For most of the last six months, I've been participating in efforts that I'm not typically used to being a part of. Developing an executive management-mandated and required training project for flight attendants. It's much larger than simply that. It is an effort to train all nearly 10,000 employees of the airline that I work for. Each employee participates in a four-hour morning "All Company" session....all employees will go through this session. And the afternoon brings four-hours about smaller, individual department sessions....which is the flight attendant session I've helped develop. It rolled out in the month of October after five months of work. We started with probably close to 100 ideas, thoughts, considerations. And ended up in close to, oh maybe, eight or so modules or sections. It is high powered, energetic, and meant to prod and poke at not only one's flight attendant job and the company we work for -- but also the insides. The person. The human being. My claim to fame all summer long during the development phase is that "I want to poke buttons in each person. I want them to respond in a positive way. I want them to leave feeling great about their lives and have something to work toward in their futures." I don't mind asking more of each person than they are typically used to giving. I want more. That's the kind of guy I am.
The session has been receiving rave reviews from a wide variety of people. And that makes me happy. Words like "Uplifting, life changing, and inspiring" are often on the critique forms. And that's what I wanted to be a part of. I refused to do the normal, the company, the corporate, the average, the expected.
But you see, whenever you put yourself out there, push ahead, think in these sorts of ways, it always seems to come back to you. To me. At some point I knew the tables would be turned on me. Toward me. Focused on me. My own life, my own personal challenges and where I'm at today. At some point I knew that my own life would be would be held accountable and see if it runs parallel to the program I've helped produce. Or if I'm off track. And who better to bring those sorts of thoughts to light than one's partner, best friend, lover, husband. Right? I mean, he knows me. He gets me. He's had 14 years to know my ups and downs, my likes and dislikes, and....yes....my shortcomings and parts of my life that fall short.
He asked me a while back how it felt to participate in such a wide-scale program, developing such introspective and personal pieces for others to consider. And he asked me if I'd actually considered any of the particulars in my own life. Had I held myself accountable for this or that. How it felt to ask others to do something when, perhaps, I hadn't done it in my own life, for myself. Good lord. Is that what significant others are supposed to do? Yes, I supposed at some point they are. I don't begrudge him the question. I appreciate him asking me. That's what he's supposed to do.
I told him this after careful consideration and thought. I told him that I was afraid of something. I told him that despite my hard, crusty -- sometimes arrogant and prideful -- exterior, I knew that I must keep these sorts of thoughts and projects in my life. I needed them. I needed them to remind me of my humanity, my shortcomings and failings. I needed to keep on considering them, developing them, reminding others of things. And that in reminding others of ways to improve their own life, that I then remind myself to do the same. I told him that I was afraid I would become an old curmudgeon if I don't do this. If I fail to keep on thinking positive that I'd end up in a place I don't want to be as I age. I told him that I needed to keep positive thoughts and energy right in my face via projects, people, and attitude or else I'd end up like "them." Those who are near us who we don't want to be like. It's my reminder. My center point. My plumb line. What's yours?
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Do Ask......Do Tell.......
In all of my wildest dreams I never thought it would possibly come to this. I'm not even sure that I could have actually crafted the way that it played out in reality. And I'm not sure that I anticipated that I would be able to be a part, and have a front row seat, to such cutting-edge decisions.
Yesterday morning at 05:30, we met six friends in a dark parking lot at a motel near the Oregon Air National Guard Base located at our airport. Dressed up. Jackets. Dresses. Ties. A cold fall morning. Clearly, tensions were high. Emotions on edge. Wanting to laugh and be giddy but the underlying feelings of uncertainty led to deep breaths. "Okay folks, this is how the ceremony will play out......," he began. He was being promoted to Master Sargent. In a formal ceremony at the Air National Guard base. And he wanted us to all know the order, the formality, who goes in first, who sits where. This was our good friend of a dozen years or more. He's been in for 16 years and he loves his military duty time. He's a great instructor, mentor, teacher....and cares deeply for those in his unit. They have been on several deployments to the Middle East including the most recent duty in Iraq. He tells all sorts of stories of his time in Iraq. And our house has been his house. Each month when he comes into Portland for his military weekend, he stays at our house. We feel like we've been on his duty with him. We know the names of all of his guard buddies and all of the stories about each of them. We've been there for his ups and downs. For the good and the bad. And when his mind just won't allow him to sit in another crowded, noisy restaurant with children running around, we get it. We understand it. And we leave. His time in war has caused his life to be different.
And the reason that things have played out in the way they have is because he is gay. Yes sir, 100% unabashed homosexual. Except on the Air Base. Except when he is leading his unit in weapons instruction. Except when he is doing his military security duties at an undisclosed base in Iraq. Except when he is on the shooting range. Except when he voluntarily takes himself to war for his country. Until now. Until September 20, 2011, when the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell came into effect. Not even a month ago and now his promotion to Master Sargent. And the dark aforementioned morning in the motel parking lot.
You see, today his partner is going on the base with us. For the very first time. For the first time in Oregon Air National Guard history. For the first time for every single person at Commander's Call to see and hear. He is being promoted at a formal ceremony at 06:00 in front of military men, boys really. In the last few days before the ceremony, he made special coming-out announcements to his Sargent and Commander. In private before the big ceremony. Just so that they were not caught off guard. And we are here too. So nervous. Uncomfortable as we enter the building. Everyone in fatigues. "Yes sir" and "No sir" the phrases of the day. We have reserved seats in the first two rows while the room fills up with about 60 or so soldiers. Lordy, I'm sweating. And the ceremony begins.
His mother cries. His partner tells of "acting" and "being an actor" today and in years past. I hear of his partner's work in advocating on behalf of all of the silent partners who have hidden their faces for years. Lying, changing names, changing stories, not being able to post on Facebook about great experiences or ask for help in the dark days. His partner has a rich history of fighting, wanting more, wanting better. Stories about going to the Pentagon to meet with U.S. Military experts and higher ups. Of passing the Joint Chiefs of Staff office. Of being in the room when President Obama signed the repeal a few months back. Of shaking the President's hand and thanking him on behalf of a nameless, faceless soldier. Of the big smile on the President's face. Man oh man, that's powerful stuff.
And now we're in the room. And he is speaking. He's introducing his mom. And then, "Probably this is what you've all been wondering about, this is my husband." Silence. What? What did he say? And then his story to the group about his husband working for the good. For the silence that has simply had to be. And the group claps. And claps. And we stand to our feet out of respect. Remember, this has never, ever happened here before. The first time. In history. And the receiving line afterwards....I'm shaking hand after hand. Saying good morning. Saying hello. Saying thank you. Everyone pleasant. Everyone energetic and polite. And a few....the Sargent.....looking right straight into his face and speaking directly to the formerly silent partner with words to this effect: I want you to know how much I appreciate all of the work you've done behind the scenes for this cause. It is a pleasure to meet you. I've told the military for a while now that we were prepared for this. Wow. What a day. I told my own LoverBoy afterwards that this is definitely in our Top 10 list of great things that we've been able to experience in our time together. Amazing. So powerful. History in the making. Trend setting.
And last night about 8pm, I receive a text message from the formerly silent partner "Who would have thought that I'd ever be spending the evening eating pizza and drinking beer with a bunch of straight military guys with my partner....these are amazing days." And they are.
Yesterday morning at 05:30, we met six friends in a dark parking lot at a motel near the Oregon Air National Guard Base located at our airport. Dressed up. Jackets. Dresses. Ties. A cold fall morning. Clearly, tensions were high. Emotions on edge. Wanting to laugh and be giddy but the underlying feelings of uncertainty led to deep breaths. "Okay folks, this is how the ceremony will play out......," he began. He was being promoted to Master Sargent. In a formal ceremony at the Air National Guard base. And he wanted us to all know the order, the formality, who goes in first, who sits where. This was our good friend of a dozen years or more. He's been in for 16 years and he loves his military duty time. He's a great instructor, mentor, teacher....and cares deeply for those in his unit. They have been on several deployments to the Middle East including the most recent duty in Iraq. He tells all sorts of stories of his time in Iraq. And our house has been his house. Each month when he comes into Portland for his military weekend, he stays at our house. We feel like we've been on his duty with him. We know the names of all of his guard buddies and all of the stories about each of them. We've been there for his ups and downs. For the good and the bad. And when his mind just won't allow him to sit in another crowded, noisy restaurant with children running around, we get it. We understand it. And we leave. His time in war has caused his life to be different.
And the reason that things have played out in the way they have is because he is gay. Yes sir, 100% unabashed homosexual. Except on the Air Base. Except when he is leading his unit in weapons instruction. Except when he is doing his military security duties at an undisclosed base in Iraq. Except when he is on the shooting range. Except when he voluntarily takes himself to war for his country. Until now. Until September 20, 2011, when the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell came into effect. Not even a month ago and now his promotion to Master Sargent. And the dark aforementioned morning in the motel parking lot.
You see, today his partner is going on the base with us. For the very first time. For the first time in Oregon Air National Guard history. For the first time for every single person at Commander's Call to see and hear. He is being promoted at a formal ceremony at 06:00 in front of military men, boys really. In the last few days before the ceremony, he made special coming-out announcements to his Sargent and Commander. In private before the big ceremony. Just so that they were not caught off guard. And we are here too. So nervous. Uncomfortable as we enter the building. Everyone in fatigues. "Yes sir" and "No sir" the phrases of the day. We have reserved seats in the first two rows while the room fills up with about 60 or so soldiers. Lordy, I'm sweating. And the ceremony begins.
His mother cries. His partner tells of "acting" and "being an actor" today and in years past. I hear of his partner's work in advocating on behalf of all of the silent partners who have hidden their faces for years. Lying, changing names, changing stories, not being able to post on Facebook about great experiences or ask for help in the dark days. His partner has a rich history of fighting, wanting more, wanting better. Stories about going to the Pentagon to meet with U.S. Military experts and higher ups. Of passing the Joint Chiefs of Staff office. Of being in the room when President Obama signed the repeal a few months back. Of shaking the President's hand and thanking him on behalf of a nameless, faceless soldier. Of the big smile on the President's face. Man oh man, that's powerful stuff.
And now we're in the room. And he is speaking. He's introducing his mom. And then, "Probably this is what you've all been wondering about, this is my husband." Silence. What? What did he say? And then his story to the group about his husband working for the good. For the silence that has simply had to be. And the group claps. And claps. And we stand to our feet out of respect. Remember, this has never, ever happened here before. The first time. In history. And the receiving line afterwards....I'm shaking hand after hand. Saying good morning. Saying hello. Saying thank you. Everyone pleasant. Everyone energetic and polite. And a few....the Sargent.....looking right straight into his face and speaking directly to the formerly silent partner with words to this effect: I want you to know how much I appreciate all of the work you've done behind the scenes for this cause. It is a pleasure to meet you. I've told the military for a while now that we were prepared for this. Wow. What a day. I told my own LoverBoy afterwards that this is definitely in our Top 10 list of great things that we've been able to experience in our time together. Amazing. So powerful. History in the making. Trend setting.
And last night about 8pm, I receive a text message from the formerly silent partner "Who would have thought that I'd ever be spending the evening eating pizza and drinking beer with a bunch of straight military guys with my partner....these are amazing days." And they are.
Monday, October 03, 2011
Palm Springs....
Just two more days and we're on our way to Palm Springs. With, oh I don't know, maybe a dozen or so fellow friends. It's birthday time again for our friend Scott....and he always celebrates by picking out a location and asking his friends to join him. He's done this for 18 years. LoverBoy and I actually got together at this very belonging way back in 1997 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. And we haven't been back since. So, we're excited! We have spent very little time together this entire summer. It's time to recenter ourselves.
We will be staying at Terrazzo...a small clothing-optional resort. Continental breakfast and cocktail hour included....nothing to do....books to read....chats to be had ..... dinners out in the evening..... who knows what. But as long and schedule-heavy as our summer has been, we are looking forward to ZERO... nothing. Absolutely nothing on our schedule with no agenda and no pressure. LoverBoy asked me if I was taking my laptop with me. I didn't have an answer yet. I'm sort of thinking no.
Mason will be headed back to his (expensive) dog boarding facility just a mile from our house. It's a great place, safe, happy, and cage-free where the dogs all roam around together. They sleep on couches, futons, chairs and the like. There can be anywhere from 20 to 50 dogs at a given time. He always comes home ex-haus-ted. Trashed. It's clear that he plays his heart out there. Oh, and one more thing, apparently he's fallen head-over-heels for a one of the female pooches there. A strong affinity, shall we say. The lady who runs the place told us that she had to pull him off of the chick dog. And that his body parts were still erect and wouldn't go down. So, she hosed him down. Lordy. After I stopped laughing it occurred to me that, even I, have never even seen his little wee-wee. No wonder he comes home exhausted.
The project that I was working on all summer long has been just about complete. It rolled out last Monday to a full group of 40....the first of 74 sessions. Even I was caught off guard with how well things came together. Super powerful, energizing, thought-provoking. I will be one of the facilitators for the program. So I'll be making trips to Seattle off and on for the next 18 months while this program continues. The venue is beautiful -- ponds, streams, plants, trees, flowers and lots of typical Pacific Northwest greenery. I'm very proud of the work we've done and the time we've invested in making our workplace, our lives, a better place to be.
We will be staying at Terrazzo...a small clothing-optional resort. Continental breakfast and cocktail hour included....nothing to do....books to read....chats to be had ..... dinners out in the evening..... who knows what. But as long and schedule-heavy as our summer has been, we are looking forward to ZERO... nothing. Absolutely nothing on our schedule with no agenda and no pressure. LoverBoy asked me if I was taking my laptop with me. I didn't have an answer yet. I'm sort of thinking no.
Mason will be headed back to his (expensive) dog boarding facility just a mile from our house. It's a great place, safe, happy, and cage-free where the dogs all roam around together. They sleep on couches, futons, chairs and the like. There can be anywhere from 20 to 50 dogs at a given time. He always comes home ex-haus-ted. Trashed. It's clear that he plays his heart out there. Oh, and one more thing, apparently he's fallen head-over-heels for a one of the female pooches there. A strong affinity, shall we say. The lady who runs the place told us that she had to pull him off of the chick dog. And that his body parts were still erect and wouldn't go down. So, she hosed him down. Lordy. After I stopped laughing it occurred to me that, even I, have never even seen his little wee-wee. No wonder he comes home exhausted.
The project that I was working on all summer long has been just about complete. It rolled out last Monday to a full group of 40....the first of 74 sessions. Even I was caught off guard with how well things came together. Super powerful, energizing, thought-provoking. I will be one of the facilitators for the program. So I'll be making trips to Seattle off and on for the next 18 months while this program continues. The venue is beautiful -- ponds, streams, plants, trees, flowers and lots of typical Pacific Northwest greenery. I'm very proud of the work we've done and the time we've invested in making our workplace, our lives, a better place to be.
Friday, September 09, 2011
10 Years
Ten years ago today, I could come and go freely between the forward galley and the flight deck. I could deliver meals by myself and even let the pilots out of the flight deck to use the restroom without assistance. And the flight deck door would remain open all of the way until we reached the runway for takeoff. The doors were not made of Kevlar. Let's just say that things were different. Very different.
I've just finished listening to a whole slew of new audio tapes made available to the public over this last week. You'll find them here via the New York Times. I know life is very busy for all of us. But I'd like you to spend 30 minutes listening. These are my people. My life. I've spent 16 years being a flight attendant. I love my job more than you'll ever know. There's just nothing like that feeling of being a flight attendant. I'd like you to pay special attention to these sections of the tapes: (1) 8:19...Betty Ong flight attendant. Listen to how calm she is. She knows nothing of the magnitude of the situation. This could be me and my voice. (2) 9:28 Flight 93...listening to the struggle and screaming is just about more than I could handle. I could be in that aircraft. (3) 10:32 Shoot down Order Given. Gosh, these words awake something deep inside.
I drove my honey to the Portland airport this morning to begin his 2-day trip to Chicago. He said to me, "I wish I wasn't going on this trip.....I'd rather be home with you right now.....I hope nothing happens while I'm gone." The main roadway into the airport is lined with hundreds of US flags in the grass strip next to the road. They begin a 1/2 mile from the terminal. I wrote about my day 10 years ago in this post. I wish my honey wasn't gone, either. It would be a very good weekend for him to be home with me.
I've just finished listening to a whole slew of new audio tapes made available to the public over this last week. You'll find them here via the New York Times. I know life is very busy for all of us. But I'd like you to spend 30 minutes listening. These are my people. My life. I've spent 16 years being a flight attendant. I love my job more than you'll ever know. There's just nothing like that feeling of being a flight attendant. I'd like you to pay special attention to these sections of the tapes: (1) 8:19...Betty Ong flight attendant. Listen to how calm she is. She knows nothing of the magnitude of the situation. This could be me and my voice. (2) 9:28 Flight 93...listening to the struggle and screaming is just about more than I could handle. I could be in that aircraft. (3) 10:32 Shoot down Order Given. Gosh, these words awake something deep inside.
I drove my honey to the Portland airport this morning to begin his 2-day trip to Chicago. He said to me, "I wish I wasn't going on this trip.....I'd rather be home with you right now.....I hope nothing happens while I'm gone." The main roadway into the airport is lined with hundreds of US flags in the grass strip next to the road. They begin a 1/2 mile from the terminal. I wrote about my day 10 years ago in this post. I wish my honey wasn't gone, either. It would be a very good weekend for him to be home with me.
Monday, September 05, 2011
Social Shallowness and the Young
The young mystify me. The mindset keeps me awake at night sometime. You'll remember the Young and the Restless from a while back. The fickleness, the erratic emotions and behaviors, the wild swings in emotion.
I've been on the Design Team for a new flight attendant training program. I've been sequestered in Seattle much of the summer months. Planning, designing, thinking, all of that. There are 15 of us. A piece of our program is going to deal with a sort of generational study -- looking at the four different generations currently existing together, trying to work together, in this day and age. It looks at the differences in thinking, working, communicating, home life, values, what's important and what isn't. Fascinating stuff! We've looked at the Veteran group, the Baby Boomer group, and the Gen X and Y groups. And now that I've been dealing with it, thinking about it, and working on this program, it seems to return to my mind regularly as I go through my days.
The group that continues to have me confounded is the Gen X and Y groups. I've got numerous friends in those groups. And I'd never want to point fingers and accuse. But I am wondering. I'm wondering about commitment. I'm wondering about long-term. I'm wondering about balance and centering. All of which appear to be missing. I've heard several younger buddies say simply in passing, "I think I'll just quit and go work somewhere else...." Umm, okay. Really? After five or so years of devoting yourself to a super fantastic job you'll just up and quit? Weird. I've heard statements such as "I've got nothing keeping me here." To which I asked about the human element -- "Don't you have any friends or people you've met here....like ME!....that you feel any connection to? The answer was a shrug of the shoulders and sort of a blank, noncommittal stare. Nope, I don't mean a thing. Disposable is a word that comes to mind.
Gosh, where will that leave us as a society? Say in ten, 20 or 50 years from now? What will our social structure look like? Will our work groups, church groups, neighborhoods, groups of friends, be solid? Tight? Together? I hear statements on the far ends of the emotional scales -- far left, then far right -- and wonder where the middle ground is. Wonder where the balance or center point is. And I wonder who is around to help mentor, teach, Life Skills 101 to those who need it. It all feels shallow to me. Words in passing, catch phrases roll off the tongue with flippant sort of stylistic contemporary attitudes. Sense of entitlement floats through my thoughts.
I walked up and put my hand on the shoulder of a friend who I hadn't seen in a week. Not a long time. Just that we have become pretty darned good friends through the years. I got a look, a stare, not good, not bad. A nothing, really. He started in on something or other about something or other. I waited. Waited. Oh and, then, yeah.....finally......"How are you doing?" I finally got asked. It just doesn't seem right to me. And I worry for the future of this globe and its people.
I've been on the Design Team for a new flight attendant training program. I've been sequestered in Seattle much of the summer months. Planning, designing, thinking, all of that. There are 15 of us. A piece of our program is going to deal with a sort of generational study -- looking at the four different generations currently existing together, trying to work together, in this day and age. It looks at the differences in thinking, working, communicating, home life, values, what's important and what isn't. Fascinating stuff! We've looked at the Veteran group, the Baby Boomer group, and the Gen X and Y groups. And now that I've been dealing with it, thinking about it, and working on this program, it seems to return to my mind regularly as I go through my days.
The group that continues to have me confounded is the Gen X and Y groups. I've got numerous friends in those groups. And I'd never want to point fingers and accuse. But I am wondering. I'm wondering about commitment. I'm wondering about long-term. I'm wondering about balance and centering. All of which appear to be missing. I've heard several younger buddies say simply in passing, "I think I'll just quit and go work somewhere else...." Umm, okay. Really? After five or so years of devoting yourself to a super fantastic job you'll just up and quit? Weird. I've heard statements such as "I've got nothing keeping me here." To which I asked about the human element -- "Don't you have any friends or people you've met here....like ME!....that you feel any connection to? The answer was a shrug of the shoulders and sort of a blank, noncommittal stare. Nope, I don't mean a thing. Disposable is a word that comes to mind.
Gosh, where will that leave us as a society? Say in ten, 20 or 50 years from now? What will our social structure look like? Will our work groups, church groups, neighborhoods, groups of friends, be solid? Tight? Together? I hear statements on the far ends of the emotional scales -- far left, then far right -- and wonder where the middle ground is. Wonder where the balance or center point is. And I wonder who is around to help mentor, teach, Life Skills 101 to those who need it. It all feels shallow to me. Words in passing, catch phrases roll off the tongue with flippant sort of stylistic contemporary attitudes. Sense of entitlement floats through my thoughts.
I walked up and put my hand on the shoulder of a friend who I hadn't seen in a week. Not a long time. Just that we have become pretty darned good friends through the years. I got a look, a stare, not good, not bad. A nothing, really. He started in on something or other about something or other. I waited. Waited. Oh and, then, yeah.....finally......"How are you doing?" I finally got asked. It just doesn't seem right to me. And I worry for the future of this globe and its people.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Side-by-Side Lives
Ugly live up on the inside. Ugly be a hurtful, mean person. Is you one a them peoples?
Impact. Powerful. Tossed around without regard like dust in the air sometimes, those words are. I am in the middle of reading The Help. But somehow it happened that Saturday evening was a good time for us to go and see the movie....which I've been waiting for months to see. This is just my kind'a story. Personal. Compelling. The actual stories of people's lives. Yours and mine. They do have merit, you know.....the stories of our lives.
But one of the things that occurred to me during the movie is the side-by-side lives lived by the folks portrayed in the case. The parallel lives. The many pieces of the lives that occurred with each individual over the years that happened in conjunction with one other. The Help would many times stay with the same white family for years. Many years....oh say 40 or more years. The Help would live their own path and life during this 40 years. And the white family that they worked for would also live their own life during this same 40 years. Two distinct, varied, very different paths over the same length of time -- running parallel to one another. Children would come and go, news stories would pass, times would change, political relevance would rise and fall, social interaction would lumber on. And as individual as these paths are, they are intertwined in so many ways.
Ever morning, until you dead in the ground, you gone have to make this decision. You gone have to ask yourself, "Am I gone believe what them fools say about me today?"
And the fact that this story took place right here under our noses in the US of A really hits home with me. Perhaps I should say takes place, present tense. Because it does. No matter the laws of the land or the regulations in place the dark hearts of the people are difficult to assimilate into the new ages. Things don't change inside of a person's soul because a political figure tells them to. I'm ashamed to know that in my lifetime there is hatred for who people are -- not what they have necessarily done or how they've behaved...that's a whole other matter. But for who they are. That it takes place in the most powerful nation on earth really irritates me. Confuses me. On how we could have ever allowed it to happen. Whatever it was that prompted white people to actually believe that they could catch colored diseases from the colored people. And everyone believed it at the time. And it continues to happen in so many ways even today. We've got a long, long way to go. My friend Matt said recently "I think we need to come together on social issues at their core.... Create real social solidarity not this fake wave a flag on flag day and temporary love for all other Americans during a time of crisis, but real solidarity." He's right on.
Another piece of this story that hit home with me is how the person who steps out of their comfort zone and stands up for others is the person that should lead this world. The one who sees a wrong and wants to make it right. The one who sees the underling being beaten down and berated and wants to do whatever it takes to stand with them. Every family, every period of time in our globe's history, has one or two of those people. The ones who refuse to accept for fact what is told to them. What is shoved down their throat. What is simply assumed to be reality. The person says, "No," and then goes about making it right. Do you stand up for the underdog, the one who is treated poorly, the one who needs a comrade? I try to.
All I'm saying is, kindness don't have no boundaries.
The stories of our lives are powerful. I think I said that in the opening paragraph. And they are. They are, after all, our stories, our lives. No one else's. They may not mean much to anyone else. But they mean the world to us. And in just the right time, the right place, and when the moment is tender and available, the stories of our lives fit perfectly into the life of someone else. They enter someone else's heart, or mind. They meld and blend. You can see it on the face of the other person. They suddenly morph from a blank look of nothingness into a land where the two get it....they know one another .... they understand one another. The point at which the stories of two people's lives intersect is one of the most influential points during our short years on this planet.
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.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Bored in Seattle
It is becoming clear to me, again, that my mind thinks in ways that other's minds do not. I was always bored in school. Boring. No interest. Could have been a straight-A student...but was more than satisfied with Bs, Cs, and even some Ds. It meant nothing to me. I was not challenged.
I have spent the last three months working in Seattle for several days a week. Putting together a 4-hour flight attendant training project for my employer. I've enjoyed it. But it is painfully clear to me that I expect more of myself, and others, than they expect of themselves. I want more. I think in ways that others do not. I am not satisfied with status quo. I do not want another corporate training project or things that can be achieved elsewhere. I have finished developing a piece for the program called "Becoming the CEO of Your Life." Many, many hours of work. And a very nice product. Challenging. Expecting introspection and personal work on the insides. Expecting more. Wanting more. Wanting participants to dig deep.
But I've been slapped on the hands. Nope....too personal. Can't do that. We had something else in mind. "Let's bring it back to boring" is what I've surmised from the comments. So, for one more time in my life, I've been disenchanted with knowing that people simply are happy with status quo. With medium. With being good....not great or exceptional. With being afraid of asking more of people or pushing buttons that may very well be uncomfortable. So I'm back to middle ground. Boring ground. Nonchallenging ground. Again, just like in school, I'm bored.
I have spent the last three months working in Seattle for several days a week. Putting together a 4-hour flight attendant training project for my employer. I've enjoyed it. But it is painfully clear to me that I expect more of myself, and others, than they expect of themselves. I want more. I think in ways that others do not. I am not satisfied with status quo. I do not want another corporate training project or things that can be achieved elsewhere. I have finished developing a piece for the program called "Becoming the CEO of Your Life." Many, many hours of work. And a very nice product. Challenging. Expecting introspection and personal work on the insides. Expecting more. Wanting more. Wanting participants to dig deep.
But I've been slapped on the hands. Nope....too personal. Can't do that. We had something else in mind. "Let's bring it back to boring" is what I've surmised from the comments. So, for one more time in my life, I've been disenchanted with knowing that people simply are happy with status quo. With medium. With being good....not great or exceptional. With being afraid of asking more of people or pushing buttons that may very well be uncomfortable. So I'm back to middle ground. Boring ground. Nonchallenging ground. Again, just like in school, I'm bored.
Thursday, August 04, 2011
For What Will I Use My Voice ??
"Remember that the first step is not to speak ill of others. All human beings have weaknesses and faults. They have their imperfections. Therefore, before trying to find faults in others and speaking ill of them, try to find your own weaknesses and correct those."
I will never understand why we don't wish others well. I don't understand the lack of understanding. Is there ever a need for being unkind? Can't my voice be used for some other purpose?
As much as I may disagree with someone, as much as I may not agree with their point of view or decisions they make, is there ever a need to not wish someone well as they move on in their life? When someone departs one difficult spot in life for another more appropriate location, is there ever a reason to not want the best for them? Don't we want everyone to be happy and successful and peaceful in the quiet spots of their life? I just don't see the long-term success of slinging mud at someone.
Perhaps I'm wrong.
Monday, July 25, 2011
A Story of Transformation
The story of transformation is powerful. Progressing from our past into our future. From what we used to be into what we are now....or what we can become tomorrow. Leaving behind old things, things that are worn out and no longer need to be a part of our lives......and moving ahead into the new.
Being open, honest, and making one’s self available to change is a moment in our lives that won’t soon be forgotten. The very blip of time in which we signal to ourselves that it’s okay to be different....better....than yesterday. The moment in our lives that we realize how our former attitudes sucked the life out of us and that the old way of doing business was leading us down a road that led to nowhere.
Yes, there is something quite powerful about that split-second of time in each one of our lives when it all comes together in our heads.....and when our heads align with our hearts. It is then....only then....that we can move forward. Until then, we are bogged down....backwards.....even fighting a dark sort of internal battle. And after that, we begin to feel better. Happier. Like a weight has been lifted. We’ve all been there. And we’ll probably be there again. But looking for....actually even expecting.....those moments creates an atmosphere of possibility. That there may actually be hope for us. For tomorrow. That there is at least the most remote chance that we don’t have to continue to react the same way we always have. That we don’t have to be the same person that we’ve become quite comfortable being.
The story of change seems to give us permission to say NO to the old and YES to the new. It’s so easy to get complacent....and used to....having the same reactions to past troubles rather than to have fresh new responses to each day. No, I haven’t arrived. Nor do I honestly expect to. But the road looks differently than it used to. It feels better. And I’m glad that I’m on this path, on this journey, rather than on one of the many others that I could be walking.
I can’t imagine getting to the end of this thing we call life and having made the same choices at age 80 that I made at age 18. I think it’s time to refuse to play games that just can’t be won and to instead focus our energies on a more positive time of life. A time of life that points back to the old days and the less-than-stellar choices -- and points ahead to living the second part of my life differently. More honestly. More in balance. Treating others better than I have in my past. And giving myself permission to add to this world rather than take away from it.
Being open, honest, and making one’s self available to change is a moment in our lives that won’t soon be forgotten. The very blip of time in which we signal to ourselves that it’s okay to be different....better....than yesterday. The moment in our lives that we realize how our former attitudes sucked the life out of us and that the old way of doing business was leading us down a road that led to nowhere.
Yes, there is something quite powerful about that split-second of time in each one of our lives when it all comes together in our heads.....and when our heads align with our hearts. It is then....only then....that we can move forward. Until then, we are bogged down....backwards.....even fighting a dark sort of internal battle. And after that, we begin to feel better. Happier. Like a weight has been lifted. We’ve all been there. And we’ll probably be there again. But looking for....actually even expecting.....those moments creates an atmosphere of possibility. That there may actually be hope for us. For tomorrow. That there is at least the most remote chance that we don’t have to continue to react the same way we always have. That we don’t have to be the same person that we’ve become quite comfortable being.
The story of change seems to give us permission to say NO to the old and YES to the new. It’s so easy to get complacent....and used to....having the same reactions to past troubles rather than to have fresh new responses to each day. No, I haven’t arrived. Nor do I honestly expect to. But the road looks differently than it used to. It feels better. And I’m glad that I’m on this path, on this journey, rather than on one of the many others that I could be walking.
I can’t imagine getting to the end of this thing we call life and having made the same choices at age 80 that I made at age 18. I think it’s time to refuse to play games that just can’t be won and to instead focus our energies on a more positive time of life. A time of life that points back to the old days and the less-than-stellar choices -- and points ahead to living the second part of my life differently. More honestly. More in balance. Treating others better than I have in my past. And giving myself permission to add to this world rather than take away from it.
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, July 04, 2011
Jaunty July Juxtapositions
(For the record, NO, I have no idea what the title means...so don't ask....the words are far and above me, I know not their meaning....nor care to. And on that note, I pass you along to the rest of this delirious post......)
Well well, it's the 4th of July. No, not just a date on the calendar, but the birth date. Happy 235th birthday, US of A. You've come a long, long way. And you've got a long, long way to go. Let the sparklers, watermelon, and bar-b-ques begin! It is one of my more favorite holidays. I love the community feel, the whole front porch and backyard gathering romanticism of the day. The sunshine, the outdoors, the after-dark colors in the sky. It should have been my own father's 80th birthday. But he didn't make it past age 62. I think he'd still be full of vim and vigor if he were alive today.
Friday will see me on my way to the Northeast Coast of the US. Provincetown, Massachusetts, for Bear Week. Year three. We stay in a home that used to house the rail master.....Provincetown is at the far tip of Cape Cod....and the yard next to the house we stay in was the turnaround point for trains. And the railmaster lived in the home we now stay in. The town is filled with thousands of good looking men who either are bears, cubs, otters, dolphins, or some other form of animal. Don't ask. It is a busy week filled with all sorts of activities from morning until late at night. A couple of things are on my list this year that I have not done in years past: Spiritus Pizza with hundreds of guys at 1am and the boat shuttle out to the Long Point lighthouse that sits, quite literally, at the last piece of land on Cape Cod. I can't wait. Plus, I have tickets to see Pam Ann for a one-night-only show.
I'm continuing to put in a ton of work hours on a special, ongoing months-long project developing training for our flight attendants. I've really had to get my head around the thinking, plotting, planning, writing, developing piece of this whole thing. I've been out of practice on those sorts of things for years. Serving drinks year in and year out can lead one to a soft brain. The piece that I'm crafting is Being the CEO Of Your Own Life. Taking charge, being the boss, not being the middle manager of....you. Just you. Your choices, your decisions, your reactions. It has been through redraft after redraft already -- and I imagine that process will continue until the mid-September rollout.
We finally have a bit of summertime temperatures here in the Pacific Northwest. I'm telling you, there's nothing like the mornings and evenings -- with the blue skies, light breezes, and all of the amazing natural beauty that our area offers. I did try to get out to Sauvie Island one of our two clothing-optional beaches last weekend. The Columbia River water levels are super high right now which led me to having to wade through more than two feet of water just to reach dry ground. The mosquitoes were something else. But I did enjoy a few hours of sunshine. I'm more than looking forward to more trips to the beach as the summer progresses. Our other beach, Rooster Rock, is well under water for at least a few more weeks. Here's a map that I developed a few years ago.
Well well, it's the 4th of July. No, not just a date on the calendar, but the birth date. Happy 235th birthday, US of A. You've come a long, long way. And you've got a long, long way to go. Let the sparklers, watermelon, and bar-b-ques begin! It is one of my more favorite holidays. I love the community feel, the whole front porch and backyard gathering romanticism of the day. The sunshine, the outdoors, the after-dark colors in the sky. It should have been my own father's 80th birthday. But he didn't make it past age 62. I think he'd still be full of vim and vigor if he were alive today.
Friday will see me on my way to the Northeast Coast of the US. Provincetown, Massachusetts, for Bear Week. Year three. We stay in a home that used to house the rail master.....Provincetown is at the far tip of Cape Cod....and the yard next to the house we stay in was the turnaround point for trains. And the railmaster lived in the home we now stay in. The town is filled with thousands of good looking men who either are bears, cubs, otters, dolphins, or some other form of animal. Don't ask. It is a busy week filled with all sorts of activities from morning until late at night. A couple of things are on my list this year that I have not done in years past: Spiritus Pizza with hundreds of guys at 1am and the boat shuttle out to the Long Point lighthouse that sits, quite literally, at the last piece of land on Cape Cod. I can't wait. Plus, I have tickets to see Pam Ann for a one-night-only show.
I'm continuing to put in a ton of work hours on a special, ongoing months-long project developing training for our flight attendants. I've really had to get my head around the thinking, plotting, planning, writing, developing piece of this whole thing. I've been out of practice on those sorts of things for years. Serving drinks year in and year out can lead one to a soft brain. The piece that I'm crafting is Being the CEO Of Your Own Life. Taking charge, being the boss, not being the middle manager of....you. Just you. Your choices, your decisions, your reactions. It has been through redraft after redraft already -- and I imagine that process will continue until the mid-September rollout.
We finally have a bit of summertime temperatures here in the Pacific Northwest. I'm telling you, there's nothing like the mornings and evenings -- with the blue skies, light breezes, and all of the amazing natural beauty that our area offers. I did try to get out to Sauvie Island one of our two clothing-optional beaches last weekend. The Columbia River water levels are super high right now which led me to having to wade through more than two feet of water just to reach dry ground. The mosquitoes were something else. But I did enjoy a few hours of sunshine. I'm more than looking forward to more trips to the beach as the summer progresses. Our other beach, Rooster Rock, is well under water for at least a few more weeks. Here's a map that I developed a few years ago.
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.
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