Sourpuss
Oh, man! I worked a flight home from Chicago recently. Simple hour and a half flight on a 767, right? I worked the Business Aisle, along with another Flight Attendant, Brooke. My friend, Andreya worked the Business Galley. A cold plate for a snack and cocktails--easy-peasy!
Andreya was in my training class at the Charm Farm, and is a stunningly beautiful young woman. She is also a beautiful person--with a sweet disposition and she just generates good karma when you're around her. And, her subtle comments crack me up. I just love her!
Brooke, on the other hand, was the total opposite. Older, bossy, wrinkled face with a sourpuss expression...she just oozed meanness. She was grouchy when she joined us for the briefing and continued to be grouchy the whole flight. She wasn't a pleasant woman to be around.
And, we hadn't even started boarding, yet!
So, I'm flitting around the airplane after doing my pre-flight safety checks. Up in First Class, I am yakking with Sandy, who is the Purser--we've been flying our whole trip together. I head back to Business, and see Andreya just kind of standing in the galley. Brooke is grumbling about not having enough space in the Business galley while unwrapping the cold plates and setting up trays for the service. Brooke had taken over the galley responsibilities of Andreya.
Andreya, too nice, was just looking dumbfounded. Brooke started barking orders at the two of us. I joined Andreya in the dumbfounded look.
"Okay, there will be no pre-departure beverage service. This galley is too small for that."
Huh?
"We're not going to heat the rolls, it's too much work for such a short flight."
Really, Brooke? Stick a bag in the warming oven for 10 minutes--too much work?
Sandy happened by. She heard Brooke barking galley orders at Andreya and me. She pulled Brooke aside and said something--I don't know what. But, as she walked by me, Sandy said, "Just do the service the way we normally do."
Andreya pulled the cart towards her, and began setting the trays up. I pulled out a carton of orange juice and a bottle of water and a sleeve of plastic cups.
Brooke looked at me incredulously and asked, "Are you really going to do a pre-departure beverage service?"
"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I?" I responded.
Defeated, Brooke said, "Which aisle do you want?"
"Doesn't matter to me," I said. She went right and I went left.
During the flight, she decided that a man drinking wine was having too many when he asked for a third glass. (The wine glasses we use in Business Class are like thimbles! Seriously! If they hold 3 ounces to the very top, I'd be surprised!) She was ready to cut him off. Obviously not a drinker, I just explained to her that it really wasn't that much he was drinking...it was just the glass was small and she had refilled it a couple of times. She thought people would be drunk on two of those glasses. And, the man was really large, too. With about four ounces of wine consumed, there was no way was he drunk--or even close to it.
During our service, Brooke was scattered. She'd be over on my aisle, with her pursed lips and her mean aura. I'd tell her, "Hey, I've got it now, thanks." She'd go back over to her aisle, but it was like she needed to handle every one of our passengers. (Trust me when I tell you I know how to make a drink, place a dinner tray on a table, get a refill, and remove the dinner tray. And, I do it well, by the way...)
We got it done, and I think Brooke only really aggravated three of the Business Class passengers. I'm sure they went over to gripe about her on FlyerTalk.
It just made me sad for her. Here we have a relatively fun job, and she just looked miserable. I don't know if that is how she is everyday, or just that day. If she's like that every day...I would hate to fly with her again, for sure.
My View One Year Ago: Weekend in Munich
My View Two Years Ago: Welcome Home and my Redneck Daughters
Blondie
3 What's YOUR view? Click here to comment, please!
Write What's YOUR view? Click here to comment, please!hey blondie! i truly think that some people are that way all the time! unfortunately, they are miserable and can't see their way out of it. i feel sorry for her as well because she doesn't have a clue of how nice it is to exude friendliness, kindness, compassion and most of all respect to other human beings.
Replyon the other hand, there are a lot of wonderful people in this world and those are the ones we feel more inclined to surround ourselves with! we can leave all the "brookes" to deal with their own problems and maybe one day they will figure it out..."law of attraction"!
have a great day and keep that pretty smile on your face always! love you girlfriend!
If the job is no longer enjoyable, find another job. Truly. But if it's about bringing in a paycheck to pay the bills and being able to survive until retirement, then suck it up and press on without making everyone miserable (especially in a customer service environment). Just be thankful for having a job in this day and age!
ReplyIf Brooke could only see what I deal with on a daily basis - or have dealt with in my military career (especially after 9/11 with the pace not slowing down) - maybe her attitude would change where she's at.
I often take a look at views from other people's perspectives and even from yours and other FA's blogs I read because I learn to either appreciate what I have, or it just simply helps me understand on where the other person is coming from and what they see in their world.
Doing that has made me a better leader in my job, as well as help keep me a grounded enough person to work with over the years no matter where I've been stationed at or deployed to.
Oh your description of 'Brooke' could be applied to a couple of F/A's at my airline! It's nice to see that every carrier has it's fair share of these grouches that we all have to put up with from time to time. Like you, I don't let it bother me and get on with what I'm there to do, and I just think that if I'm doing a good job then the grump I may be working with makes me look even better!
ReplyKeep up the blogging!! Definitely adding you to my follow list!
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