Now Boarding

A passenger told me that he had bought me as part of his ticket. I told him that he didn't have enough money.

R. G. S. began her career as a flight attendant in 1966, when flying was considered a luxury. Passengers dressed up as if they were going to the theater, the men in business suits and the women in hats and gloves.

A passenger asked Kia, a friend of mine, if the seat cushions indeed floated. She went to the galley, retrieved a large glass of water, and threw it on the cushion. The water was immediately absorbed. She said to the passenger, "Now what do you think?"

Though plane travel eventually became more routine and casual, R. G. S. never lost her love for the job. She learned to expect the unexpected, provide the best experience she could for everyone, and find the humor in challenging situations.

On occasion, the pilots would make a terrible landing, bouncing two to three times until the airplane was firmly planted on the runway. I loved to welcome passengers to the city by saying, "Well, we have just landed, landed, and landed." That always got a laugh from the passengers-the pilots, not so much.

R. G. S. found her calling-and her bliss-miles above the ground. Full of whimsy and heart, the anecdotes within Now Boarding: Golden Tails by a Flight Attendant will help you find your smile.