Jumpseat therapy- What do flight attendants and military spouses have in common?

Jump seat therapy occurs when you get the entire life story of the flight attendant sitting next to you on the assigned jump seat, or some other tale or drama you may not want to be privy to. A jumpseat is usually a fold-down seat on an aircraft where a crew member sits for take-off, landing, and anything in between. This can also happen on a layover, over dinner, or some random occasion- where you say to yourself, “ahhh, I should have just gone out alone”.

One thing to remember, it’s all temporary. The flight or trip ends. You may not see that person for a year, or ever again, and sometimes you’re glad. Other times, a jump seat therapy session may result in a friend for life.

Military life is very similar. People tend to become fast friends, because they may only get a year or two together.

The military spouse comes in many shapes and forms. Most of the time it’s like being in a room full of type A personalities. Want to get something accomplished? Ask a group of military spouses.

I’ve been amazed at many of the wives I’ve had the privilege to get to know and the things they achieve on a daily basis; in many cases, on their own. Their capacity to lead, give and inspire.

Seldom have I heard a military spouse ask for help. Mostly because they don’t need it. They’ve got it under control.

I saw this same determination as a flight attendant, as my co workers held together in the days following 911. In the unending bond felt upon many a jumpseat. The camaraderie that could develop by a flights end. Many times creating lifelong friends. More than a job, a lifestyle.

Military spouses are quite the same, it is a lifestyle. People constantly come and go in your life. Some leaving a huge imprint, and the hopes that you will run into them again along the way.

It’s the ones we bond with that we will miss the most. Nobody wants to admit it, but every now and then, when one leaves- it is a relief.

I try to look for the good in people no matter what. I try to be honest. I really try to be the kind of friend to others that I would want to have. I have also failed at this a time or two. The fact is, you cannot be everything to everyone.

But, I aspire not to focus on the negative. There are way too many nice people out there to waste time with the ones that aren’t.

The greatest lesson in life–

You cannot please everyone. Someone will always be there to say you’re wrong, or misinterpret your intentions. And to them I say, “Buh-Bye, this flight has ended.”

Unimaginable Reality

Each day I wake up and I do the things I always do. I awaken my children, dress them, and feed them. I take my son to his school and walk him down the hall to his kindergarten classroom. Each day– I think of those parents in CT. who did the same thing one Friday in December. Never again to see their precious babies. What could I or anyone ever say or do to make the pain or emptiness go away. No amount of prayer or gun control laws can change that now. I think of them when I kiss and hug my little boy goodbye for the day. I think of them when I pick him up, happy to see that little smiling face again. The sheer empty void they must feel now- I can only imagine. The sick feeling that lies in the pit of my stomach is nothing compared to their reality. We send our innocent children off to school where we think they are safe until the day’s end. What if that was the last time we saw them? They have no idea of the unimaginable evil that exists in this world. When my babies were born, I would watch them as they slept–thinking how perfect they are. Perfect, and perfectly innocent. Trying to wrap my mind around why anyone would want to hurt them. As parents, we spend most of our lives protecting our children– and when something like this happens, we have to say to ourselves, “that could have been my child”.

I don’t know what the answer is, but I know I do not want this to happen again.
I didn’t have a lot of religion growing up or a perfect childhood either, but I have compassion, know right from wrong, and respect life. To this day, I have not turned on the news, nor do my children know anything about this horrific tragedy.

Dressing up for an Army ball is fun!