My World As A Flight Attendant

  "Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” – Leonardo da Vinci For us who love to fly, this quote speaks to us in this present time. Our passion for flying takes us to a greater height, limitless horizon, and undaunted.  At the beginning of 2020, I was busy working on my first book about immigrants. I finished it in February and published it in March. I was getting ready to travel to the Philippines to promote the book. But it didn’t happen. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives and the world of travel. Demands have drastically fallen because of fear of traveling and global efforts to stop the spread of the virus. Travel warnings were heightened, and restrictions were mandated. Non-essential travel was limited. Planes have been grounded. Airports became deserted. Employers offered retirement programs and voluntary unpaid leave. Others have...

It has been almost two years since the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on our lives. But, unfortunately, our battle is not over yet. I want to pay tribute to those who lost their lives, to healthcare professionals, and other frontline workers who continue to sacrifice their lives in the line of duty. As a flight attendant and frontline worker, I respect and admire other frontline workers, especially healthcare professionals. There is hope to businesses, careers, and relationships that the pandemic has impacted. Keep that faith. I mainly used my sunrise photos to represent the HOPE that comes in the morning. The song "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is a favorite song relevant to our time with a message of providing comfort for someone in need. Our unprecedented era of the pandemic is bringing us together. A helping hand and a listening ear can comfort someone in need. Let us continue to encourage one another in any way that will help heal the world. Let us continue t...

  Dave has had a passion for aviation since grade school. He wants to be a pilot someday and save money to attend a flight school.  On his birthday in April, I visited them in Charleston and gifted him my I Love Flying journal. I found out about his passion for aviation. I was impressed with his vast aviation knowledge; even the language he used is the exact terms we use every day at work. We did some role-playing, me as a flight attendant, and he was the pilot flying the plane. He impressed me! I  bought him a pilot's hat as an additional gift and asked the pilots I worked with to write him a letter. Without hesitation, they gladly did. Dave framed the letters and hung them on his bedroom wall. His mom Bing told me that he was excited and happy.  I never thought that I Love Flying would turn out to be more than just a gift to this young man who loves aviation. My employer used our photo for Aviation Week. Isn't that something?  Inspiring the next generation in ...

Happy New Year to all of us! Do you have a favorite book that you want to read or carry along with you when you need some motivation, enlightenment, encouragement, or simply give you a little push or lift.  A passenger was reading this book on one of my flights, and I happened to glance at it. I started a conversation with the couple. I told them that I liked the author and loved motivational books like that. They shared with me some thoughts about the book and on being optimistic. To my surprise, when they were deplaning, the couple handed me the book. So that day was not only an opportunity to meet positive people like them, but I've been blessed with a new book! When it's a new year, we need a new mindset or maybe a better mindset to improve, grow, or be better human beings. Some of us create new years resolutions. Some have new goals, missions, and dreams to fulfill.  The cover of the book clearly reads: Empty out the negative. Make room for joy, greater confidence, and ne...