Gertrud had treated Joe and me to a wonderful lunch
{FRA trip 02-04DEC2017, Mainz, Germany layover}
Babenhausen, Hessen: Nach unserem Mittagessen im Restaurant Goldener Engel
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Ruth's Career as a Flight Attendant – Happy Highlights –
The time has come for me to say a certain good-bye. I have decided to accept a Voluntary Early Out Program (VEOP) of the world's largest airline – saving another flight attendant from being cut involuntarily due to the corona virus pandemic – since our Company doesn't need 80% of us now. Upon leaving September 27, 2021, once exited, I turn into a retiree with full retirement benefits. So I worked my last trip March 1-4, 2020, not knowing – the Lord knew – it'd be my last, and very good.
My first flight to Germany, when I was a child, took 2 days, on a Constellation propeller aircraft in 1960 transporting military families like ours, hugging coastlines and stopping every so often along the way to refuel. Four years later, ending my father's tour of duty, I flew back to America on a jet airliner.
In working flights from the early 90's into 2020 I encountered unexpected joys, exceptionally difficult people, and potentially deadly situations; however, on 1 flight a passenger came to the jetbridge boarding door I was working on his hands... because he had no legs; he had to walk into the restroom on his hands, then ate his meals with those same hands. I said to myself that I wouldn't complain about anything ever again.
Never did any flight I was working on cancel; however, during one month of 4 transatlantic Frankfurt trips, the flight from the day before on 3 of my 4 return flights cancelled: we carried their relaxed, rested return (deadheading) crew, who had an extra full day in Germany to enjoy doing whatever they wanted to do, back over the ocean, working the totally filled flights while they sat, ate, and slept in passenger seats, 100% full airplane each time! I wished I also could have had an extra day, too, at least once!
In a quarter century I flew Germany about 1,000 times as Speaker (making the airplane announcements in German), usually once, sometimes twice, occasionally 3 times in a week, even worked – assigned as a reserve – 10 transatlantic flights in 15 days, 5 trips back-to-back non-stop; plus worked other international destinations, also 5 years domestic, mostly 3-day but a few 1-, 2-, or 4-day, and 1 prized 5-day trip. I will have accumulated 29½ yrs. seniority from my 20May1992 hire, acquiring lifetime memories, enjoying amazing friendships. This scenic journey down memory lane highlights my working trips of which I have pictures: 1 in 1994; 2 in 2001; 2 in 2010; after buying a smart phone, 252 the next day 11AUG2012 through 04MAR2020. Enjoy this mere 1% of a total of ~70,000 photos and occasional notes on working trips as a crewmember!
