I would love a milk shake

Last summer a colleague of mine at Harvard Medical School introduced me via email to a prominent international laywer named Amina.  It wasn’t until a few weeks ago that we actually got together on the spur of the moment. I had a couple of personal days I had to take before December 31 or I’d lose them.

I was home on the first one,  thinking of what I’d do when I decided to call Amina to see if she was free to meet. She answered the phone and said sure, let’s meet for coffee in about 45 minutes. We chose a mutually convenient place, closer to her home since she had an appointment there at 2pm.  Unfortunately there were no seats at the coffee shop, so she suggested that we go to her house. I parked my car in a safe spot, jumped into her car and off we went.

She had a very spacious, graceful home in a secluded area of a Boston suburb. Over a cup of coffee we got to know each other. Promptly at 2pm her guest arrived. We exchanged greetings and the conversation took on a life of its own. He was my age mate and we talked about the good old days. When I shared my experiences as a stewardess he told his old airline stories. Typical of Boomers. One was particularly poignant.

He frequently travelled on American Airlines between New York and one of the islands where he had a home. One steamy hot day trying to depart the island during a flight delay the stewardess came by asking how he was doing. I replied with sarcasm, “I’d love to have a milkshake.” Shortly thereafter, much to my surprise, she returned with a delicious vanilla milkshake! This is the kind of service we got back in the day.

“I wish I could tell her how much I appreciated the gesture. I remember her first name was a name from the Bible and her last name was a fairly common man’s name She was a pretty African-American who lived in Boston with her husband and son”. “She made my day. The delay could have lasted forever, my milkshake and her bubbly personality made it managable,” he said with a winsome smile.

I went silent as my eyes filled with tears.

“What did I say wrong?” he asked, as Amina watched us both.

 “Ester Jacks.”

“Yes, that’s her name!” How do you know?

“She was a dear friend of mine who succumbed to a fierce battle with cancer a few years ago”.

“I’m so sorry. She exemplified a bygone era”.

Yes, he’s right. I have fond memories of doing just that sort of thing with pride for random passengers. I left him wondering how many people remember a kind gesture I extended during a delay or inflight. I wonder how many scrap books have captured my youth. Am I immortalized in random conversation like my friend Ester? Makes me wonder, what have I done today that will cause someone to remember what kindness I extended some 20+ years later.

I am so honored to have been trained by Pan American World Airways to serve with dignity and distinction complete strangers.

I share this story in honor of my dear sister-friend Esterline Jacks

(1947-2008)

The Black Birds of Pan Am Panel Discussion:

WHEN: Wednesday, February 22nd

TIME: 7:30-9:30 PM

Tickets: $10.00 suggested admission

LOCATION: Maysles Cinema 

 Maysles Cinema (View Venue)
343 Lenox Ave.
New York, NY 10027
United States

Click here to purchase tickets

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/228943

Choose to have a good day and practice random acts of kindness!

Black Bird Alice Dear amongst colleagues

Happy Black History Month!

I am so, so excited to announce that in a few weeks from now I will be heading to New York to take part in the Pan Am Black Birds Panel Discussion. I’ve tracked down the Black Birds and we will be reuniting for the first time in a looooong time. The event will take place on Wednesdsay, February 22nd from 7-9PM in NYC (Location TBD). The panel will be moderated by Lamonia Brown, Director of Programs for New York Women in Film & Television and President of The National Association of Market Developers. Mark your calendars! This will be quite a ride!

Choose to have a great day!

We are gearing up for a lively event in February, stay tuned!

The Pan Am show is getting better. I’m still pissed that they showed a character drinking from a champagne bottle. We would never do that, always in a paper cup, “Galley power” we called it back then. Regardless of the plot and character development, I’m enjoying the show because it brings back fond memories of my youth.

Although I was hired in 1969 I didn’t go to training until January 12, 1970. I remember my parents and fiancé accompanying me to the airport for my flight to Puerto Rico. Since PAA had no domestic flights I had to go outside then back into USA to get to Miami on PAA—I went to Puerto Rico first.

It was my first time outside the continental USA. My parents never had this chance. Not true, actually my dad served in WWII and spent time in Europe. He brought back a beautiful mirror from France for my mother that I still cherish.

I sat in first class on the Boeing 727 and knew I had died and gone to heaven. The clouds outside my window confirmed it! I had a choice of steak or chicken for lunch served on China with silverware, champagne and wine, linen tablecloth and napkins. Although my mother prided herself at setting a nice table, this was real first-class as I never knew before! The crew was so nice and friendly. The stewardesses were so beautiful and poised. The voice making the announcements was music to my ears! I wanted to be just like these women.

I couldn’t believe it when I heard one of the stewardesses complain that she was tired of eating steak! Years later I felt the same way. Knowing I was going to training school they were so kind; giving me tips on how to succeed, where to shop for the best deals around the world, what to avoid, etc. When we arrived in Puerto Rico and an agent met me and offered to escort me through the terminal into the lounge to wait for my connecting flight but the purser invited me to come to the hotel with the crew. He recommended that I come back to the airport with the crew who would be working the flight to Miami.

I was thrilled to be walking through the airport with these glamorous men and women who instantly made me feel like a welcomed member of this elite group of world travelers. Although I knew how to walk with confidence tinged with a bit of arrogance from my beauty queen days, I was a little perturbed that the humidity had completely destroyed my carefully constructed flip hairstyle!

Got to the hotel and immediately tied my hair back it into a ponytail which I was informed was not regulation. I worried for a hot minute about what to do with my hair during training. Later I joined a pair of women sharing a room and kicked off my shoes to relax while they changed into their swimsuits to sit by the pool. The weather was beautiful and perfect for swimming or just relaxing. I wanted to join them but didn’t have time. Instead one of the women suggested we get something to eat. She was eager to introduce me to the hotel’s cuisine.

At all layovers we got per diem; sometimes cash other times we could order food and sign for it. In Puerto Rico we signed for food. She ordered a feast! We had escargot, salad, frog’s legs and profiteroles for desert. I didn’t know what escargots were but I was willing to try them. Never had frogs legs or the dessert she was raving about. Since it was free, I tried everything set before me. The snails became a favorite, as did the profiteroles. I could leave the frogs legs. By the time we finished it was time for me to meet the crew going to the airport. I gathered my things and met them in the lobby. They were also kind and friendly. I was tired and wanted to get into my hotel room in Miami but I put on my happy face and looked forward to the adventure that was awaiting me!