Number 8 on the bucket list is to go to The Blue Lagoon in Iceland. I’ve been on layovers in Reykjavik on my way to Scotland and have seen it advertised in the airport and all over. It looks awesome- maybe some of you have been there before? What was your experience like? I’m certain it’s a tourist trap but would love to have that experience. Check it out!
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Bucket list item #7 is to attend a Beth Hart concert. I know I’ve posted about her before, but I’m slightly obsessed. The first song I ever heard her sing was L.A. Song. I love the unique tremolo in her voice. *WARNING: THIS SONG HAS SOME HARSH LANGUAGE*
Here is a video of Beth singing my favorite song of hers, a song that haunts me, My California:
One winter night when I was living in Logan, Utah, I was on the Utah State University campus and after an evening class, I walked outside. I noticed that there was an odd red hue to the sky. I found some friends outside and was discussing what this might be. My guess was that for some reason, we could see part of the northern lights or the Aurora Borealis. I had never heard of the lights being seen this far south, but the next morning while listening to the radio, the news confirmed that that’s exactly what we were seeing in the sky.
I would love to see those lights in all their glory. I think it would be amazing to see that colorful dance in the sky. Even though I can say that I have seen the northern lights now, I’ve decided to add this to my bucket list. Bucket list item #4: I’d love to see the Aurora Borealis in all it’s glory!
Coming in at number 13 on my bucket list is to go to Cancun, Mexico. Technically, this could be crossed off my list- I did fly down to Cancun on January 29th for work, but I never actually left the jetway. Since it was a turn, I was only on the ground for about an hour. I managed to snap this picture with the operations agent, and then we boarded the new passengers and headed back up to the states. I’ll cross this one off my list as soon as I get leave the airport.
During the summer of 1993, like most summers, I found myself with my parents at our annual family reunion in Hartsville, South Carolina. I remember talking with some of my cousins about how difficult it was to find work in my hometown of Thatcher, Arizona. It seemed that all of the businesses owners didn’t want to hire anyone unless they were family. My aunt Debbie suggested that I try to get a job with her kids, Josh and Meg at The Dillard House in Dillard, Georgia.
Josh called up his manager and asked if I could come to work with them for the rest of the summer. His manager asked if I was a Mormon. When Josh answered in the affirmative, I got the job. The fact was that Josh, Meg, and some close family friends, like the Ben and Andrew Thornal were among the best, hardest, and most dedicated workers at The Dillard House at the time and had totally given Mormons’ a good name. I never even had to interview for the job.
For the rest of the summer, I lived with my cousins in Franklin, North Carolina. While I was there, Josh told me so many stories about growing up in the area. Once he told me that as a boy scout, his troop got to hike part of the Appalachian Trail. I love to hike! I’ve been fascinated by this trail ever since that time.
Years later, when I was living in Baltimore, Maryland, I had the opportunity to go camping and hiking in the beautiful Shenandoah mountains with my roommates Jeff and Nate. I saw that part of this famous Appalachian Trail made it’s way through this beautiful country. This is when I decided that I would love to someday hike the length of the trail. I have added this to my bucket list (item #3). Obviously, I’m not going to take the several months off of work that this hike would require. The trail is 2,184 miles long, and stretches from Mount Katahdin in Maine, all the way down to Springer Mountain in Georgia. Like so many others, my plan is to hike the trail in segments, eventually having hiked the entire thing.
Going back to what I was talking about before- the summer of 1993 was spent, in part, working at The Dillard House. It was truly an incredible experience. Someday I would like to go back to The Dillard House and eat and stay there. This time I’ll go as a guest, not an employee. It’s a great place for a getaway! I have added this to my bucket list as well.
It was a long day today and I’m so happy to be off of my feet! We worked from BHM to HOU to LAX to DEN. The coolest part of my day was when I got to meet Val Young of The Mary Jane Girls featuring Val Young. They are a group who were big in the ‘80s with Motown Records. Click here to see Val’s Wikipedia page. We went to the back galley and sang for each other. She sang me an Aretha Franklin song and I sang to her a few lines of Heaven Help Me by Wynonna. She gave me some valuable information and we exchanged cell phone numbers. She was a great gal- I’d love to hear her sing live someday.
Here’s a Val Young recording:
And here’s Heaven Help Me by Wynonna:
Tonight I finished up my online work for my annual recurrent training. Every year I wait until the very last minute to do this. I’m such a horrible procrastinator! Anyway, tomorrow is the actual recurrent training class so I finished it just in time! I’ll get to sit around for 8 hours in this class. Are you jealous? Sooo not looking forward to this but our evil government requires it of me.
When I lobbied this morning for a 05:35 van, my crew hadn’t shown up yet.
I stood in front of the hotel in Charleston, South Carolina, wondering what was taking them so long. Sometimes a crew member is running behind, but it was odd that both pilots and the other two flight attendants hadn’t shown yet. Then it dawned on me that I wasn’t supposed to lobby for another hour. I went back up to my room, stripped out of my uniform, and watched 40 minutes of CMT and VH1.
This afternoon I ended up in Birmingham, Alabama. Today is Cinco de Mayo! To celebrate that fact, Michelle, Kerin, and I wandered down the street to a restaurant called Cantina Loredo. The food was excellent! The atmosphere was posh! The background music was some new age classical that was on repeat (I’d have preferred a mariachi band). The service was meh. We’re guessing that our server was the new guy. His forehead was sweaty the entire time (I was tempted to reach up with my napkin and wipe him down), and he really didn’t listen to a lot of what we were asking for. I think he was just overwhelmed.
Even though this was the case, the food was delicious! For appetizers, we had chips with queso, and they made some fresh guacamole tableside. This was awesome guac! Michelle ordered a salad that seemed to have as many chips as it had lettuce, Kerin had a healthy-looking enchilada plate, and I had the fajitas. Bacon-wrapped shrimp! Need I say more?
This has been a wonderful and memorable work trip and a great crew! The pilots we had for the first two days were hilarious. Michelle is always a riot to have on my trip (you should take her on the karaoke circuit in Nashville). Even though this is my first time working with Kerin, she is an adorable and fun girl! She is originally from Kingston, Jamaica, and so she talks with a very sexy accent! I look forward to getting more trips with her in the future!
I’m very stoked to be working with my dear friend Michelle on this three-day trip. This afternoon, we ended up in Charleston, South Carolina. Upon arriving, I called my dad to tell him I was in his home state. He told me that I needed to rent a car, drive to our family land (about 2 hours and 20 minutes one way), and mow the lawn. I told him that I didn’t see that happening but that he is more than welcome to board a plane in Salt Lake City, fly to South Carolina, rent a car, and mow it himself.
I just got back from a delicious meal with Michelle and our other coworker Kerin. I opted for a burger that was topped with a fried egg (I probably eat too many burgers and should really slow down), Michelle had the salmon, and Kerin had some sort of grilled cheese, chicken sandwich. We all enjoyed our meals, but Kerin wished she would have ordered the burger like me.
When I lived in Logan, Utah, before my flight attendant career was underway, I got to know “Mom and Dad Johnson”. They are the parents of my good friend and former roommate, Joel Johnson. Joel, who seems to have fallen off the face of the earth, was one of the original members of the vocal group Voice Male and while we were roommates, we decided that we needed to get our own A Capella group going. After throwing around a few names, we came up with the group name “2by4″, since the group consisted of two girls and four boys.
Practices were often in the Johnson home, and this meant that Mom and Dad Johnson were forced to listen to endless hours of our singing. Over time, I really came to love Joel’s parents. There were times when they acted as if they actually were my parents and they even gave me some valuable help and advice that I sorely needed. My real parents were still living in southeastern Arizona at the time, so it was great to have this extra set to get advice from, on occasion.
This morning, during boarding of my work flight from Salt Lake City to Denver, I was welcoming passengers in the forward part of the aircraft and all of a sudden I heard a familiar voice call out, “Finally!!! After ten years of waiting- I finally have you as my flight attendant!” I was very surprised and extremely excited to see Mom Johnson boarding my flight! I can’t even explain how amazing this woman is, and how great it was to see her and hug her!
I wish we would have had more time to talk and catch up, but I had work to do. When we finished up in Denver, I had my ride waiting for me, and I believe she had another plane to catch. Still, It was amazing to visit with her, even if only for a few minutes. I hope I can visit Cache Valley sometime soon and have a proper visit with the Johnsons’.
A Gal Named Suzy
Tonight I ended up in San Antonio, Texas. This morning I started a three-day trip with a gal named Suzy, one of our newest flight attendants. She commutes out of Phoenix, and when I found this out, I told her that I grew up in Thatcher, Arizona (about three hours southeast of Phoenix). Usually, when I tell people this, the next question is: Where is Thatcher?
Not only does Suzy know where Thatcher is, but she said she’s originally from Snowflake, Arizona (if Thatcher had a twin or sister city, it would no doubt be Snowflake). I told her that I love Snowflake and had many friends from that area. I mentioned that one of my very best friends, Marcus Ellsworth is also from there. Her eyes grew big, and she told me that not only did she know Marcus, but that her family is close with his family.
We start to talk about Thatcher, and she mentions that her older sister Heidi went to Eastern Arizona College (the local community college that I also attended and my dad taught at for years and years). Now my eyes grow big- Heidi used to date my brother Matt. Suzy remembered Matt! Now we’re both laughing and pretty much freaking out on the jump seat.
I love when I discover one of these connections! I’ve heard people say that we’re all connected by six degrees or less, but since I left the state of Arizona, these connections have been so rare that when it happens, I almost get tears in my eyes. Are these occurrences merely happenstance, or do you see the hand of God? I do believe in coincidence- however, I feel that too many things are dismissed as just that- mere coincidence. I’ve always felt like something needs to be shared or learned from each and every person that we interact with in life. What do you think? Mere coincidence or divine intervention?
DavTravels 