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Galley Gossip: HAPPY NEW YEAR!
They always look a little surprised when I say, "Not much. Just hanging out at home and making my famous spicy blacked eyed peas."
"You're not going out?"
"Nope. I never go out. Usually I'm working," I say because I am, usually working.
"Really?"
"Really." And that's a good thing! Trust me
This year, unlike other years, I plan to stay home and celebrate quietly with my family. Because in three days I'll be on reserve, which means that except for a few scheduled days off, I'll be on-call to the company 24/7 for the entire month of January. I'll be stuck in New York where I work, not in California where I live, which is why I'm trying to make the most of what little family time I have left before packing my bags and heading back to work on the 3rd. Don't worry, you'll get to hear all about my time waiting around at my crash-pad for crew schedule to call and send me who knows where at a moments notice. It's not fun.
In the past I've always bid to work New Year's Eve, because most times when you bid to work one holiday in December you can usually get the other, more important, holiday off - Christmas. However, even though I'm working on such a festive night, I've been fortunate enough (a few years) to descend into Kennedy or La Guardia airport just at the right time. There's nothing like being in that dark, quiet, cabin, everyone so still and content, the lights of the city twinkling on the ground beneath us, when the Captain or a flight attendant makes the announcement I've been waiting for all night.
"Happy New Year!"
Gallery: Galley Gossip: My San Francisco Trip
And just like that every single passenger, and flight attendant, is smiling. It's always a beautiful sight.
2008 was a good year, and not just because of all the amazing flight attendants I was fortunate enough to work with on each and every trip, but because of all the wonderful passengers I met, and I did meet many. Some I'll never forget. So here's wishing you and yours a happy and healthy 2009. Happy travels to all and to all a good flight!
The photo gallery above consists of photos taken from one of my last flights in 2008
Filed under: Galley Gossip
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
daniel591992 Jan 1st 2009 12:39PM
Just wondering, what is it like at midnight during New Year's Eve on a plane? Does the captain count down or something? haha
John Jan 1st 2009 3:07PM
Happy New Year!
Reading your comments about being on reserve in NYC made me wonder; why don't you fly out of LAX? I know quite a few people at UA commute west coast to IAD, but thats primarily because you can't get the great int'l flying anywhere else in the system and there seniority goes a lot further.
John in MRY
Kim Cravey Jan 4th 2009 9:35PM
Happy New Years Heather!!!
dj Jan 2nd 2009 1:22AM
You said your husband travels over 100,000 miles per year, and you are spending January away from home. Isn't that hard on your child? I think I'd find a career that kept me home more often.