killbilly
Vocals, Lyrics, Triangle, Washboard, Kittens
It has been a lousy week - (in fact, a pretty lousy month so far with no end in sight) but this week has been particularly lousy with work, with travel, and with a bunch of personal-life crap I'm not going to get into here. Suffice it to say, I've not been a real happy camper lately.
Leaving Springfield, MO yesterday I knew I was going to miss my flight out of STL, and the next couple, too, so I said screw it, changed the flight to this morning and checked into another Hampton, ate some Arby's, talked with the g/f for a while on the phone and went to bed.
This morning I go to check in. The kiosk asks me if I wanted to upgrade for $45, so I thought what the hell, do it. The machine thinks for a moment and then says, "sorry, I can't do that." (some kind of ticket issue.) So THAT's got me grumbling.
Security at STL was slooooow and the TSA's operation resembled an old woman trying to kill a frog with an oboe. When I finally got to the gate, the gate area was empty.
Fearing that I was screwed the agent looks at me, says 'you've got plenty of time, don't worry....oh...I see you tried to upgrade, right?'
"Yeah. Couldn't do it."
"Well, you can now. Here you go. Seat 1B."
Which helped a lot. So I'm sitting there, and watching this 757 crew preflight the plane. I tell the FA quietly that I'm an aspiring pilot, and wondered if I might stick my head in the cockpit and say hi. She was enthusiastic and said sure, no prob. She asked the CA and FO if I could come up front and they were happy to have me.
So I stick my head in, looking around, introduce myself. The FO immediately says, 'hey, come on in here, you don't have to hover in the doorway.'
Super, super nice guys. I chatted for a minute or two, and started to take my leave, and they told me to stay a bit, we had time. "Aren't you guys kind of busy?"
The CA kinda shrugs, says, "Nah, we're not doing much right now."
They asked about my plans, I told them, expecting them to tell me not to get into the field as so many crews have done. The CA looks at the FO and says, "Y'know, the financial aspect isn't what it used to be, true. But I still love to fly, and I love coming to work every day. If you love flying, then go for it."
The way I'd been feeling lately, I almost cried right then.
So we chat a few more minutes. The FO had done the FBO/CFI thing and had been with AA for 16 years. He's about 100 from the top for upgrade. The CA has over 30 years in with 3 different airlines. Don't know how or where he trained, presumably military but I didn't get a chance to ask.
Anyway, I went back to my seat feeling a little better, a little more inspired.
To the gate agent, FA, and crew, I say thanks. They did a lot more for me than they realize.
Just thought I'd share.
Leaving Springfield, MO yesterday I knew I was going to miss my flight out of STL, and the next couple, too, so I said screw it, changed the flight to this morning and checked into another Hampton, ate some Arby's, talked with the g/f for a while on the phone and went to bed.
This morning I go to check in. The kiosk asks me if I wanted to upgrade for $45, so I thought what the hell, do it. The machine thinks for a moment and then says, "sorry, I can't do that." (some kind of ticket issue.) So THAT's got me grumbling.
Security at STL was slooooow and the TSA's operation resembled an old woman trying to kill a frog with an oboe. When I finally got to the gate, the gate area was empty.
Fearing that I was screwed the agent looks at me, says 'you've got plenty of time, don't worry....oh...I see you tried to upgrade, right?'
"Yeah. Couldn't do it."
"Well, you can now. Here you go. Seat 1B."
Which helped a lot. So I'm sitting there, and watching this 757 crew preflight the plane. I tell the FA quietly that I'm an aspiring pilot, and wondered if I might stick my head in the cockpit and say hi. She was enthusiastic and said sure, no prob. She asked the CA and FO if I could come up front and they were happy to have me.
So I stick my head in, looking around, introduce myself. The FO immediately says, 'hey, come on in here, you don't have to hover in the doorway.'
Super, super nice guys. I chatted for a minute or two, and started to take my leave, and they told me to stay a bit, we had time. "Aren't you guys kind of busy?"
The CA kinda shrugs, says, "Nah, we're not doing much right now."
They asked about my plans, I told them, expecting them to tell me not to get into the field as so many crews have done. The CA looks at the FO and says, "Y'know, the financial aspect isn't what it used to be, true. But I still love to fly, and I love coming to work every day. If you love flying, then go for it."
The way I'd been feeling lately, I almost cried right then.
So we chat a few more minutes. The FO had done the FBO/CFI thing and had been with AA for 16 years. He's about 100 from the top for upgrade. The CA has over 30 years in with 3 different airlines. Don't know how or where he trained, presumably military but I didn't get a chance to ask.
Anyway, I went back to my seat feeling a little better, a little more inspired.
To the gate agent, FA, and crew, I say thanks. They did a lot more for me than they realize.
Just thought I'd share.
Whatever torques your wrench. :cwm27:
