....writing practice!!!
ON PARIS.....
Having a job in the airline industry seems to be glamorous to those people who actually have real jobs. You know, the kind where your head doesn't always have to be in the clouds. (har, har, har)
Seriously, though, when I would stop before work to pick up a cold drink at a gas station, or at the grocery store after work, I could feel people staring at me. Of course, I do enjoy my uniform, the sassy scarf and the form-fitting dress are super cute - - but I'd like to think I look cute in my normal clothes too. I never get stared at in the same places in my normal clothes though. Only in my uniform.
Especially at the filling station when I've got my Dr. Pepper and my gum, the man who is ringing me up, the same guy who rings me up every day will ask me if I'm coming from or going to work. I'll say going to work. Then he'll ask me where I'm going. Because he asks me that all the time. Because I have an airline uniform on I must be a flight attendant. Or "stewardist". Whatever.
The first time it happened, I explained that I wasn't a flight attendant and that I just worked in the airport. Tickets, bags, etc..After he realized that I basically had his job with less pay and a cuter outfit I got a blank stare and then "Oh." Then the guy in line behind me dressed in a farm outfit tapped me on the shoulder and began an endearing story about how my airline lost his bag full of Gucci suits and how they are going to get their asses sued off and I nod awkwardly and try to find the nearest exit keeping in mind it might be behind me.
This happens all the time in public settings, once they find out I am not a crewmember, they either aren't interested, confused, or they want to tell me all about how my airline screwed them over.
So now, years later, when the guy at the gas station asks me where I'm going today, I always roll my eyes and say "Paris again..." and I'll flip my hair and act like it sucks to be me and the guy behind me will wonder in silence if I've ever joined the mile-high club instead of telling me what happened to his bag full of fine clothing and jewelry that probably never even existed.
My job can be glamorous and full of adventure for five minutes before I go in. Once I clock in, it'll return to being the job my parents warned me about if I didn't get a college degree...but there's always Paris! 🙂