Aim for the Race

“Sometimes you’ll never know the true value of a moment, until it becomes a memory.” Maira Nari, daughter of Chief Flight Attendant Andrew Nari, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370

 The news is chock full of speculation on MH370.  Daily talks by industry "experts" ad nauseum have drug the pilots names through the mud with discussions of possible terroristic acts and/or pilot error with absolutely zero evidence and 100% speculation.

The families of the passengers and crew have had this mindless chatter in their ears for weeks.  It's everywhere you turn.  Some of the comments the public has made has left me wanting to punch someone in the throat.

"Can you trust your pilots?"  Yes, I do on a daily basis.

"The MH370 pilot must have been a relative of a certain US president."  Speechless really.  That person needs to put more aluminum foil on their head as the aliens speaking to them aren't coming in clearly.

Amidst all of this I wonder about the crew.  Something went wrong.  Very wrong.  If the altitude and directional changes reported are correct, they had time to know something was very wrong.  I've thought about this alot in my down time.

I love my job and I know realistically that it's safer than commuting in a car on a daily basis.  Thus if I ever find myself in their unfortunate shoes will I have any regrets?  Maybe.  "Damn I shouldn't have picked up this trip..."  Probably my last thoughts would be missing my children graduating from school, getting married, and not being there for any grandchildren... I would be thinking about them and how proud I am of them and much I love them with all my heart...

I'd think about how lucky I've been to have the family and friends I have in my life...

Lastly, because it's how I go to bed nightly, my last breath would be "Mark"... as it has been for nearly six years.

So my loved ones... If this ever happens to me... Know how much I love you and how much I am grateful that you are in my life.

My epitaph should read "Her children were her world... She loved with all her heart, listened to her soul, followed her dreams and appreciated the gift of another day (after coffee)..."

God bless the souls lost on MH370, their families and loved ones.

Aim for Dormancy

Every year as soon as it begins to thaw outside... (yes it THAWS in Atlanta- that would be when it reaches 50' for the first time...) gardeners step into their yards and start to remove the dead growth of winter.  Broken limbs are trimmed from trees, rose bushes and crepe myrtles are pruned back, and dried stalks and stems are gathered and tossed in time to find lil bursts of green starting to push up from the earth.

Our winter has been brutal this year.  In our snowmageddon and ice massacre I lost a few bushes, including a beloved rosemary.  The days of true warmth have been few and far between, thus I've only mulched a few sections in the last three weeks and all of the damage has yet to be determined.  I have a stack of bags that still need to be laid and more sections that need to have plants deadheaded.  Even my dogs haven't wanted to stay outside with me as I've worked... my oldest, biggest and possibly smartest dog refuses to step outside without her jacket. 

In addition to Winter's savagery, I've found some varmint damage.  When I started this blog years ago, it was about the pesky rabbits and my new gardener Caddy Shack mentality.  Last year Mark built a fence around my vegetable garden... Two weeks ago I went to clear out the growth to ready it for planting and I saw that the damn deer have bent the fence.  Really Bambi???  Thus when I read an article about a deer being stuck in a fence in Buckhead - the Atlanta police helped save it - all I could think of was let the bugger stay in the fence.  Keep the lil body there like the vikings would on fence posts.  A warning to future varmints to stay clear of fenced in yards... Lil buggers... they've already chomped down my Croci and they have to destroy ironworks too???  I'd say aim for deer but they destroy cars with their fat bodies fortified by the decimation of my gardens.

Spring makes me smile... I see Daffodils and Forsythia and my heart warms with the knowledge that soon my body will be warm again too.  Soon I'll spend hours weekly in my garden either with coffee at my patio table or on my knees happily removing weeds and thinking about everything and nothing as the sun caresses my shoulders.

As I run through the streets near my home I see Bradford Pears (stinky as hell but pretty), Magnolias, Red Buds, Red Maples, and misc fruit trees beginning to blossom.  My cherries and Peach Trees are a gorgeous display of color.  The Blueberry bushes are beginning to bud out.  Dreams of Sour Cream Blueberry Pie come rushing to my head.

Running... ah I can't wait for it to stay above 60.  To run outside daily and breathe fresh air is divine.  I hate treadmills.  Mark and I have been training Tootsie to heel and run right next to us... but the days of it being warm enough or dry enough to do this with her haven't been many.  She loves getting out there on the paths with us.  Eager lil furry beastie.  Granted on cold rainy days like yesterday she's just as eager to be between us on the couch...  The TseTse flies get her and she snores and twitches away all afternoon keeping our laps warm.  Hmm... that's a good idea... I think it's time for the two legged beasts to snooze too...

Aim for Malcontent

Hello my name is Heather, and I'm a recovering Union Rep.  I've been clean and in recovery for 18 days.  It's amazing how when you are so caught up in drama you forget the simple joy of living.  The last 19 months I forgot what it's like to love what you do.  I had forgotten what it was like to relax in peace and contentment at home.  The last two weeks of being back "on the line" flying again has been incredible for my soul.

My first trip back was with one of the best crews ever!  One of those trips where you laugh with your crew all day, eat together every night and continue to laugh through the night.  I could not have asked for a better return to my beloved skies.  Passengers commented over and over again on how obvious it is that I love my job.

I think my favorite compliment of the weekend was when one couple told me that I wore my uniform spotlessly.  That I "need to go to Delta and show them how a uniform SHOULD look on"...  thank you kind people.  My ego has been well fed and it feels great to be home.  :)

I flew with one of my new hire classmates from seven years ago.  It was the best way to return... to begin again with one of the fantastic women I started this journey with.  We caught up on what's happened in the last seven years.  So much has changed in both of our lives. 

I also got to see one of my favorite flight attendants on the planet when she was stuck in MSP during her commute into domicile.  "Girl come stay with me for the night!"... and she did... and we laughed our butts off all night and morning.  Love love LOVE her!

Where am I?

I looked out the window during my miscellaneous dead heads (crew repositioning flights), marveled at the views and grinned even more...  I get to see so many amazing places and people.  My office is 30,000 feet in the sky and I wouldn't trade it for an office in the tallest building in Atlanta. 


I started last weekend in St. Louis...  and both weekends I was scheduled to fly to one of my favorite overnights.  Many flight attendants don't want this trip but I love it.  Monterrey, Mexico.  Get in at 11am and sit poolside with a book all day... great Mexican food next door later... and the ability to grab Vanilla from duty free when I leave.  I'll take this trip anytime in the winter over any Northern cities.  A warm toasty Heather equals a happy Heather.

Speaking of happy...  My name is Heather, I am your flight attendant today and I will be ensuring your flight is enjoyable.  Sit back, relax and enjoy the party.

Aim for Cold Weather

Yesterday I achieved my goal of the past week... to get the kids to school and then get myself to San Francisco to see friends and family.  Anyone that non-revs knows that taking any flight other than the first flight of the day is risky... yet I needed to do my mom duties before I could escape for a weekend for ME.  Direct flights to SF went to hell...  The normal suspects backed up with stand-bys.  I chose to do a two airline jump.  Delta economy comfort the first leg and a bulkhead seat with a lovely view on United the second leg.  I thought for sure I was going to have to fly three flights to get to San Francisco yet a miracle happened...  a flight was delayed and had four seats available.  I ran to the gate, was issued a boarding pass and sighed with relief knowing I was getting in before dinner... More chick time with my girl Sonya.

Weather in SF was squirrely so we came in from the North over SF rather than from the South over San Jose.  I LOVE coming in from the North.  With a lil "excuse me" and smile I leaned over the sweet young Irish guy next to me and took a picture...  I did mention this MILF had a lovely view the second flight didn't I?  Drool and click... "Thank you."  My first view of the new Bay Bridge.

After a night full of good wine and catching up, Sonya asked if her cats would bother me.  Bring it!  Her cats made me feel like I was home... Don't tell Avery I cheated on him with this sweet lil thing.  This lil boy loves me...

We got up early this morning and did a long walk in a misty rain that culminated at Starbucks... Then we went to Yoga.  I think I may be more healthy here lol... San Carlos has changed alot since I lived here 20 years ago.  Walking through the town I could see the changes close up.  Some good, some bad.  Some of my favorite dives are gone.  Times are a changing... or I'm getting old... Or both.  :)

It's one of those rare times of year where the Bay Area is warmer than Atlanta.  I left home yesterday and it was 28'.  I got to the Bay Area and it was 49'.  Today Atlanta is 54'... and San Carlos is 58'.  At that temp I will take EVERY degree I can get.... Brrrr... It stayed misty the whole weekend but I was content to walk around in it and just breathe in what I will always call home.

Mom grabbed me around noon that day.  We hit all of our favorite San Carlos area antique stores and then went to one of the places that I must go to every visit....  See's.  California Crunch...  Rum Nougat... Marzipan...  Dark Raspberry.  Yeah... One of each please... or maybe two...

I didn't get to the one place on my list that I thought to that day...  Copenhagen Bakery.  Their Rum Logs are simply divine... Next trip I'll have to get a dozen to make up.

We met my childhood friends Debbie, Gina and Robbie.  Deb and Gina grew up on my street.  We've been friends since Kindergarten.  The type of life long friends that you love seeing, they kick your ass, and will love you through all your ups and downs.  I have no blood siblings.  I chose mine.  These girls are my life and my heart.

Robbie, I met a little later down the road in High School when I dated her brother Robert.  Robert's family adopted me and Robert became one of my best friends... Robbie is my "little sister".  One that I carefully coached not to become a bitch when she tried out for cheerleading... and explained that if she didn't listen I would beat the bitch out of her.  I'm happy to report that she listened and we've remained close over the years...

Saturday mom and I wandered down to Santa Cruz for more antiquing and more chocolate (MacKenzies)...  Spent the afternoon grabbing little bits of pretty things... enough that I had to borrow a suitcase to get home with.  Oops how did I do that?

I love driving up and down the coast.  The fields were in bloom with mustard...  the water was crazy rough due to the weather.  When Mother Nature is angry she's beautiful.  Pictures never give enough credit to what I'm seeing.  I've always wished I had the talent that some photographers have... where they catch that AHA moment.

I ran Half Moon Bay that afternoon.  Another favorite activity when I'm there.  I love to look at the shops, the people, the homes and smell the ocean smells...  That run never seems long and the night came on too soon.

We ended the day as a quiet family day getting what I'd truly come for... my parents, and my stepfathers deviled eggs and killer Cosmos.  Mmmm... life is good.  Notice there's a trend here... Food.  Gotta eat everything you can when you go home.

Sunday we had family coming over to visit.  Mom and I sat around at breakfast pondering whether or not we should have a cake for desert.  I asked who's birthday was next in our family and she mentioned my "uncle" Jim.  I calculated the years in my head and realized that it was Jim's 60th birthday and grinned.  I'm notorious in my family for planning 0 birthdays.  Fortunately for him, I didn't have any time to roast him... but it was a great reason for a yummy cake.  :)

I got what I came for.  Time by myself with mom, my childhood friends, and my closest family.  Rejuvenated with a heart full of love and laughter, I made it home on the red eye... Grateful for those that have loved me all these years.  I love them all madly, and without them I'd be lost.



Btw... Happy Birthday Jim.  May you have many more... and I'll do what I can to roast you on your 70th!  Love you!