Stories and Essays from 30,000 Feet
Hurricane Flight Attendant: The First Year
Hurricane Flight Attendant: The First Year
10pm on the West Coast. Somewhere between Utah and California
That night, I lay in the shower, fetal position, on the 3rd night of a lifetime of hotel sheets and confusing alarm clocks, and cried until my already sore stomach felt raw. All I could think, and repeat out loud, was simply, “There’s no place like home”. And when the realization that home was now a black TravelPro suitcase, I knew I didn’t have any other choice than to turn off the shower and suffer the scratchiness of those white towels and just go to bed. I think even the bedbugs felt bad that night and stayed away.
One year later, I can look back on that night and think to myself, Jesus, I wouldn’t even think of laying in a hotel tub now. I have seen my co-workers; I know what has lived in that room just last night! The air sickness has gone away and the undaunting fear of standing up and doing an announcement in front of 50 passengers doesn’t even phase me. Lets face it, they aren’t paying attention to me anyway. I've found the comfort of knowing that my suitcase, which I have affectionatly named “Travi”, is a place I keep my things in… and home is wherever I am. But, it took me a year of turbulences and sunrises to get to the woman I am now. I truly had to travel all around the country to find myself, and I think I’ve finally caught up with this crazy blonde hurricane, and I’m comforted by her whirling winds and silent eye of the storm of a first year Flight Attendant.
Gravity’s Home
What is it that compels me to put this uniform on and fly across the country to a homeless city in a foreign state? There will be no one there to greet me when I arrive at my new home.
Home. What a loaded powerful word.
What is my home?Is it a hotel bed and hotel bar soap? Is it a condo in the sunshine state with a comfy bed? Is it up here in the clouds? Maybe so. Defying gravity. That is my home. My own definition of gravity-to be tied down. To any noun really. I defy any noun.
And so, as I careen through this universe, I am told to go out and find myself in my fast forward life. Remember to hit pause once and a while and enjoy the scenery. And then, quickly scream down the runway of my world to my home of weightlessness. Nothing to bearing me down. Fly airplane Fly. Show no mercy to any turbulance coming my way. Wings are sturdy and steadfast. The body never asks how to fly. It trusts. It knows. It’s as inherent as the boldness that lives in the depths of my passion. True to form. Beautiful and courageous.
I Came to Love Myself
I watched the sunrise today while riding the clouds, and I realized the magnitude of such a divine event. Another chance at another day. 50 souls and I careening through this little piece of universe with nothing to touch us up here. As they all sleep soundly, I am aware that they are my family up here among the clouds and turbulence. I watch over them and protect them and it gives me a sense of pride and unconditional love.
The silver body that carries us wears its name tag proudly. It represents success, accomplishment and unwavering support. And so to I have learned form these traits, how to lead my passengers to their next destination.
Lucky am I that a new set of family members will be here shortly and I must say farewell to the ones of the sunrise.
Day break brings change and I welcome it. I came to love myself the most in those stolen moments in the clouds. Riding in the back seat of that old soul of a plane. The things it knows, the many people it has carried. All with their own intricate life stories that span every inch of this big open sky.
There is so much space in this world. I want to explore every part of it.
Linds, really, the hotel tub?? That is a bit disgusting! haha, I am glad that you love flying like you do! It is such a blast! Minus those hotel towels!
ReplyDelete