GRATITUDE

Author: Unknown

video credits : Emirates

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When I was in school whenever my airline was hiring a Flight attendant, one of my friends would bring the newspaper and we would get excited over it.

I would talk about how someday I would visit the Eiffel Tower, toss a coin in Fontana De Trevi, sing “New York New York” in Time square and touch the walls of Taj Mahal. I was 17 but it was my dream since I was 11 and I couldn’t wait to see the world..

I did become a Flight Attendant.

Finally, I was chosen to be one of the 200 candidates to become a Flight Attendant among the THOUSANDS of applicants.

I learned about CPR, how to carry & transfer a bomb to the least risk area, what shade of foundation suits my skin, and yes...how to brew coffee!

At the end of my two-month long training, I was able to convince them that I can tell the difference between a heart attack & a heart burn, give the proper first aid, how to kill a fire & deliver a baby at 35,000ft.

I showed them that I can evacuate a full load flight in 90seconds (that was a lot of screaming and acting) and opening heavy aircraft doors too.

I also had to take tests on how to handle a highjack & how to survive in extreme temperatures in case of a crash landing or ditching.

The most challenging part for me was to memorize the exact location & number of all the first aid kits, fire extinguishers & the rest of the equipment inside the aircraft that are too many to mention.

So, after sliding down a mock up plane, swimming & erecting a canopy, I passed the training!

I finally earned my wings!!!!

Yes! I travelled the world.

What no one told me though was there will be many times I would choose sleep & in-room dining over the museums & parks because my whole body was just so exhausted.

- No one told me that a Manchester to Jeddah sector can tire me from my nails to my soul.

- No one told me that the jet lag from transatlantic flights can put me down for a day of amazing unproductiveness plus put my hormones into chaos.

- No one told me that I would miss Diwali, Christmas, birthdays, and my nephews birth.

I was 35,000 feet above sea level & cut off from the world when a relative died.

- No one told me that I would always be the last to meet the family’s niece and nephew.

- No one told me that a Flight Attendant doesn’t have weekends, her time is not her own. She is always but a fleeting visitor wherever she goes, that at any given time I would always be missing someone...

Those wings must fly.

Oh but those wings! The power it brought!

Fancy hotels and breakfast buffets. I loved the high ceiling rooms of Grand Via Veneto in Rome & the truffle eggs being served in Grand Hotel Kempinski in Geneva. Perks my wings afforded, not I. Not to say too, that I get peanuts compared to some, their wings gave them Rolex and Hermes. Mine paid for my brother’s school, my sister’s and niece’s.

For that, I will forever be grateful. My wings gave me the power to be with loved ones no matter how short. My best friend who lives in Another country and once was devastated over a breakup, my wings brought me to her for a night of tears, laughter, booze & off-key karaoke! Because when she jumps - I don’t jump....I fly!

The wings also gave me a team to belong to. There is a special bond between Flight Attendants because of the unique kind of life we live. It is a life like no other. We never say I’m flying to Maldives, we say I HAVE Maldives! We trade too, and say things like “Who wants Frankfurt? I need Milan..” Yes, like we own the whole damn world!

We drink soup from paper cups like it’s coffee in the middle of the night, we use military time to set our alarm, we can finish a meal in 30 seconds standing up...behind a curtain & in between meal service & clearance.

We hate when you stand up after the plane lands, we laugh when you clap after the plane lands. We love when you thank us. Aircraft is for Flight Attendants, Airplane is for passengers.

We talk in dates even if its just the next day. We never know what day it is but we remember what supermarket is closest to our hotel. We may especially have loved working with someone specifically without knowing that person’s name or if we will ever fly together again. R2 or L5 may be our names for the day.

We all have woken up in the middle of the night with a mini heart attack forgetting where we are. We see beautiful places but no one to share the moment with. We are always...always alone in a crowd.

And then..

2020.

Novel Corona Virus. Lock down. Containment plan - immobilize. The world is standing still. But MY world, the world I know is shaking.

Global airlines to lose $113 Billion in passenger seat sales- IATA.

Flight Attendants all over the world are being grounded, hundreds and hundreds being laid off. For the rest of us hanging by a thread, never have our wings been so threatened.

But let us put our wings up. Laid off or waiting.. I know its difficult. I feel you. When your heart breaks, so do ours. It isn’t just a job you’re losing, it is that childhood dream. It is all the time away from loved ones, all the sacrifices that made you value flying even more. I know it’s difficult but don’t forget - you have wings.

They are yours, you bested thousands to get it, you earned it. No virus can take that away from you. Remember your strength. You can smile even when your heels are killing your feet. You can take care of many even when you’re sick or hungry.

You were trained to SURVIVE the most forbidding situations in your lipstick and stilettos!

What can you not do? You, my dear, are meant to fly even when your heart is breaking.

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; They will run and not grow weary, They will walk and not be faint.” * * *

Cheers to all Flight Attendants around the World !!! Miss those days

God bless us all!!