Much has
happened over the last year. My sister
suggested I write an update, but I don’t even know where to begin.
Seasons….It
seems I am back in to my favorite Season of all. Summer. But am I? Can you really go back?
Just over a
year ago I was feeling pretty good about myself, having trained and competed in
a Figure Competition at my age. But,
believe me, I felt my age! Last year, I
watched my sister fight the battle against breast cancer, and also lost two
good friends to cancers. My sister was
amazing through all her treatments and surgeries. Always pushing through, and never lost her
fun spirit. One of my friends, was an
amazing example of a mother, doctor, volunteer, and wife, who lived through her
treatments and surgeries with amazing grace and strength. My other friend was an amazing dad, husband,
brother, coach, volunteer, who NEVER gave up.
He was always there for his wife and kids, friends, teams, and
others. It was because of these three people
that I decided to follow my dream and not just sit back and be content with
where I was at.
So, that
brings me to December of last year. I
applied to become a Flight Attendant with Southwest Airlines. They only open up external applications once
every few years. I was so excited. I just knew it was meant to be. Well it wasn’t meant to be. In February I interviewed, and in March I
received my “Thanks, but no thanks” email.
I was so discouraged. Talk about
a dream being crushed! A few weeks after
that, it was recommended to me to check out Alaska Airlines. They were hiring Flight Attendants. Who was Alaska Airlines?? I live in Colorado! I really didn’t even know anything about
Alaska Airlines. Well, in checking out
the company, and checking in to what it would mean if I applied, I found out
that I would most likely be based in Anchorage, AK if I was hired. Now, if you really know me, you know that
Alaska is probably the last state in the US that I would ever choose to live
in. However, when Mike and I talked
about the possibilities and the future, we decided I should go for it. I sent in my application. I spent a 12 hour day interviewing and was
offered the job. Three weeks later I was
in Seattle for training. (There will
have to be an entire blog entry related to training!)
I remember
about two years ago, sitting on a friend’s patio for a girls night out happy
hour, and mentioning that one day I’d
like to be a Flight Attendant. I really
don’t know how many of my girlfriends ever believed that at my age, it would be
smart or even possible to do, or that I would even do it. Well, I’m so thankful that I took the chance
and followed that dream. Is it
easy? Was being away for 5 ½ weeks for
training easy? Is living in Alaska away
from my family easy? Absolutely
not. But I do know that I have the full
support of Mike and the rest of my family.
I know that in the long run, this will be good for our family. “Short term sacrifice for long term gain” is
what I keep telling myself.
Did I really
go back to the “Season of Summer” in my life?
No. I’m still the same age, in
the same Season of life that I was this time last year. However, I am living my life with no
regrets. Living and not ever going to
say I wish I would have done that. No
matter what my age, what Season I am in.
