A day of adventure in NYC! (Part 1)

Happy 2010 Friends! I'm not saying this is a "resolution," but I hope to be better about sharing stories and adventures this year...I continue to be amazed with the people I meet flying and the stories my passengers (and crewmates) share with me. For those of you who have flown with me, you know that on all my flights I ask a "Random Question of the Day" (and have even begun to be known as "The Question Lady" by some of my frequent fliers!). Although often related to food, these questions have been the jumping-off-point for some really fun and fascinating conversations with people. It contributes to the high level of JOY I find in my job...Thanks to those of you who participate! You may not realize what a gift this is for me on a daily basis.

So. Yesterday my almost-13 son and I took a spontaneous day-trip to NYC. Some things you should know before I get to the story are: 1) I have only used my travel benefits to go to Missouri so far, 2) I had only visited NYC once before and was not allowed to ever step foot outside the car and 3) I have a very poor sense of direction. Oh. And 4) I'm not really as spontaneous as I like to believe I am, so this was a BIG step for me. That being said: the day was a huge success and provided me (and my son) with a bag-full of memories I'll cherish forever.

The day would most likely not have happened without the input of one of my favorite Facebook friends, John Williamson. (Thanks John!) John regularly posts links and articles regarding a myriad of topics and shares his wit with friends around the globe. I always look for his stuff first, because he's smart, funny and always interesting. So John posted a link about a Samurai exhibit going on at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Now, many of you with sons in Parker's age-range might have shared my glassy-stare as their young boys have explained all-things-warrior to them. At least I hope you can relate to my smiling-nodding-I-don't-get-the-fascination perspective? Anyway, I knew when I saw the link that Parker would love this...Long story short: I looked into it a bit and realized we had two days to catch this exhibit before it would leave NYC. We listed for the first flight out the following day (I had to have help even with this step. Thank you, Roger.) to return on the last flight home the same night. (A potentially stupid move.) I wish I had been able to capture the look on Parker's face when I asked him if he'd like to miss school to go to New York for the Samurai exhibit the next day...What does Visa say? "Priceless!"

AND HERE. WE. GOOOooo!

Up at the you-know-what-crack-of-dawn, Parker and I set off for the Big Apple. I really had no idea what we were doing, but I was hopeful I'd be able to pull it all off while being impressively-cool as a mom and frequent traveler. A technicality: being a flight attendant is not necessarily the same thing as being a "frequent traveler!" (Confession: I pretty much just go where Crew Scheduling tells me and follow the guys with stripes when we get there...)

Security lines were fine. My son was impressed that Mom seemed "popular" at the MSP airport as we were greeted by co-workers in such a big place full of strangers.  I sprung for McDonald's breakfast at the airport and had my son in a very happy place...The flight was on-time and smooth. We had no problem getting on. Hooray! Our first major success! We landed at JFK and I had my organized-little-self armed with a subway trip planned on the MTA website. Cool. This was easy. Note to assuage my guilt about pulling Parker out of school for the day: I'm confident he learned more just on the subway than in a whole day in the classroom! (No disrespect to my son's fine teachers...) There were people from every country on Earth, I believe, on our ride. Pick a language, any language, and I'll bet you we heard it there. And HATS. What's up with all the hats in NYC!? Fancy ones, simple ones, fur ones, ones with the stickers still on them (Minnie Pearl had nothin' on some of those kids). Warm ones, ethnic ones. It was high entertainment at times. All while trying to look like we had a clue about what we were doing and where we were going. (Watch the eye contact. Hold onto your stuff. Stay with me.) We were also very surprised at how friendly and helpful the people we met were to the Obvious Tourists. Did the upside down map give us away? hmmm. It didn't take long to abandon any hope or concern about disguising our status, which was futile anyway.

Emerging from the depths of the subway into a bright and crisp day in Manhattan, I was almost overwhelmed with how special it was to be able to do this as a day trip. "We're on the corner of 71st and Lexington! Look in this window! Look at that bread! Check out all those cabs!" Really, I embarrass myself sometimes. Good thing Parker is used to me. "Parker! We're on Madison Avenue! Parker! We're on Park Avenue! Look! The French Embassy!" ("Mom, what's an 'embassy'?") "Parker! Look! Hot dogs!" (Really? Did I really say that? Yes. Yes I did. There's much to be said for unconditional love.)

There's the Metropolitan! Yippeeeeee! We're really here. We really did it! The exhibit was wonderful. A lot of swords. I seem to not have a strong eye for differentiating between them all, but Hey. I tried. Parker could tell. How does he do that? My favorite parts were the armor and the saddles. Incredible works of art. How could these masterpieces be functional? huh. There was a stooped-little-old lady on the same path and timetable as we were. She was delightful. She was almost electric in her enthusiasm. I was as fascinated with her as the exhibit. I made sure to point out to Parker that "That's gonna be me, someday!" He didn't seem surprised (or even horrified. whew!). Did I mention I love this kid!? He's an old (and patient-with-me) soul. To backtrack a bit, to get to the gallery with the Samurai exhibit, you have to go through other galleries. I was like a kid in a candy store (Sorry for the cliche). My neck hurts today from all the gawking. I guess I forgot that Parker really hasn't been to many art museums in his life yet. I forgot to give him any warning about "nudity." And penises. Lots of  'em. Sculpted ones. Sketched ones. Painted ones. "Penises on Parade", it seemed, as I viewed the museum through his eyes (And I must credit that title to him.) "Mom, why was it okay back then to paint these people with their clothes off? Why did they do that?" Ummm. It seems I need to spend a little time on Art History with my kids? Note to Self: Do that. Initially, when figuring out if we could even do this trip in a day, I was concerned that we wouldn't have enough time to enjoy the exhibit when we arrived. Not to worry, my son seems to "museum surf" like his father: he's a "flitter." I, on the other hand, am a "systematic and thorough reader." At first, this was a source of frustration for both of us, but we were able to discuss it and agreed to dismiss each other's museum-styles as acceptable. Another success, in my opinion.

Accepting the Challenge: My Flight Attendant RV

Ok, so my FA RV currently consists of three pieces (I do mostly 4 day trips):

1) my desperate stand-in for my roller bag which met
    its untimely demise in DTW last week...
    Notes: Please note the creative use of carabiners
               and bungee cords to keep said bag on ill-
               fitting cart.Classy, huh?
            
               Yes, that is a blanket on top. It's my indul-
                gence item (Brookstone Travel Blanket) so
                I don't have to use my trenchcoat as extra
                covers on overnights! (I hate those cheap
                slippery hotel bedspreads!)

2) my in-flight bag (office-in-a-bag)
    Notes: nothing too odd in here. Laptop, ipod, chargers,  accordian file for paperwork, FA Bible, apron, corkscrew.  (yup, that is an accountable item for us...) Oh! and a Tide pen, sewing kit, extra-thingies to hold wings and namebar on, earplugs. Puffs Plus to go packs (sensitive nose). LIPSTICK. Extra pair of panty hose? collapsible screwdriver to fix airplane!? (heh heh) Post-it-notes and Sharpie.



3) food bag
    "Confessional Contents" worth noting: finger puppets for unprepared pax with small children, colored pencils for loan to older, unplugged children and for long layovers...
way too much Easy Mac and Uncle Ben's rice pouches...Propel packets for gallons of hydration! And tuna. I'm either a cat or a flight attendant...not sure some days...If you feed me, I keep coming back!

Henry's Story - (this is long...)

As you may have read, Henry is the acknowledged Love of My Life. He is a 6 year-old Paint gelding (Tobiano) who came into my life a little more than two years ago. Henry is totally blind. Having Henry in my life has really changed the way I look at things, or at least brought a fuzzy picture more into focus. Will this be a sappy post? Most likely. Turn away now if you are squeamish. But if you suspect you might believe in, well, things working out despite our intentions, read on...

We brought our Arab/Quarter mare to Circle C Ranch outside of Stillwater, MN, after boarding with friends for awhile. Boarding at someone's home, however, didn't work very well for us as we always felt like we were intruding on them when we showed up. We heard about Circle C through a forward from a friend-of-a-friend and went and checked it out. It was nice, clean, the horses looked well-cared-for and it was in our price range and desired location. But it wasn't a "Pony Club" or eventing barn. In fact, there seemed to be a range of disciplines there, including some mounted police. Interesting. There really weren't any jumps there to use, which is what Audrey and Bashira enjoyed. But I had this feeling...ok. Big deal. "Feelings"--harumph. I spoke with the owner and liked her. Still, just normal stuff, really. So we arranged to move our girl.

Fast forwarding: Shortly after we were there, I found a different part-time job that intrigued me (and that paid better than the gourmet cookware shop where I had been) at a museum in St.Paul. Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life. I had been a docent before I started a family and LOVED it! I have always been a "museum geek" and this was going to be a great fit for me and my family. So I jumped...As I got into the job, I discovered that this farm museum had no horse. How can a farm museum representing Minnesota life in the 1860s not have a horse!? So I thought I'd move Bashira out there, and then I could have the best of several worlds: my horse with me daily, free board, and the requisite horse on-site. (Not that there were many QuarAbs in MN in the 1860s, but I digress.) I called Jess (owner of Circle C) to tell her what I was thinking. Until this point, my interaction with her had been friendly but just passing stuff. Then things just started "clicking..."

Jess told me that she had a horse who had been injured during a training accident. She told me how much he loved attention from people and that he needed a "job," something to do. I agreed to take a look at him (keep in mind that my family is still quite new to this horse-thing. Honestly, my version of "looking at him" is this: is he pretty? Is he "nice?" When we bought Bashira, our first horse, our instructor/trainer/veterinarian "fixed us up." Thought I'd come clean now...) Really, for the museum we needed a pasture ornament. A safe pasture ornament. Yes, Henry was pretty. Jess came out to the museum to check out our facilities, fencing, etc. and to make sure it would meet Henry's needs. Then we jumped...


Henry came to the Gibbs and was a HUGE hit! He took to his celebrity role right away (with staff and guests), and seemed to genuinely LOVE his new gig.  I (and everyone who met Henry) was amazed at how well he navigated in his pasture. At how friendly and sweet he is. At how "nice" he is. I had seen other horses "off the track" who had "issues" with fear, anxiety, even anger. Surely if an animal had a reason to be "damaged, " it would be one who couldn't see? But Henry had been blessed to be in the hands of a WONDERFUL owner before...and Jess continued to provide him a loving, stable home even after he couldn't show. She didn't have to do that. One thing I've learned in this horse world is how "disposable" horses are: when they don't meet your needs any more, sell them and move on. Maybe because I'm a newbie, I could never understand that. Isn't the big thing with a horse the relationship you have with them? Anyway...Jess spent a long time grieving for Henry and his accident. But she never gave up on him. Then we moved to her barn and I took this museum job and it was all like it was supposed to work that way. Wow. All spring I kept reporting back to Jess how well Henry was doing, how many people were touched by his "second chance," and how MADLY in love I was falling with him. Henry was even receiving FAN MAIL from groups of school children! (I've never been so proud to be referred to as "The Horse Lady" either!) One day, she asked me if I would like to have Henry "for my own." I felt like I was eight years-old with pig tails popping out of the sides of my head as I said "YES! DEFINITELY YES!"

Well Henry and I were blissfully installed at the museum for two full seasons (the museum is only open from spring to end of October), but we would "go home" during the off-season. I completely loved my job there, from teaching the hundreds of kids that came for field trips (In addition to doing tours,I specialized in teaching them how to hand-dip beeswax candles, how to make homemade ice cream, and how to make corn husk dolls...) to exchanging stories with the folks of ALL ages that came through our gates. It's funny to remember how much I loved the Little House on the Prairie books and show as a kid, and how much I played "Half-Pint" in all my imaginings...Only to grow up into a 40-something playing pioneer woman all over again! (Life IS good!) My kids were able to spend the summers with me at the museum volunteering, too. It was an ideal setup! So why am I talking about all this in past tense?

Economics. As I said, the museum is only open six months out of the year. Horses eat and kids need stuff TWELVE months of the year. Dang. So I surfed. I looked for jobs in "travel and hospitality" to fill the other six months of the year. I looked for other museum jobs. I KNEW I didn't want to go back to retail; I wanted to think that "at my age" I had progressed to doing something beyond that, without compromising my investment with my kids. At the time, I only wanted something part-time. Then I stumbled across an ad for a regional airline hiring flight attendants. huh.

When I was in my twenties I had been intrigued with the idea for a brief time, but thought I was really too "educated" to be a "sky waitress" (since I had a big college degree in English and Spanish), and it didn't pay the big bucks I thought I should be making. ha ha. Funny how that all sounds to me now...(Anyone else out there been young and arrogant? And stupid?) SO over a glass (or two) of wine, my friend said "Why not try it?" And the wine said "huh."

FAST FORWARD: (Really, I know nothing about this post is fast, but...) Did you know that training to be a flight attendant is quite an investment of your time and energy? And that Flight Attendants do MUCH MUCH more than serve your cokes and clear your trash!? And that it's HIGHLY ADDICTIVE!? Well, now you do! My part-time-fancy turned into a full-time return to a career (a REAL one, really!) And as it turns out, it's working out very well for my whole family. But back to Henry...

In addition to my guilt and fears (real and imagined) about returning to work full time (I had stayed home with my kids besides the part-time-playing) and the effects that would have on my family, I had HUGE guilt over not being able to return to the museum for Henry's sake. How could I, in good conscience, NOT be there for him? It was a perfect fit and I loved every minute of it; so did he. But the reality of my finances was that I needed to do something full time, or sell Bashira. Not an option. And I believed (and still do) that the museum is not staffed with any other "horse people" with whom I would feel comfortable entrusting Henry's full-time care. Jess was (again) wonderful as I called her sobbing about what-to-do. Had I let her down, too? Thankfully, she is a wise woman. And a good friend. She assured me that Henry (and I) would ALWAYS have a home there. Oh God, she had NO idea how much I needed that! (Our barn is my Happy Place; a true sanctuary.)

A year later, I am flying around, loving the time I have at home (gone is the burnt-out mom...) and genuinely appreciating my time with my horses and barn friends. Henry is in the home he's always known, occasionally taking care of the whipper-snappers. I've been working with him in lessons on the ground to get ready to ride him. (Although, I can honestly say to all those people who asked me "Can you ride him?" that if I never got to ride him, that'd be okay, too. I don't ride my dog, either, and that certainly doesn't diminish my relationship with her!) I just feel SO privileged to learn all the things that Henry has to teach me: "it's no big deal," "let go and move on," "use your other resources" and "PLAY" to name just a few! I still feel guilty that I can't do both the museum and fly, but I have to be realistic. And that's okay. So if you've stuck with this post this long, please stay tuned for the continuing adventures of Henry and Kim. I hope it will continue to be a long and wonderful trip...Thanks for listening. (And Jess, if you're reading, Thanks for the BEST GIFT I've EVER received and for being such an AMAZING person!)

Introductions...Nice to meet you!

Hi All. I'm Kim. I'm new to this blogging thing, but think I've always had one running in my head...

I chose the title "Four Feet in the Air" because it seems to capture the things I'm most passionate about these days: my critters and my career as a flight attendant. I am married (16 years) with two kids (Audrey, 15, and Parker, 12). We live outside the Twin Cities, on the Wisconsin side with a view of rolling hills and beautiful trees. No, I don't care much about the Packers, the Vikings, or Brett Favre (unless there is a good tailgate involved). We have a Golden Retriever who has no clue she's a dog, 3 and 3/4 cats (Snuggles is a "tripod") and two horses who live on the Minnesota side of the river. I fly for a regional airline, and am having the time of my life working in the mini-microcosm of humanity! Stay tuned for lots of good stories, as I seem to be in the "accelerated program" for gathering 'em...

Now meet the Cast of Characters:

• Doug -- hubby of 16+ years. good guy. lawn-obsessed.eyes me w/ puzzled look on his face most of the time. Has said I'm like living with Lucy...
• Audrey -- 15 and starting Freshman year.cheerleader (the one they throw around.great.) gives father fashion advice now. knows everything (don't have to send her to college, this way!) Starting drivers' ed this fall; this ought to be GOOD! Thinks cell phone is a body-part.
• Parker -- 12 on his birth certificate, but an old soul.very witty boy, likes torturing his mother with "yo mama" jokes.Dubbed "the Cat Whisperer" years ago for his feline-communication-talents. Makes my eyes glaze over with football facts.
• Chami -- 9 year-old Golden Retriever. Canine Goddess in touch with her deity, not-s0-much with the canine part...has been a mom to a fat hamster, two rabbits, and four cats so far. Didn't know she could swim until she was about five and doesn't like it.Doesn't believe in retrieving after bringing it back once. "You keep losing it, You go get it" is her philosophy.My soulmate.Sometimes we let Doug hang off the edge of the bed.
• Zip -- 7 year-old Zen Master cat. Definitely the distinguished gentleman of the bunch.Dedicated to the art of yoga, and yogurt, now that you mention it...Did someone crack one open!? Deep thinker...Nice manners.
• Chloe -- 5 year-old Princess. Likes 2legs to think she's timid and shy only as a cover for her true ninja identity.Ringleader and timekeeper for all feeding times.Don't think you can hide under a pillow, either! Has her own room with french doors, which you may enter By Invitation Only.(or if you have saltine crackers)
• Snuggles -- 5 year-old Tripod. DO NOT think that 3 legs slows him down!!! Has serious and continued concerns over 2legs stepping into raining room all the time.Towels (fresh out of the dryer OR wet) are the best things in life.Hates "the Baby" and insists everything is her fault...Very opinionated and vocal about it.Has the ability to move a 75-pound dog off a nice, warm spot while maintaining highly cultivated innocent look.
  
• Oreo -- "the Baby" (1+ year-old) is really her criminal tag. Taunts the Goddess with her ability and desire to play fetch.Delights in pestering Big Brother Snuggles as often as possible. Not sure what to think of 2legs, except for the Whisperer.You are not safe if you have a stash of Cheerios anywhere accessible.
• Bashira --15 year-old Arab-Quarter cross. Would wear lipstick if she had opposable thumbs. Beautiful girl living the good life (= eating, pooping, being pampered followed by more eating).Audrey lost interest in riding in Jr.High, so she's just a kept woman at this point.Gets ridden when I get occasional bursts of ambition and time home.Should beware that kids go back to school soon, so I'll have more time! She's a pretty jumper;too bad it's so challenging from the fetal position...
• Henry -- 6 year-old Paint.The acknowledged Love of My Life. (Hubby seems ok with this...or resigned to the fact).Henry is totally blind and one of the MOST AMAZING living creatures I've ever had the privilege of knowing.One of the best teachers and friends and girl could hope to have.