Things That Make You Go Hmm...

Today is my one year anniversary as a flight attendant. I've had my share of ups and downs, mostly ups though.

Surprisingly, almost half of my classmates from training have already quit. I guess the living out of your suitcase and being a slave isn't for everyone.

I can never say never, but I don't think I would ever quit this job, and if I did, I am sure I would be quite sorry.

Last week we had a snowstorm and I was cursing scheduling for sending me out on a trip. I had to drive 75 miles at 1:30 in the morning, only to spin out and end up in the grass in the middle of the freeway. My dearest Fredi was kind enough to drive me to work.

I couldn't believe we were still alive when the car stopped spinning. We were so thankful that a tractor trailer didn't hit us. We dredged on and I made it to work without a scratch.

Then a few hours later I was in the Dominican Republic with the sun shining on my face, in the 80 degree weather, and the morning stress disappeared.

I am so close to no longer being a slave. I am about two months away within the company that I no longer will be the property of scheduling. I am chomping at the bit to have a normal life, well as normal as it can be for a flight attendant.

No more being at the mercy of scheduling! I can go where I want when I want, and no one will decide my geograpic location except myself. I will no longer have to wait for the phone to ring in the middle of the night for my next assignment. Scheduling also controls how much money you can make. They level you after a certain number of hours so you cannot control your paycheck.

I know that may all sound like rambling, but I am very excited to be set free. I've had a beautiful year, and I am not bitter like many others. So here I will be soon, still a flight attendant, but in control of my own schedule. This is where I have my dream sequence. I'm picturing myself on the beach back in Mexico and getting paid to snorkel. Ahh...