Wishin' and hopin'....

My prayers have been answered...I received an international trip early this morning, and dammit! I am NOT in Frankfurt. This teeny post comes to you straight from my London hotel room...where it is 1:15 in the morning. Hopefully, I will have some pretty pictures to post tomorrow evening...I don't leave the hotel until 0530 Monday morning.

And, hopefully, the rain is gone. I'm just wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'.....

I'm jus' sayin'....

Coffee, Tea, or AED, part 2

A couple of weeks ago, the newspaper USA Today had an article about Flight Attendants and the use of the AED called Coffee, Tea or Defibrillator. Almost a year ago, I wrote a post about some of the emergency procedures that Flight Attendants train for: Coffee, Tea, or AED. At the end of the post, I told a true story about my friend that I called "John."

I sent John a link to that article, in case he didn't see it. He sent me back an e-mail:

I used the AED, one year ago today. And look what shows up in the newspaper today. Coincidence? Or GOD shaking my foundation today?

I wrote the editor of the USA Today and said:

Thank you, thank you, thank you for taking the time to compliment my profession in today's ...article: Coffee, tea or AED? My response is two-fold.

To all of my colleagues: your training skills will help you through this type of inflight emergency, but be prepared to deal with negative circumstances. One year ago today, I used the AED on one of my passengers on a trans-con flight. Unfortunately, the man did not survive. Be prepared to deal with grief. I went to my layover hotel in shock and had nightmares for a week. I grieved for a man I didn't know for months.

And, to all of our passengers: please say something if you're not feeling well. If my passenger had only said something to one of the flight attendants we could of kept an eye on him. I'll never know how long he was sitting there unconscious until someone finally rang for assistance.

I was able to write the family and send my condolences after this incident. So, today, on the one year anniversary, I'm wiping away tears on my jumpseat. Still saddened by my experience. Saddened for the children who no longer have a father and a wife who no longer has her soulmate.

He gives great advice--if you don't feel well, let us know.

It makes me sad that my friend is still haunted by his experience from last year.

Last week

With Norm preparing to head to Germany and Africa for the next year, it was time to tie up loose ends.

On Wednesday morning, he kissed me good bye and said, "I'll be home around 2--let's go get our marriage license."

That cold and rainy afternoon, we drove to the courthouse in Alexandria. Walking through the wet streets of Old Town, he pulled me closer to his side. The rain, the cold, the brick street--the silence between us, the knowing between us, our quick steps --it all felt soulful.

After receiving our license, he called one of the celebrants on the list--could we get married today? Yes? Now? Yes.

We parked almost in front of the attorney-celebrant's office. Two things about the location of this parking spot--it is directly in front of the restaurant where we met almost 9 years ago. And, it is the only free parking spot in Old Town Alexandria. (Efficient and a good value. These are things that are important to Norm!)

The elevator door opened into the reception area. "Your 'wedding' is here," the receptionist informed the celebrant on the phone. (I suppose a big poofy white dress would have been proof that we were 'the wedding'...but Norm and I were in jeans. Maybe it was the looks on our faces...)

The attorney greeted us, led us into a small conference room, reviewed our license, asked a couple of questions..then we stood up...

Facing each other, and holding hands, we began.

"Do you...?" the celebrant asked.

"I do," Norm replied.

Do you...?" the celebrant asked of me.

"I do."

Kiss. Big hug. Kiss.

It was perfect for us.

We went next door to King Street Blues. The town drunk (as defined later by the bartender) asked could he kiss the bride.  It was so special, just the two of us.  And the drunk!

Yesterday, he left for 3 weeks of training. He'll come home for a few days, then head over to Germany. I'll be able to see him, hopefully frequently. He'll be an hour's train ride outside of Frankfurt.

Yes, Frankfurt. My home away from home. The city I have been to the most this year.

And now that my new husband is there...let's take bets on how often I get a FRA trip. I'll bet that I never see it again on a layover...

Are you kidding me?

Sunday afternoon, my position on the Reserve list was lining up with a trip to Rome (FCO). Do you think I got that trip? Ohhellno! I was given one leg to San Francisco, arrive there a little after midnight, layover 18 hours, one quick leg to San Diego, then the redeye back home, arriving at 6 a.m. Bleh...

So, I made peace with the trip--I had no choice, anyway....

I packed and drove to the airport. As I was pulling into a parking space, my cell phone rang. It was the Crew Desk-and my trip was being changed.

Guess where they sent me?

Frankfurt.

And, that's all I have to say about that...

The Voice just called...

Henry from the Crew Desk just called. I like getting calls from him. He usually calls early to assign a trip--not just the required minimum 4 hours prior to departure. And he has a big, deep, booming voice--if he wasn't such a pussycat, his voice could scare you!

I've never met Henry--I know we walked through the Crew Desk area when we were in training in Chicago--but, I don't remember anyone's face or name--we were all scared of our shadows in that place!

There is one woman at the Crew Desk that calls to assigns you to a trip from hell with weird sneer-reminds me of the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz: "I'll get you my pretty...and your little dog, too!" I dread hearing her calls. Now, when Henry calls, his is a reassuring voice (in a weird, Crew Desk type of way...)

Henry called about 30 minutes ago to give me an assignment with 7 hours notice. SEVEN hours! That's like gold to me!

I'm working the last flight out to San Francisco (SFO) with just under 12 hours there, then deadheading back home tomorrow afternoon. Easy peasy!

Thanks, Henry!

This is weird...

Last night, I was lining up for the Geneva (GVA) trip--there were four open positions--people had called out sick, must have been a bad Purser! Today: nada...nuthin'...bupkus. The telephone has been eerily silent all day.

I checked the phone to make sure it was working or that I didn't sleep through a call. (I think all reserve Flight Attendants have done that!) It's working...no voicemails. Then checked the list--I'm still there. Then I checked the Open Trips, none there--they have all been staffed.





Shhhh...be vewwy vewwy quiet....







My View 1 Year Ago: Saturday night
My View 2 Years Ago: San Antonio

Frankfurt (this is a recording...)

I got back from Frankfurt (FRA) yesterday afternoon. I worked the First Class galley on the 767 going and coming back. Suh-weet! There were eight Flight Attendants on the trip and everyone got along really well--so, it was a fun trip! I went to bed as soon as I got to my room-around 9:30 a.m.-and slept until almost dinner time. The hotel gives us all a free drink coupon when we check in so all the crews tend to meet in the hotel bar around 6 p.m.

Some people walked over to Im Herzen Afrikas--the restaurant that I enjoyed so much last year. Having just gotten back from FRA, I really wasn't in the mood and was tired--really tired. I walked the block over to the Hauptbahnof train station and found a food court there--got myself a bratwurst, potatoes and red cabbage--mmmmmm-mmm! Took it all back to my room and had a nice quiet dinner there. It wasn't long before I was falling asleep again...only to wake up at 5:30 in the morning and not be able to go back to sleep (it was 11:30 p.m. in Washington!) and I was awake until I hit my own bed at 4 pm when I got home.

















My sleep is all screwed up--and I am really tired. Back on Reserve tomorrow for three days, then off for two. Maybe I won't get used. Then again, there is a Rome, Buenos Aires, Brussels and Geneva in Open Trips. But, with three flights a day to Frankfurt from Washington, I'm sure someone will call in sick, and a Frankfurt will pop into Open Trips--with my name all over it!

Karma? I'm not so sure...

I went to the briefing with my crew going to Frankfurt (FRA) yesterday afternoon. In the briefing, we choose our working positions based on our seniority. Usually, the #8 position goes super-senior--the First Class galley is a primo working spot. I was the most junior person of the 12 Flight Attendants--and was surprised that I was left with the #8 position.

Then, the Purser kept talking. And she was selling all kinds of crazy. And control issues?? Not even Dr. Phil would touch this chick! Now, I knew why the position was mine--no one wanted to work near her.

Apparently, karma was on my side...once we were onboard and setting up, the Crew Desk called and took me off the flight. They decided we were overstaffed with 12 Flight Attendants on the 777. (Actually, 12 Flight Attendants makes for a really nice service in Coach the Village.) I sat Standby at the airport for the next 3 hours and came home.

And, I was typing this, the Crew Desk called me with a trip. Guess where I'm going, again? Frankfurt.

Hey, Karma.....really?