Quite a few of your more "junior" years as an airline pilot are going to be spent on "the road" during the holidays.
Kristie flew from PHX to TPA to visit her sister and father during the holidays and I was actually lucky enough to find a trip in 'open time' (meaning that it hadn't been assigned an FO yet) that I was able to 'swap' and be in Tampa for Thanksgiving. Let me say that if you haven't tried a fried turkey yet, it's absolutely fantastic. Plus, being around extended family when you'd normally be watching holiday Dr. Phil re-runs in the hotel is definetely a heartwarming experience.
My captain wasn't able to join us because he had way too much 'busywork' from his second job as an Air Force Liason officer, but he was able to bring his daughter on our long layover in Seattle for some father/daughter quality time. Me? I caught up on some much needed sleep after meandering around the rainy, cold Seattle streets and was able to watch the lighting of the "Westlake" on friday evening.
I guess one of the important things to remember with this career is that you've got to more or less make the best of the situation when you're on the road during the holidays.
Sure, being away sucks, but considering I helped bring about 1302 people a little closer to their loved ones, was able to spend the holiday with my wife and her (my extended) family and watch a proud father and his daughter enjoy some 'reconnect' time in Seattle, it was all strangely worth it.
Kristie flew from PHX to TPA to visit her sister and father during the holidays and I was actually lucky enough to find a trip in 'open time' (meaning that it hadn't been assigned an FO yet) that I was able to 'swap' and be in Tampa for Thanksgiving. Let me say that if you haven't tried a fried turkey yet, it's absolutely fantastic. Plus, being around extended family when you'd normally be watching holiday Dr. Phil re-runs in the hotel is definetely a heartwarming experience.
My captain wasn't able to join us because he had way too much 'busywork' from his second job as an Air Force Liason officer, but he was able to bring his daughter on our long layover in Seattle for some father/daughter quality time. Me? I caught up on some much needed sleep after meandering around the rainy, cold Seattle streets and was able to watch the lighting of the "Westlake" on friday evening.
I guess one of the important things to remember with this career is that you've got to more or less make the best of the situation when you're on the road during the holidays.
Sure, being away sucks, but considering I helped bring about 1302 people a little closer to their loved ones, was able to spend the holiday with my wife and her (my extended) family and watch a proud father and his daughter enjoy some 'reconnect' time in Seattle, it was all strangely worth it.