Fifteen years later....

When I first started Delta 15 years ago my intention was to get through training and be based in Atlanta. Or at least return to Atlanta as soon as possible. I just didn't think to go anywhere else. My mentality was to stay in the south, marry a proper professional, be a southern bell, etc.... All of my friends stayed in the south, except for one. I always had a stone in my gut when I thought about it, that life. It wasn't until training that I met one of my best friends, Carrie Miller. Carrie and I bonded as soon as we met. Carrie was a wild child from Utah, I was just a southern girl. Carrie and I were based in New York out of training and lived together. She only stayed in New York for a little while then went home to Salt Lake City. I said that I would never go there and that I was going to Atlanta. At about the four month mark I couldn't take New York anymore and put in my transfer to Salt Lake. I figured I would ski for six months and then head back to Atlanta. I got my transfer, moved in with Carrie and began what I didn't know at the time, but a new and incredible life in the west. (Carrie still gives my a ton of s@#% about my actions and comments about what I did at times, where I would and wouldn't live amongst other things.)

That move was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. And I owe it to Carrie. Without her entering my life I never would have even thought about the wild wild west. My life forever changed in the best way. I discovered the desert of Utah, river rafting, mountain biking (which I was terrible at) skiing which I love and had a lot of fun doing, music, concerts and festivals. I had boyfriends and learned what I didn't want to marry and look back and think what in the hell was I thinking. I learned to be free and have fun without any expectations. I went through hell at times and learned so much about myself and had an incredible group of girlfriends. I met my husband in Utah, through my one friend that left the south, have two wonderful kids and have left Utah to experience Mexico.

And 15 years later than I intended, a lifetime of love, experiences, friendships, travel, children, amongst many other things I am going to Atlanta to work, NOT move to. This was a hard decision to make because I love the Salt Lake base. Walking into the lounge to go to work is like walking into Cheers. For the most part, everybody knows your name. You actually look forward to going to work because you have a great crew. The Salt Lake base is like a big family that I hate to leave. And once you leave the Salt Lake base you may never get back. The airline industry runs on seniority. For an example, the oldest and number one Flight Attendant at Delta is 89 years old. Yep! This person probably started 20 years before I was even born. And just think of all of the flight attendants between him and me. And a good hand full of these flight attendants are in Salt Lake City. It is one of the most senior bases in the system. At 15 years I have only 7% of the base below me, and in such a small base that is about 40 people. Can you say "pond scum"? That is what I am in the Salt Lake base. That also means working every weekend, not getting what you "bid" for and working every holiday until I have about 20 MORE years. And because the base is so small, there is not room to swap your trips for a decent schedule. In other words, you have no life. I accepted this life when I lived in Utah because I wouldn't have to commute and could spend more time with my family. Now that I no longer live in Utah there is really no reason to work out of there. I realized my quality of life, trips and commute would be so much better if I worked out of Atlanta. And in Atlanta I have more than 40% of the base below me. I may not hold the schedule and trips that I want but with over 7000 flight attendants compared to 600 in SLC I have a much better chance of swapping to the trips I want and a schedule that better fits my life and commute. My trips would be even better if I worked out of New York, but Delta doesn't have and non stops there from Puerto Vallarta and I really cannot see myself working out of there right now.

I am excited. The thought of being able to be there for birthdays and some holidays, parades, kids special events, anniversary's, etc is actually beyond comprehension in my brain right now. There are three non stop flights from Atlanta to Puerto Vallarta a week compared to one a week from SLC. And you can fly just about anywhere in the world on Delta out of Atlanta. So bye bye to nine hour layovers in Green Bay, Omaha, Detroit, (which I don't mind because we get to stay at the Westin which is in the airport), Kansas City, Phoenix, Boise, Seattle (love the long layovers there), you get my drift, and Hello World.

So, in a round about way, a lifetime of experiences, an incredible family and a new country I am back to where I planned to be 15 years ago.