deal with.
Bear Week in Provincetown is coming closer, closer, closer. I have mixed feelings about it but I am going by myself this year. We had decided after last year's trip that we were probably not going to go -- financial, amount of time needed off, and several other reasons. As time went on, Hubby encouraged me to feel free to go alone if I chose to. So I am. But I'm still wondering how it will feel to be at Bear Week all by myself without him. I mean, I will be in a house with a bunch of our good friends .... but Hubby and I have created some great memories of our very own there. It's just going to feel a little different than normal. And, I have tickets to see the one and only, the world famous, Pam Ann who will be performing at Bear Week.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Wriggle to Create Heat
Just when you think you've seen or heard it all......I was working the "C" position this morning from Portland to Orange County. "C" position is the back galley. On a Boeing 737-700 aircraft. A had seen a large group in the boarding area...maybe 20 or so teenagers with obligatory adults along to tame the errant young tendencies. So the first guy on board is wearing a green Portland Timbers t-shirt and heads to the back galley. Seemed like a nice enough guy, friendly, chatty. And he says to me....."Hey, my wife is going to kill me....she said for me not to come back here and ask you this but I told her I was going to do it anyway......is there any chance you'd go up and warm up my seat for me before I sit down?" I told him to just let his wife watch this.....I marched my tender, yet silly, little early morning self up to his row, asked him which seat was his and sat down in it. I wriggled around a little....."to create friction and heat," I told him. His wife was looking at me like I was about as far out of my ever lovin' mind as one mildly delusional flight attendant could possibly get. He sort of liked it. "Yeah, like that.....okay, that's good," he says. And I got up and left. His wife staring. He and I giggling. In my 16 years....that's a first.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The End of May
- Glee.....I could have done without it. More and more throughout the season, I am less enamored with the little kiddie Glee clan. Some of the scenes are so contrived and don't seem real with little rich, pretentious white kids performing them.
- My sister is coming to Portland for Pride. It will be her first ever Pride. She's going to help us out in our company's booth at the festival and march in the parade with us! I'm wondering if it will be wet or dry.
- We're going camping for one night with some friends way out East of Portland in the Columbia River Gorge. Out where it is sunny and dry. (Portland averages 37.5 inches of rain per year.....The Dalles receives only 14.5 inches.....)
- I have been able to assist in the training class of brand new flight attendants. Our first new FAs in three years.
- I am finalizing plans to attend Bear Week in Provincetown in July.
- I have a friend who performed CPR on an 83-year-old man on one of our flights the other night. The flight diverted to an alternate airport. The man passed away.
- We have friends moving into our building today. They have had their eye on one of the last units remaining to be sold in our condo building. Today, it becomes theirs!
- Clear, concise communication is hard to come by.
- Two gay men were beaten up while holding hands in downtown Portland. Amazing, considering that it happened here. Except for the fact that Portland pretty much welcomes all sorts of folks -- and this is the byproduct.
- We are struggling to get more than one single day of sunshine so far this season. Keep your fingers crossed. We did finally break 70 degrees.
- The cemetery next to our condo is getting all primped and trimmed for Memorial Day.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
San Diego Zoo....Mixed Emotions
Yesterday, I visited the San Diego Zoo for the first time since 1968. Wow. That's been a while. I was on a longer layover with my hubby and a good friend so we decided to really make a day of it. Did you know that Diet Cokes actually cost $5 at the Zoo? I thought it was for a six-pack, not a single drink. Silly me. But in spite of having a great sun-filled day, I left with mixed emotions. I know that being the animal activist that I've migrate toward in my old age, I should not have paid the money to visit this zoo nor any other one. I know that placing animals in captivity should not be supported. I know that paying giant amounts of money for t-shirts and sodas at the zoo is just plain old not right.
The zoo had a sign with a picture of each animals on the front of each exhibit (or listen to me...calling it an "exhibit" when it was nothing more than a cage for confinement....). The little signs were all the same. And they each rated the animals on whether they were endangered or not. Many were. In addition, I noticed heavy advertising, signs, pictures and public relations crap that were intended to tease me into thinking that the Zoo is a "green" place for animals -- that they are doing everything possible to make sure that the animals are well taken care of, tended to, needs dealt with, etc. But, as with all of these sorts of things, I immediately questioned the Zoo's intentions. I think that any business who is going out of their way to advertise to me what a good, green, earth-friendly, animal-caring place they are probably isn't such a place at all.
I stood in front of the elephant exhibit watching two elephants swaying back and forth. Each of these two were by themselves -- not with each other nor with the rest of the heard. And swaying. Back and forth. Left and right, right and left....for as long as we were there. And I said to my Zoo partners that I'll bet that the swaying is a byproduct of them being in captivity. Yes sir, it is. Check it out. In addition, I didn't see a whole lot of animal caretakers around. I did see a few. Very few. For the most part, "people" were absent from the scene -- unless it was to sell expensive food, treats, t-shirts, kettle corn and the like.
Probably the highlight of the day was at the Hippopotamus pool. Momma and 15-day-old baby! Amazing...and right straight in front of us on the opposite side of the glass. Apparently, they are not natural-born swimmers because momma was teaching the baby how to swim....herding the baby around the pool and nosing it up to the surface for air. Something like this......it was really, really something else.
I know that in many cases, the animals are actually more well off in the zoo than in their natural habitat due to poaching and other unnatural happenings. But in spite of it all, I've been thinking a lot about the fabrication of real life at the zoo. It left me a little bittersweet. For the lack of natural, free-roaming territory to enjoy. The captivity issue. The children running and yelling and creating stressful situations for the animals -- there were actually signs on many of the cages warning us to not yell or not harass the animals....that it stresses them and makes them nervous. I just felt sorry for them. There's got to be a better way to educate our children, our world, than peddling expensive novelty items in gift shops and charging $5 for ice cream and locking up animals in cages. It didn't feel natural at all.
The zoo had a sign with a picture of each animals on the front of each exhibit (or listen to me...calling it an "exhibit" when it was nothing more than a cage for confinement....). The little signs were all the same. And they each rated the animals on whether they were endangered or not. Many were. In addition, I noticed heavy advertising, signs, pictures and public relations crap that were intended to tease me into thinking that the Zoo is a "green" place for animals -- that they are doing everything possible to make sure that the animals are well taken care of, tended to, needs dealt with, etc. But, as with all of these sorts of things, I immediately questioned the Zoo's intentions. I think that any business who is going out of their way to advertise to me what a good, green, earth-friendly, animal-caring place they are probably isn't such a place at all.
I stood in front of the elephant exhibit watching two elephants swaying back and forth. Each of these two were by themselves -- not with each other nor with the rest of the heard. And swaying. Back and forth. Left and right, right and left....for as long as we were there. And I said to my Zoo partners that I'll bet that the swaying is a byproduct of them being in captivity. Yes sir, it is. Check it out. In addition, I didn't see a whole lot of animal caretakers around. I did see a few. Very few. For the most part, "people" were absent from the scene -- unless it was to sell expensive food, treats, t-shirts, kettle corn and the like.
Probably the highlight of the day was at the Hippopotamus pool. Momma and 15-day-old baby! Amazing...and right straight in front of us on the opposite side of the glass. Apparently, they are not natural-born swimmers because momma was teaching the baby how to swim....herding the baby around the pool and nosing it up to the surface for air. Something like this......it was really, really something else.
I know that in many cases, the animals are actually more well off in the zoo than in their natural habitat due to poaching and other unnatural happenings. But in spite of it all, I've been thinking a lot about the fabrication of real life at the zoo. It left me a little bittersweet. For the lack of natural, free-roaming territory to enjoy. The captivity issue. The children running and yelling and creating stressful situations for the animals -- there were actually signs on many of the cages warning us to not yell or not harass the animals....that it stresses them and makes them nervous. I just felt sorry for them. There's got to be a better way to educate our children, our world, than peddling expensive novelty items in gift shops and charging $5 for ice cream and locking up animals in cages. It didn't feel natural at all.
Saturday, May 07, 2011
USS Midway
We have two of them this month. Two San Diego overnights with each other. We've been trying for several months to get them. But with our quite average flight attendant seniority here in Portland, we have failed until now -- and I can't wait until we bring in more senior crew to Portland. For crying out loud, we'll be even worse off than we are now. But this month, we held two. The trips are one flight down in the morning, all day in San Diego, spend the night, and then one single flight home the following morning. I've had plenty of SAN layovers but hubby has not. I've been anxious to explore the city with him.
So yesterday we landed (after an inflight medical emergency....ugh....), changed our clothes as quickly as we could and headed out. We ventured down to San Diego's picture-perfect waterfront. Past the world's oldest active sailing ship the Star of India and down to the USS Midway. I knew we wanted to go but I had no idea how amazing our afternoon would be. I also had no idea how my little bouts with claustrophobia would be tested. We spent our entire time watching our heads and feet. The ship is filled with 60 self-guided audio points of interest. Plus, the flight deck filled with 27 restored aircraft. And then there's a separate tour of The Island -- the little piece of the ship that sticks up above the flight deck and houses the chart room, the ship's Bridge, and the aircraft navigation areas. WAY up above the ship and water down below. We checked out the ship's brig -- for those bad boy sailors. The mess halls, the officers quarters, the sick bay complete with operating rooms and dental facilities, the laundry rooms, the bomb elevators, and the chapel. I swear, I'll bet there was a serious need for the chaplain on the ship. With the teeny-tiny quarters and no place to escape or relax. I couldn't imagine being under the deck of this monster for more than a very short time. I mean, seriously, this isn't a cruise ship. In fact, life under the flight deck was the safest place to be. You didn't have any reason to come above deck unless you were part of the flight team. The flight deck is dangerous -- you cuold be chopped into pieces by a propeller, blown overboard by jet blast or a wind gust, burned in a fire, or hit by an aircraft trying to land or depart. The ship was the largest in the world when it was built in 1942. 968 feet long.
And I thought of my dad. And my father in law. Both Navy men. I recounted the many, many stories that they've both told me throughout the years. I remember the story from my father in law about a Japanese kamikaze pilot flying straight into the deck of his ship in the Pacific Ocean. And I remember my own father telling about the food on ship, bunks so close that he couldn't even turn over without his shoulders hitting the bunk above him, about holding on to pipes while he showered to avoid being thrown around. And I remember him returning home from his Naval Reserve duties -- and unpacking his sea bag full of dirty clothes and always a treat of some sort for us kiddies. Today, I have one of his original pea coats -- one that he wore while on duty as a Signalman Second Class on some ship, somewhere. I stared and looked and thought yesterday. I saw the uniforms on display and remember him proudly wearing the blues and whites. And the hats. And the polished shoes. He loved his Navy time. He was proud. He was friendly. He did the job he was supposed to.
So, that was our first San Diego trip together. Oh, one more cool surprise -- we did get to see the #74, the USS John C. Stennis departing the port too. She is one of the Navy's newer models of aircraft carriers. And we also got to enjoy dinner at one of Little Italy's best -- Filippi's Italian Food. And today we're sporting little sunburns on our pale faces and necks. What a day. I think we're going to the San Diego Zoo or Sea World next time.
So yesterday we landed (after an inflight medical emergency....ugh....), changed our clothes as quickly as we could and headed out. We ventured down to San Diego's picture-perfect waterfront. Past the world's oldest active sailing ship the Star of India and down to the USS Midway. I knew we wanted to go but I had no idea how amazing our afternoon would be. I also had no idea how my little bouts with claustrophobia would be tested. We spent our entire time watching our heads and feet. The ship is filled with 60 self-guided audio points of interest. Plus, the flight deck filled with 27 restored aircraft. And then there's a separate tour of The Island -- the little piece of the ship that sticks up above the flight deck and houses the chart room, the ship's Bridge, and the aircraft navigation areas. WAY up above the ship and water down below. We checked out the ship's brig -- for those bad boy sailors. The mess halls, the officers quarters, the sick bay complete with operating rooms and dental facilities, the laundry rooms, the bomb elevators, and the chapel. I swear, I'll bet there was a serious need for the chaplain on the ship. With the teeny-tiny quarters and no place to escape or relax. I couldn't imagine being under the deck of this monster for more than a very short time. I mean, seriously, this isn't a cruise ship. In fact, life under the flight deck was the safest place to be. You didn't have any reason to come above deck unless you were part of the flight team. The flight deck is dangerous -- you cuold be chopped into pieces by a propeller, blown overboard by jet blast or a wind gust, burned in a fire, or hit by an aircraft trying to land or depart. The ship was the largest in the world when it was built in 1942. 968 feet long.
And I thought of my dad. And my father in law. Both Navy men. I recounted the many, many stories that they've both told me throughout the years. I remember the story from my father in law about a Japanese kamikaze pilot flying straight into the deck of his ship in the Pacific Ocean. And I remember my own father telling about the food on ship, bunks so close that he couldn't even turn over without his shoulders hitting the bunk above him, about holding on to pipes while he showered to avoid being thrown around. And I remember him returning home from his Naval Reserve duties -- and unpacking his sea bag full of dirty clothes and always a treat of some sort for us kiddies. Today, I have one of his original pea coats -- one that he wore while on duty as a Signalman Second Class on some ship, somewhere. I stared and looked and thought yesterday. I saw the uniforms on display and remember him proudly wearing the blues and whites. And the hats. And the polished shoes. He loved his Navy time. He was proud. He was friendly. He did the job he was supposed to.
So, that was our first San Diego trip together. Oh, one more cool surprise -- we did get to see the #74, the USS John C. Stennis departing the port too. She is one of the Navy's newer models of aircraft carriers. And we also got to enjoy dinner at one of Little Italy's best -- Filippi's Italian Food. And today we're sporting little sunburns on our pale faces and necks. What a day. I think we're going to the San Diego Zoo or Sea World next time.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Beginner's Wings
Gosh, it's been a while since I've had to. But I sort of remembered how. And I think it went okay. You see, for the first time in three years, we are hiring new flight attendants. Two classes of 55 in each class. After 9-11, the airline industry went into the hole. At one point, there were 100,000 jobs lost in the airline industry. It's come back, to some degree. We are successful -- dare I say, one of the top-notch in the industry when the financials, on time, awards by various groups, and customer service pieces are included. Combined with the fact that we have been understaffed for a year or more, it is definitely time to hire. Our reserve flight attendants have been completely overworked, used, abused, and reused. We have junior assigned senior crews far more than should ever be necessary. (Junior assigning is when the company catches you at the end of a regularly scheduled trip and tells you that you're being junior assigned to work on your day off....you don't have a choice....you are required to go.) We have quite a few people out with serious illnesses such as cancer and our on-the-job injury rate isn't great because of lifting heavy passenger bags and turbulence injuries. All of that to say, our staffing is not where it should be....and so the new flight attendant classes are in session. Thankfully.
I was asked to help teach in the new class this last Thursday. Services training. All about the food, drinks, beverage carts, napkins, coffee, using a beverage tray, making cocktails, all of that crap. The stuff I've been doing many times a day for 16 years. It is so embedded in my life now that I forget that this is a whole new world for these new kids on the block. But they aren't really kids. They range in age from close to 21 up to....oh, maybe 50 something. Guys, gals, the whole works. All dressed up and playing nice -- because they have to. They are being watched, evaluated, like hawks. Attitude, smiles, what types and how many questions they ask, negative attitudes, tardiness back from lunches and breaks, talking or texting during class...it's all being recorded. Everyone is in dress attire. No one is late. It's not permitted. They are studying every night for five solid weeks. And they do training flights on the weekends. Like today ----
So, this morning, my buddy Todd and I just happened to be the working crew from Seattle to San Jose -- 1 hour 33 minutes at 35,000 feet. I was the Senior Inflight Service Director Stewardess working First Class. And we had two of our new trainees assisting us on board the flight. Barb came to help me work First Class. Grace worked in the back cabin. They were awesome. Didn't miss a beat. They did their equipment preflights to make sure that things were working -- like oxygen bottles, evacuation slides, whether we had over water rafts on board or not, flashlights, life vests at each jump seat, etc. I mean, seriously, this was Barb's first time ever working First Class...and she did it like a champion. Didn't miss a beat. Smiles, organized, drink orders taken, food delivered, refills, trays picked up, pilots fed and watered, announcements made, doors open and closed appropriately, lights on and off. All perfectly. I was so proud of them. It's a huge, steep learning curve. And it takes times like these to remind me of how far I've come. It's so good to have freshness. Newness in our lives. The energy of younger, newer, people. It felt great.
I hugged them both goodbye and told them what a great job they had done. And that I was looking forward to seeing them "On the Line" as we say. We all need new experiences in our lives, new challenges, new education, new activities, reminders to keep things alive and fresh. What a nice reminder for me today. My wings occasionally get tarnished a bit. Their wings will be sparkling, pretty and brand new.
I was asked to help teach in the new class this last Thursday. Services training. All about the food, drinks, beverage carts, napkins, coffee, using a beverage tray, making cocktails, all of that crap. The stuff I've been doing many times a day for 16 years. It is so embedded in my life now that I forget that this is a whole new world for these new kids on the block. But they aren't really kids. They range in age from close to 21 up to....oh, maybe 50 something. Guys, gals, the whole works. All dressed up and playing nice -- because they have to. They are being watched, evaluated, like hawks. Attitude, smiles, what types and how many questions they ask, negative attitudes, tardiness back from lunches and breaks, talking or texting during class...it's all being recorded. Everyone is in dress attire. No one is late. It's not permitted. They are studying every night for five solid weeks. And they do training flights on the weekends. Like today ----
So, this morning, my buddy Todd and I just happened to be the working crew from Seattle to San Jose -- 1 hour 33 minutes at 35,000 feet. I was the Senior Inflight Service Director Stewardess working First Class. And we had two of our new trainees assisting us on board the flight. Barb came to help me work First Class. Grace worked in the back cabin. They were awesome. Didn't miss a beat. They did their equipment preflights to make sure that things were working -- like oxygen bottles, evacuation slides, whether we had over water rafts on board or not, flashlights, life vests at each jump seat, etc. I mean, seriously, this was Barb's first time ever working First Class...and she did it like a champion. Didn't miss a beat. Smiles, organized, drink orders taken, food delivered, refills, trays picked up, pilots fed and watered, announcements made, doors open and closed appropriately, lights on and off. All perfectly. I was so proud of them. It's a huge, steep learning curve. And it takes times like these to remind me of how far I've come. It's so good to have freshness. Newness in our lives. The energy of younger, newer, people. It felt great.
I hugged them both goodbye and told them what a great job they had done. And that I was looking forward to seeing them "On the Line" as we say. We all need new experiences in our lives, new challenges, new education, new activities, reminders to keep things alive and fresh. What a nice reminder for me today. My wings occasionally get tarnished a bit. Their wings will be sparkling, pretty and brand new.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
If You Think I'm Sexy....
If you want my body and you think I'm sexy come on honey let me know.....la la la....1978, Rod Stewart. I thought I saw Rod walking along Congress Street in Austin just last night....but then I realized it was some guy(?) on his way to the club on a Saturday night. We departed Austin early this morning for our 3 1/2 hour flight to San Jose. A few seats open but nearly full. It will come as no surprise to you that I've run into all kinds of characters in my life as a stewardess. But today gets a whole chapter all to itself in my book of life.
The guy was big. Maybe 275 pounds or so. And tall with a couple, or three, jiggly chins. Sneakers untied, no socks. And a yellow shirt that smacked of the south, a conservative well-worn one. With little funny golfers on it. Maybe from some southern department store back about 1987 or so. He was probably in his early to mid 40s. He never told me...despite the fact that he asked my age and refused, refused I say!, to believe me at 49 years old. "Nuh uh," he kept saying. He hung around the galley. For a really, super long time. Now, we flight attendants are not known for enjoying people in our galleys. Its our space, lots going on there, and we like to chill and enjoy a coffee after the service is complete. But today was not going to play out that way. He blathered on about life in Austin, how he'd moved there to go to school after playing in the NFL for six years with the Green Bay Packers. He had a wife with no further information beyond that. He wanted a vodka and cranberry but his credit card had been declined earlier this morning when he'd tried to use it to upgrade to First Class -- "I was supposed to be in First Class," he tells us. So, we scanned his card anyway and gave him his cocktail. Instead of returning to his seat, he kept on chipping away at the intimacies of life.....all 275 pounds of him smack dab in the middle of our galley. Me on one side, my friend Cathy on the other. I kept on trying to sneak glances at her around his expansive mid section. But it was hurting to bend my neck that far around him. He brought out his iPhone and showed us his music selection -- U2, Eric Clapton, Rush.....others. "I used to smoke pot and listen to Rush." He was from "Pennsyltucky," as he put it. The back hills of Pennsylvania. But with Cathy being from North Dakota and me from Idaho, neither of us had any compelling reason to think we were any better. I made up the state "PennsyltuckyIdakota" and we all had a giggle. Another cocktail for him, please....now we're up to four vodkas. I tell him that there is an open seat in the exit row and maybe he'd be more comfortable there. But, I ask him, do you think you'll need a seatbelt extension? Because they are not allowed in the exit row. "So, are you calling me fat?" he asks, laughing. Nope, I'm not...I'm simply asking about seatbelt extensions before you try to sit in the exit row. So, and I swear to god it happened just this way, he grabbed a handful of that belly in both hands, jiggled that bad boy belly like Santa Claus, looked straight at me, and asked "So, do you think this is sexy?" Oy vey. I gotta get outta here. Another cocktail for him.
And he continued on about salaries and jobs and such -- wondering who was the bread winner in each of our families. Cathy said she flies minimums and that her husband brings in more than she does. (Seriously, are we really having this conversation with a perfect stranger ?) I sort of skirt the issue and try to change the subject. "I think I'll go and pick up trash," I say as I slither past his sturdy frame into the aisle. I stand in First Class for a bit, waiting, waiting, waiting for him to clear out of the back galley. I finally end up there again. I sit down on my jumpseat and gather the Sunday morning paper with a cup of coffee. He begins to sit down next to me....but I diverted that by telling him that nobody is allowed to sit on the flight attendant jumpseat. "Oh, well maybe I can buy you a drink then....." as he turns to my coworker Cathy, pulls out that (previously declined) credit card and says to her, "Can I have a drink for myself and one for Arnie too?" Oh lord god jesus and mary, I about evaporated. She explained that we are not allowed to drink on the job. And then he heads back into uncharted conversation territory with the questioning again about who is in my family and who the bread winner is. I say that we both make about the same amount. "We, who?" he wants to know....."Are you married?" So, if you're willing to encourage that conversation with me, I'm more than willing to have it. "Nope, I'm not married....they don't let the gays marry in this country," I tell him. "I have a partner," I tell him. "Oh, a dude partner?" he asks. Yes siree, a genuine honest-to-goodness dude partner! "Oh, I'm all cool with that," he continues. Once again, I'm looking for a way out so I grab the aforementioned trash bag and head out leaving Cathy in the back galley (again) with him.
I stood in First Class for the longest time. Waiting, watching, watching, waiting. He returned to his seat and waved at me. I waved back. I finally ventured to the back galley and Cathy turned to me and said, "You'll never believe what he said about you....he said he thinks you are sexy."
I blushed.
The guy was big. Maybe 275 pounds or so. And tall with a couple, or three, jiggly chins. Sneakers untied, no socks. And a yellow shirt that smacked of the south, a conservative well-worn one. With little funny golfers on it. Maybe from some southern department store back about 1987 or so. He was probably in his early to mid 40s. He never told me...despite the fact that he asked my age and refused, refused I say!, to believe me at 49 years old. "Nuh uh," he kept saying. He hung around the galley. For a really, super long time. Now, we flight attendants are not known for enjoying people in our galleys. Its our space, lots going on there, and we like to chill and enjoy a coffee after the service is complete. But today was not going to play out that way. He blathered on about life in Austin, how he'd moved there to go to school after playing in the NFL for six years with the Green Bay Packers. He had a wife with no further information beyond that. He wanted a vodka and cranberry but his credit card had been declined earlier this morning when he'd tried to use it to upgrade to First Class -- "I was supposed to be in First Class," he tells us. So, we scanned his card anyway and gave him his cocktail. Instead of returning to his seat, he kept on chipping away at the intimacies of life.....all 275 pounds of him smack dab in the middle of our galley. Me on one side, my friend Cathy on the other. I kept on trying to sneak glances at her around his expansive mid section. But it was hurting to bend my neck that far around him. He brought out his iPhone and showed us his music selection -- U2, Eric Clapton, Rush.....others. "I used to smoke pot and listen to Rush." He was from "Pennsyltucky," as he put it. The back hills of Pennsylvania. But with Cathy being from North Dakota and me from Idaho, neither of us had any compelling reason to think we were any better. I made up the state "PennsyltuckyIdakota" and we all had a giggle. Another cocktail for him, please....now we're up to four vodkas. I tell him that there is an open seat in the exit row and maybe he'd be more comfortable there. But, I ask him, do you think you'll need a seatbelt extension? Because they are not allowed in the exit row. "So, are you calling me fat?" he asks, laughing. Nope, I'm not...I'm simply asking about seatbelt extensions before you try to sit in the exit row. So, and I swear to god it happened just this way, he grabbed a handful of that belly in both hands, jiggled that bad boy belly like Santa Claus, looked straight at me, and asked "So, do you think this is sexy?" Oy vey. I gotta get outta here. Another cocktail for him.
And he continued on about salaries and jobs and such -- wondering who was the bread winner in each of our families. Cathy said she flies minimums and that her husband brings in more than she does. (Seriously, are we really having this conversation with a perfect stranger ?) I sort of skirt the issue and try to change the subject. "I think I'll go and pick up trash," I say as I slither past his sturdy frame into the aisle. I stand in First Class for a bit, waiting, waiting, waiting for him to clear out of the back galley. I finally end up there again. I sit down on my jumpseat and gather the Sunday morning paper with a cup of coffee. He begins to sit down next to me....but I diverted that by telling him that nobody is allowed to sit on the flight attendant jumpseat. "Oh, well maybe I can buy you a drink then....." as he turns to my coworker Cathy, pulls out that (previously declined) credit card and says to her, "Can I have a drink for myself and one for Arnie too?" Oh lord god jesus and mary, I about evaporated. She explained that we are not allowed to drink on the job. And then he heads back into uncharted conversation territory with the questioning again about who is in my family and who the bread winner is. I say that we both make about the same amount. "We, who?" he wants to know....."Are you married?" So, if you're willing to encourage that conversation with me, I'm more than willing to have it. "Nope, I'm not married....they don't let the gays marry in this country," I tell him. "I have a partner," I tell him. "Oh, a dude partner?" he asks. Yes siree, a genuine honest-to-goodness dude partner! "Oh, I'm all cool with that," he continues. Once again, I'm looking for a way out so I grab the aforementioned trash bag and head out leaving Cathy in the back galley (again) with him.
I stood in First Class for the longest time. Waiting, watching, watching, waiting. He returned to his seat and waved at me. I waved back. I finally ventured to the back galley and Cathy turned to me and said, "You'll never believe what he said about you....he said he thinks you are sexy."
I blushed.
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Oregon Coast Staycation
Clearly you already know that we're on a mini staycation and just returned home from a few days at the Oregon Coast....Lincoln City, to be exact. It is only 100 miles from our house and the drive was perfect. we stopped for breakfast on the way out at the McMenamins Oregon Hotel in McMinnville. McMinnville is also home to the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum -- which houses the former Howard Hughes Spruce Goose. It is quite the place and in the running to get one of the last two Space Shuttles once they are retired. And the whole area is Oregon's Wine Country -- filled with wineries and tasting rooms. Oregon has done its best to put it on the map for some of the world's nicest wines....it seems like we have a million local wines available to us.
We stopped at the Spirit Mountain Casino on the way to the Pacific Ocean. Lost all of my entire five dollars on the penny slots. We ended up in Lincoln City long before motel check in so we plied the town's star attractions -- the Tanger Outlet Mall, Cyber Garden and Tea House for a coffee, and a walk along the town's small main street which coincides with Oregon's famed coastal Highway 101. It was a really nice sunny afternoon before a 100% pouring rain and windy day to follow. Our nights were spent at the overtly doggy friendly Looking Glass Inn at the south end of Lincoln City....with perfect access to the beach for walking, enjoying, reflecting and walking the pooch. Mason loved the beach...it was his first time to see the ocean. There were other dogs everywhere on this quiet stretch of Oregon sand. The sea lions played in the water right outside of our motel window....diving for a snack and then popping back up to look around and take a gander at us. The tides were low around 8am and then high around 2pm. It was amazing to watch how much water went out and then returned a few hours later. The tides are around 6 feet in this particular location. We watched two movies in our room, something we rarely do at home. The Social Network and Up in the Air.
Monday started out rainy and ended up rainy. 100%. Blowing Pacific wind and rainy against our windows. After a precious experience at breakfast (wait for it....wait for it....) we spend the remainder of the day snuggled in our room watching the wind and waves until we snuck out to the giant Chinook Winds Casino for their dinner buffet. And the experience is precisely what you're thinking right now -- morbidly obese people with scooters eating more mediocre food than you can possibly imagine. "These quesadillas sure are chintzy....." being the words right out of the mouth of the giant young girl at the table next to us playing Keno with numerous used dinner plates sitting in front of her.
Breakfast earlier that day....I told you to wait for it. We stopped in at a place I couldn't even believe was actually there. Lil Sambos. Yes sir, Lil Sambos in Lincoln City. We had them growing up back in Idaho too. Except that they were called Lil Black Sambos at that point in our nation's history....With little black stick figures running across the walls. This place was filled with a nice gift shop -- complete with Christian gifts, books and craft items quoting scripture and such. Oh, and we enjoyed a large television of Fox News above our heads while we dined. And, yes, it did have an ancient copy of the book Little Black Sambo for perusing purposes only. I guess I thought that most of our world was actually in the year 2011. Apparently not.
Yesterday dawned clear and perfect. No wind...which is really something on the Oregon Coast. We trenched back out to the crashing waves with Mason and watched the sea lions playing again. It was a very nice way to end the trip. We ventured back home on a few back roads in the Willamette Valley and stopped briefly at the Woodburn Company Stores Outlet Mall before ending up back at home at a respectable 2pm.
Nice. Relaxing. Perfect. Simple. Easy. Not fancy. Repeatable.
We stopped at the Spirit Mountain Casino on the way to the Pacific Ocean. Lost all of my entire five dollars on the penny slots. We ended up in Lincoln City long before motel check in so we plied the town's star attractions -- the Tanger Outlet Mall, Cyber Garden and Tea House for a coffee, and a walk along the town's small main street which coincides with Oregon's famed coastal Highway 101. It was a really nice sunny afternoon before a 100% pouring rain and windy day to follow. Our nights were spent at the overtly doggy friendly Looking Glass Inn at the south end of Lincoln City....with perfect access to the beach for walking, enjoying, reflecting and walking the pooch. Mason loved the beach...it was his first time to see the ocean. There were other dogs everywhere on this quiet stretch of Oregon sand. The sea lions played in the water right outside of our motel window....diving for a snack and then popping back up to look around and take a gander at us. The tides were low around 8am and then high around 2pm. It was amazing to watch how much water went out and then returned a few hours later. The tides are around 6 feet in this particular location. We watched two movies in our room, something we rarely do at home. The Social Network and Up in the Air.
Monday started out rainy and ended up rainy. 100%. Blowing Pacific wind and rainy against our windows. After a precious experience at breakfast (wait for it....wait for it....) we spend the remainder of the day snuggled in our room watching the wind and waves until we snuck out to the giant Chinook Winds Casino for their dinner buffet. And the experience is precisely what you're thinking right now -- morbidly obese people with scooters eating more mediocre food than you can possibly imagine. "These quesadillas sure are chintzy....." being the words right out of the mouth of the giant young girl at the table next to us playing Keno with numerous used dinner plates sitting in front of her.
Breakfast earlier that day....I told you to wait for it. We stopped in at a place I couldn't even believe was actually there. Lil Sambos. Yes sir, Lil Sambos in Lincoln City. We had them growing up back in Idaho too. Except that they were called Lil Black Sambos at that point in our nation's history....With little black stick figures running across the walls. This place was filled with a nice gift shop -- complete with Christian gifts, books and craft items quoting scripture and such. Oh, and we enjoyed a large television of Fox News above our heads while we dined. And, yes, it did have an ancient copy of the book Little Black Sambo for perusing purposes only. I guess I thought that most of our world was actually in the year 2011. Apparently not.
Yesterday dawned clear and perfect. No wind...which is really something on the Oregon Coast. We trenched back out to the crashing waves with Mason and watched the sea lions playing again. It was a very nice way to end the trip. We ventured back home on a few back roads in the Willamette Valley and stopped briefly at the Woodburn Company Stores Outlet Mall before ending up back at home at a respectable 2pm.
Nice. Relaxing. Perfect. Simple. Easy. Not fancy. Repeatable.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
March Comes to a Close
Imagine my surprise last night when I discovered out of nowhere that we actually have Planet Green on our television lineup. (We ought to, as much as we pay each month.....) Not that I was looking for Planet Green. But I spotted The Fabulous Beekman Boys running back-to-back episodes. We'd never seen it. In spite of the fact that our friends Garth and Doug who run the American Hotel in Sharon Springs, New York, have roles in several of the episodes. So I said to Loverboy, "Hey LoverBoy, I wonder if Doug and Garth are in this episode......" And then, before I could even get my bowl of ice cream, there they were! If you're not familiar with the show, it's sort of has a rich, gay Green Acres feel to it. Two city boys move to the country and try to make a go of it. And I love all of the little cute animals running around on the farm.
We're headed to the Oregon Coast this next weekend. In spite of the fact that we live only 1 1/2 hours from the Pacific Ocean, we haven't been in several years. And we're both demanding a bit of time away with the Pooch. So, we've secured a room in Lincoln City, Oregon, for two nights. And they take doggies so Mason will be welcomed. We'll do our typical coffee stops along the way. Browse at the Outlet Mall and maybe even stop at the casino to pull a handle or two. The whale migration should be about done but perhaps we'll spot a few of the beasts headed north to Alaska for the summer season. And this will be Mason's first trip to the ocean. I can't wait to see him put his cute little paws in the 50-some-degree water.
Our condominium Homeowner's Association held their annual meeting last week. Our meetings in general have been a little tense over the past year. We have several giant outstanding construction issues in our building that have yet to be tended to -- they have been going on for several years. And they involve our developer. He's been in legal arbitration and finally, I think, has a settlement to hopefully take care of the issues. He's an arrogant, pompous know-it-all who talks down to we little puny homeowners. So, what do we do? We elect him onto the board of our HOA. Nice, huh? I didn't vote for him but he secured enough votes via his slick, conniving ways. I'm more than a little concerned about a conflict of interest -- what he will, or will not, do. But I'm trying to keep an open mind in spite of the fact that I'm not happy. He's far too smart for his own good. And that can come in quite handy if you need something from him. But I'm not sure it will serve us all in the best way possible. We will continue our duties as the building's Maintenance Committee for now.....we change light bulbs, sweep, tend to minor maintenance issues, just keep our eyes and ears peeled for anything weird.
We're headed to the Oregon Coast this next weekend. In spite of the fact that we live only 1 1/2 hours from the Pacific Ocean, we haven't been in several years. And we're both demanding a bit of time away with the Pooch. So, we've secured a room in Lincoln City, Oregon, for two nights. And they take doggies so Mason will be welcomed. We'll do our typical coffee stops along the way. Browse at the Outlet Mall and maybe even stop at the casino to pull a handle or two. The whale migration should be about done but perhaps we'll spot a few of the beasts headed north to Alaska for the summer season. And this will be Mason's first trip to the ocean. I can't wait to see him put his cute little paws in the 50-some-degree water.
Our condominium Homeowner's Association held their annual meeting last week. Our meetings in general have been a little tense over the past year. We have several giant outstanding construction issues in our building that have yet to be tended to -- they have been going on for several years. And they involve our developer. He's been in legal arbitration and finally, I think, has a settlement to hopefully take care of the issues. He's an arrogant, pompous know-it-all who talks down to we little puny homeowners. So, what do we do? We elect him onto the board of our HOA. Nice, huh? I didn't vote for him but he secured enough votes via his slick, conniving ways. I'm more than a little concerned about a conflict of interest -- what he will, or will not, do. But I'm trying to keep an open mind in spite of the fact that I'm not happy. He's far too smart for his own good. And that can come in quite handy if you need something from him. But I'm not sure it will serve us all in the best way possible. We will continue our duties as the building's Maintenance Committee for now.....we change light bulbs, sweep, tend to minor maintenance issues, just keep our eyes and ears peeled for anything weird.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Trying to Keep an Open Mind
Once again, I have been reminded of the fact that we just never know what we're going to face in any given day. We have zero idea who we're going to be around, what they are going through, where they are headed, or precisely how things are going to play out.
I have met some of the nicest people in my life. Today, I had a couple of guys actually ask me how my day was going. It's not that unusual, but fairly so. They were so friendly, polite and smiling. They wanted to know where I'd been that day, where I was going to overnight, and how my Monday was going. And that's the reason I love some scant parts of this human race so much -- because of people like these guys. I could have breezed over it, continued right on in my flight attendant mode, and simply said "Fine, thank you." But I stopped, answered their questions, and turned around and ask them the same thing. That's how I choose to do business.
And yesterday was a sad day. My flight from San Jose to Seattle included a mother. A mom who was, perhaps, 50. Asking me for a cracker or little snack of some kind because she had not had a chance to eat yet. Honestly, these sorts of requests are fairly routine -- and I often give them something if I have it but sometimes I just wonder what in the world they are thinking -- if you're hungry, eat! Get up in time to actually get yourself a snack, for god's sake. Back to the Mom. She had a son in Seattle who was dying she tells me. Today. Yes, today. They were keeping him on life support only until she could get to the hospital in Seattle to say her goodbyes to him. I refused to make her turn off her cell phone when she should have been doing so. I guess it was her call to the nurse who was attending to her son that did it for me -- "Promise me that you're keeping him alive until I can get there....you are...right?" Yeah, she could pretty much do whatever she wanted and it would have been alright with me. She cried. I cried. I put my hand on her arm and told her that I would be thinking about her. She said she appreciated it and asked for my prayers. I promised. And off she went once we reached Seattle. To see her dying son. I suppose he's gone by now. A mother left alone. That's just not right.
And then the very next flight, another woman with a typed note on her passenger service record which read: "Her mother died today." Well golly gee now, just like that. Her mother had died and now she was on my flight trying to get to Ontario, California, to attend to her duties. She slept the whole way. Rightfully so.
I do my best to keep an open mind. I achieve it sometimes. I fail miserably many times. Part of the learning process, I presume.
J5EGPDS3AEJN
I have met some of the nicest people in my life. Today, I had a couple of guys actually ask me how my day was going. It's not that unusual, but fairly so. They were so friendly, polite and smiling. They wanted to know where I'd been that day, where I was going to overnight, and how my Monday was going. And that's the reason I love some scant parts of this human race so much -- because of people like these guys. I could have breezed over it, continued right on in my flight attendant mode, and simply said "Fine, thank you." But I stopped, answered their questions, and turned around and ask them the same thing. That's how I choose to do business.
And yesterday was a sad day. My flight from San Jose to Seattle included a mother. A mom who was, perhaps, 50. Asking me for a cracker or little snack of some kind because she had not had a chance to eat yet. Honestly, these sorts of requests are fairly routine -- and I often give them something if I have it but sometimes I just wonder what in the world they are thinking -- if you're hungry, eat! Get up in time to actually get yourself a snack, for god's sake. Back to the Mom. She had a son in Seattle who was dying she tells me. Today. Yes, today. They were keeping him on life support only until she could get to the hospital in Seattle to say her goodbyes to him. I refused to make her turn off her cell phone when she should have been doing so. I guess it was her call to the nurse who was attending to her son that did it for me -- "Promise me that you're keeping him alive until I can get there....you are...right?" Yeah, she could pretty much do whatever she wanted and it would have been alright with me. She cried. I cried. I put my hand on her arm and told her that I would be thinking about her. She said she appreciated it and asked for my prayers. I promised. And off she went once we reached Seattle. To see her dying son. I suppose he's gone by now. A mother left alone. That's just not right.
And then the very next flight, another woman with a typed note on her passenger service record which read: "Her mother died today." Well golly gee now, just like that. Her mother had died and now she was on my flight trying to get to Ontario, California, to attend to her duties. She slept the whole way. Rightfully so.
I do my best to keep an open mind. I achieve it sometimes. I fail miserably many times. Part of the learning process, I presume.
J5EGPDS3AEJN
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)