Gloria Hill's Story
Twenty Five years have passed like a blink of
an eye since I’ve been flying up in the sky.
As I reminisce of how it all began in 1980, with an interview at Town Hall
Theatre in New York City for a new start up Airline “New York Air”,
I was hired and in the very first reservation class and started in reservations
November 1980.
On December 19, 1980 the first flight took off from LGA to DCA. How proud I was
to be a part of New York Air, it was not just a job we were like “Family.”
Three months later I was cross-trained to In-flight and I have been flying since
then.
My most memorable experience in the air with New York Air was working the bar
cart from LGA to DCA with my fellow flight attendant John Truentrend. I asked
John to pass me a can of Bloody Mary mix, he gave it to me opened (John would
always pass me cans that were unopened). We had a system flying the shuttle
flights because time was always of the essence. Unaware that the can was open I
began vigorously shaking it. The end result was that the mix went over almost
all of the passengers in my area.
As I looked around in shock to see who I
should attend to with napkins, the head of the gentlemen seated right next to me
was dripping with Bloody Mary mix. So I proceeded to help him wipe his head with
the napkins, little did I know that he was wearing a toupee that slipped down
the side of his face with the napkin, he snatched the napkin, with the toupee
attached to it, out of my hands and said to me (I’LL DO IT).
You can imagine what a sight that was to be seen. The other passengers, who also
had some Bloody Mary mix on them, were laughing so hard at the situation with
the passenger with the toupee, that they were no longer upset with me.
Well, with all the above said and done, I learned a valuable lesson. I always
observe whatever I’m doing in flight no matter how rushed I am, I do not take
anything for granted and in most situations when passengers need assistance from
me I assist by giving them what they need to help themselves (a lesson well
learned).
But through all the good and the bad, the joys and the tears, I thank God for
giving me twenty five beautiful flying years, and I’m still flying.
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion.
Cheers!
Gloria Hill
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