It was just another day in my Flight Attendant Career. This job is like many others, it is what you make it.

We come to work just like the rest of the world. We fought miserable traffic. We have domestic issues at home. We don’t feel one hundred per-cent, headache, stuffy nose, etc…..

Sometimes, we don’t even want to be at work. The layovers may be short. The hotel that you will be sleeping in is a real roach coach.

Just like any other profession we have our up and down days.

This particular day was turning out to be a “Roach Coach Day.” I was in the greeting position of the aircraft. I was really forcing the smile and the, “Hi, How Are Ya’s.”

This smartly dressed older gentleman walked through the door. He said to my co-worker, “Hello, how are you?”

My smart-mouthed friend replied, “Well, how do I look?” I looked at my Buddy and called him a, “Stu naught.” (That is a “Stupid”, in Italian).

The older gentleman smiled and asked me if I was a Piason. (An Italian) I smiled and shook my head up and down.

During the flight this old man kept speaking to me in Italian. He believed that I was fluent in Italian. Heck, I can’t even spell Piason correctly.

The old man came into the galley, and started speaking Italian to me again. I explained to him that I was second generation Italian, but unfortunately I only knew the bad words in Italian.

He laughed, and we began to talk……. in English.

He was so very full of life. He laughed, he was very articulate. He seemed to shine with happiness and joy.

The flight passed by quickly, it was because of his company.

Before he went back to his seat I asked him two questions.

Sir, “May I ask your age?” He replied, “I am 89 years old.” I was blown away.

He had the spirit of a young man, the sense of humor of a child, and the intellect of a mid aged professor.

I then asked him, “What keeps you so vibrant and young?” He replied, “People like you, the blessings of my life.”

My layover was peaceful, and I slept soundly in the Roach Coach.

Most of all, I remembered why I went to Flight Attendant School, and why I had picked a Flight Attendant Career.

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