30,000 Feet Away From Home: September 2011

I came. I saw. I conquered. Well, kinda.

After six months of this adventurous life of a flight attendant I've decided to hang up my wings. This was not a decision I made lightly, and it's something that has been weighing hard on my mind for a while now. In today's economy any person is happy to get a job, even if it's not something you like. And here I was contemplating giving up not just a job,but a career. My first big girl job. My Barbie job. One with not just a really awesome paycheck but one with grown up stuff... benefits and 401K, and of course who can forget the flight benefits. Oh those glorious flight benefits. Was I being a diva? Over 100,000 people applied to be in this position, and I'm staring at my resignation letter contemplating what to do.

But like I've said from day one, this is not just a job. It's a lifestyle. It's not like the previews for the new Pan Am show where the girls are all dolled up while they're struttin' their stuff down the terminals, while all the guys are picking their jaws up off the ground. Then they hop on a plane to have some rondevu in some far away city where they are treated like movie stars. No, it's not quite like that anymore. My experience consisted more of me running through the terminal still in my on board shoes because my feet hurt so bad since I'm on the 4th flight of the day, while I shove a Burger King hamburger in my face because I haven't eaten all day, nor do I know if the airport hotel where I'm staying in Kansas City has any restaurants, or even a 7-11 where I can get something to eat. Well not every trip has been like that, but I'm not overly exaggerating either. Some trips have been a complete dream, while others I don't care to discuss.

Now don't get me wrong, I have loved this job. I have lived and breathed being a flight attendant with all the blood, sweat, and tears I have. I haven't regretted a single moment along the way. I have absolutely loved the experience and I wouldn't change anything. If I could go back and do it all again, I would do it in a heartbeat. I have gotten to see some pretty amazing places that I would have never gotten to see. I've gotten to visit my roots in Ireland, admire the Eiffel Tower under the starlight, ride on a double-decker bus in London, drink real sangria in Spain, and visit Italy where my passion for travel all started. I've made some pretty amazing friends along the way that I know will stay in my life forever. I even met my favorite movie star Sarah Jessica Parker, even though she'll always be Carrie Bradshaw in my heart.

The past six months haven't just been about adventure, but about growing up. I took a huge risk and dove in head first. I basically moved away from home and everything I've ever known, along with all the comforts in my life to tour the United States and other parts of the world. I kinda sorta halfway moved to New York City to live in a crashpad with 13 roommates. I have been on the go constantly for 6 months, and it's time for me to sit back and plant my roots where they belong. This job has made me realize where I belong, and what means most to me.

My passion for travel is still there, that hasn't changed. There's not a location in the world I would turn down to visit, even if it was just for 24 hours. I just don't want that passion to become a job. I want to enjoy it, not dread it. I want to travel the world and share it with the people I care about most.

So I have unpacked my suitcase for the last time and hung my wings on a shelf. Life in the friendly skies has been an interesting one and I am completely blessed for the opportunity God has given me. It's time for me to conquer what this life has to offer me and I'm excited for what the future has in store.

Now I'm just living on a prayer.