Be Kind Mission-Day Eight

Today, I arose at 4:00 am, and boarded the shuttle from the Quality Inn in Charlotte. A pilot from 'the other airline,' and a pilot from my airline was on the shuttle. The 'other pilot' said 'our airline' was the 'bottom of the barrel.'

I wondered, 'what does he mean by that?' I was still kind, but rather annoyed. I think he meant in the payscale, because our pilot said that many pilot's are miserable with our airline because of the paycuts they have had to take in many years-atleast two. PAY CUT?! I thought pilots made 100,000 grand a year! NOT!

So, I made it my personal mission to smile and be kind to every captain I saw today at the airport while I sat on HOT reservs!e. Obviously, I should always be kind to any Captain I see.

At 5:05 am I sat staring at starbuck's-they weren't open yet. My tastebuds watered, and I had to listen to those driving carts and their loud 'beep, beep, beep' as they drove by carting milk, water, and everything else to all the stores in the airport that weren't even open yet! Finally, they opened. I went to starbuck's and was kind to the clerk who took my order. She said those carts got on her nerves day after day after day.

I figured I'd be extra nice to her. So, I was. She said I made her day.

I then tried to find the business center and when I did, they said that there was a fee to enter, 'but I'm a flight attendant,' 'it doesn't matter..' was his response. He then followed me out to where I was typing on my computer about being kind! He said, 'You can go here, or there, but you can't go in that room.' I shewed him away-he said, "I was just trying to help."

What would Mother Teresa do?

"A sacrifice to be real must cost, must hurt, must empty ourselves. The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace." Mother Teresa

I guess I should never shew anyone away!

Be Kind Mission Day Twenty Four

Standing on front of the luminious, antique Redmont Hotel in Birmingham, Alabama, on a hot Tuesday...looking at my mom, my Captain and my Aunt...she approached my mother rather reluctantly.

She looked like she had a rough night.

Originally, the eve prior, I was supposed to go to Arkansas for my overnight. However, scheduling had phoned me at 10:15 pm stating, "Can you work the flight to Birmingham, Alabama instead..?" Well, of course, I thought, my mom lives in Alabama!

Mom and I spent the morning together. She had surprised me at the Redmont Hotel at approximately 8:30. Mom brought me back to the hotel for my shuttle in the afternoon.

There the four of us were, talking in front of the beautiful Redmont, historic hotel.

What an exciting adventure-to be in Alabama suddenly with my family. They got to meet the Captain!

This woman, who approached my mother, looked so rough and said, "Do you have any change, or a few bucks?"

With concern in her voice, mom said, 'No.' Then she looked at me and stated, "Do you ?"

What?!

She totally put me on the spot.

What was I to do?

Well, I had made it my personal mission to give any tip money away that I received on the aircraft. I remembered I had received some tip money the eve prior.

I gave it to the lady.

The Captain said, "You are  more kind than I. I don't give any money to those racketeers."

My Aunt agreed.

Mom was apprently proud of her daughter.

What would Mother Teresa do?

If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one. Mother Teresa

I realize though,  my weaknesses in this situation. Would I have given the money to the lady if my mother had not put me on the spot?.....hum....................................................................

Be Kind Mission day Twenty Three

He boarded the airplane in Washington DC and boldly stated, "I sat on the shuttle bus for twenty minutes. I was on time. This aircraft is late because of the crew."

I was floored. Truthfully, we were not late. The aircraft had just landed. My captain got the call, and we walked about two miles, to the airplane in Dulles. Yes, while the passengers get to take the shuttle bus from the gate to the aircraft, the crew has to walk pulling their bags!!!! I was already worn out, it was my last flight of the night, and this guy is yelling at me.

I said, "Well, we walked two miles, while you were sitting on the shuttle bus, and the airplane was deplaning when we got here-it's not our fault it's late."

He huffed and puffed and about blew the pland down.

He sat in the emergency exit row.

I began to make my announcement with a smile on my face and laughter in my voice. That gentleman got up out of his seat and made his way to the front of the aircraft. He yelled and said, "flying is serious business..." I said, 'yes it is sir.' He said, "I will sit down and not say anything to you the rest of the flight." I said, 'ok.'

I went to talk to the Captain who did nothing.

A flight attendant on the second row stated, "You handled him much better than me, he would be off my airplane."

When I went to debrief my emergency exit row he grunted and huffed while I asked him the questions-in a serious manner. I then stated, "This is serious business-sir."

Then, what do you know but one young man heard me say that to him and yelled out loud, "Why are you being mean to him-what if he has a heart problem or something?" (this first guy was about fifty six, and here this now young kid whose mom was beside him was yelling at me!)

I tried to tell the kid that he didn't know the guy had yelled at me twice. The kid said, 'I don't care.'

Then his mother did nothing while another lady beside them started yelling at me!

No, I was not kind at this point.

I walked away and went to the front of the aircraft where I asked my Captain to go talk to all of these people in the back.

He did.

The people in the front were on my side, and had seen all that had happened. They wrote their names and numbers down in case I needed them.

When we landed in Akron, Ohio, one lady complained to the Captain, the lady that had been behind the guy seated in the emergency exit row.

What can I learn?

What would Mother Teresa do?

"May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us." ..."
— Mother Teresa

Be Kind Mission Day Twenty Two

Work began at 8:30-which is the time I must show up at the gate. I am not getting paid for this time. We get paid the minute we push back from the gate.

It was HOT. Summer was rolling in-it was still Spring-but May, and it was HOT in Charlotte.

I got on the aircraft and learned that the aircraft had maintenance issues. The lav was NOT working, and the air was not properly flowing. We sat at the gate for an hour, while passengers yelled at the gate agent inside the Charlotte airport.

At one point the gate agent came out and we told her she could sit in the aircraft with us, and not get yelled at continously by passengers. She said, 'No thanks, it's too hot in here!!..'

Passengers began to board. They were angry. One man even said so the minuste he boarded, "I am angry."

He went to sit in the emergency exit row 8.

When I went to that exit row, the window shade was down-and in exit rows, and row one, window shades must be open for taxi, take off and landing. I advised him of this, and he grunted, yelled and stewed and recluctantly put his shade up. I offered to move him to another seat. He refused stating he paid for this seat in the exit row!

He then looked down at his cell phone with his head phones in his ear. I said, 'Sir, I need your attention for one second. Are you willing and able to assist the crew in the unlikely event of an emergency?' He did not look at me, nor did he answer me! I asked him again..this is a federal law issue, and it is very important we have passengers attention at this point.

He did not look at me and finally in an angry voice said, 'Yes.' I said, 'Sir, if you are not you are more than welcome to change your seat.' He grabbed his carry on and got off the plane!!!!

He went inside the gate and cussed at the gate agent using many words that were unacceptable. She got a manager out to calm him-but he was totally mad.

What would Mother Teresa do?

"Do not allow yourselves to be disheartened by any failure
as long as you have done your best."
~ Mother Teresa ~

I did not allow myself be disheartened in this situation. I did my best. I offered to move him, and he refused. I validated his frustration-and he ignored me angrily. He voluntarily got off the airplane. I had a wonderful day despite this situation. I was kind, and he was angry!

Be Kind Mission Day Twenty One

Be Kind Mission:

Suddenly, without warning, we had an hour delay. This would cut into our evening sleep and rest.

Wonder why flight attendants ever look so tired?!

So, as the passengers sat on our air craft, murmuring and complaining about this delay-it happened.

My co-worker flight attendant took kindness charge! I can certainly learn a lesson!

She grabbed the microphone and announced with glee, “Ladies and gentlemen, I realize that each one of you came onto this aircraft grumbling and complaining. We realize you don’t want this delay, and neither do we! –“ (people start laughing, and she continues,) “we are going to give you some cookies, and some drinks. Relax people, it’s a thunderstorm and we can’t control the weather. Plus, I’m going thru menopause, so I don’t want any murmuring, grumbling, or complaining on my flight. I’ve gotta work til midnight now, and this cuts into our sleep!”

I, and everyone else, laughed so incredibly loud and hard. The Captain in the flight deck heard all the laughter.

There is a psychology in handling people. This flight attendant became very popular amongst the crowd. We began to hand out cookies, water, and cokes to the passengers. We told jokes, and walked around the cabin as if we knew these people forever.

She was kind to passengers in the midst of an uncomfortable situation.

She did not allow others attitudes to steal her kind attitude.

Somehow, I bet, this is what Mother Teresa would do.

“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.”Mother Teresa

Day Twenty Four be Kind Mission May 14, 2011

She boarded the aircraft with the warmest smile. She must have been about seventy years old.

It was a beautiful Spring day, and I was happy to be flying.

She minded her own business during the entire flight. She was sitting in row nine, right behind the emergency exit row.

I never would've dreamed she would have caused an emergency!

She didn't even take a drink when I did my beverage service!

Right before landing, say about five minutes-she got up to go to the bathroom. I said nothing at that point, which I should have because the seatbelt sign was on.

After three minutes I had to go check on her. We were about to land!!

I went and knocked on the door and she reluctantly came out. She didn't cause an issue, and she sat back in her seat.

Right when we landed, she got up and went back to the bathroom! We were on an active runway, and it is against federal law to be going to any bathroom on an active runway.

At this point, it was hard to be kind.

I made an announcement for her to sit down, and she totally disregarded my announcement. She actually shewed me!! Yes, she shewed me away with her hand! I haven't ever had anyone shew me away since I was a child!!

She went to the bathroom anyway!

I had no choice but to call the Captain. The Captain had a manager meet this sweet lady at the gate.

When we deplaned I had to ask the lady, kindly, to wait right there beside me because she had to talk to the gate agent manager. She said, "Why?" I said, "You broke federal law-and it was a safety issue. You could have been hurt in that bathroom!" She said, "I am 86 years old honey, and I can't hold my bladder anymore."

I said, "Honey, when I am 86 I am sure I won't be able to hold it either." We laughed.

The manager met her and I don't know what happened after that. My Captain mentioned 'depends' to me after the lady left. We laughed.

It's hard to be kind when you have to be the safety commando. However, kindness is always a must in this business, whether or not we feel like it.

What would Mother Teresa do?

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."
— Mother Teresa