When I was a junior in high school I thought the most exciting and rewarding career in the world was one of an Airline Stewardess. Airline Stewardesses, in my eyes, were pretty, poised and polished. They always knew the right thing to say to passengers and could comfort frightened, nervous people anxious about flying. They could soothe restless young children and intervene in arguments between unruly flyers.
Everyone looked up to them. At least my fantasy about the life of Airline Hostesses told me so.
So I did my due diligence and researched ways of getting hired by an airline company. I discovered a telephone number in newspaper ad as representing a top Airline. It advertised jobs for Stewardesses and offered interviews with representatives of the company. I reached a woman, who told me to be in Manhattan at 11 o’clock Tuesday morning at the Marriott Motel, suite 204.
I prepared for my big day by dressing in my best suit; the most sophisticated one I owned, brushed my long hair back in a mature bun and carefully applied some lipstick. I was transformed into at least an eighteen year old, I thought.
As I prepared to leave the house to catch a train into the city my father asked, “Where are you going?”
“To a job interview in New York.”
“What job interview?”
“For an Airline Hostess job. I’m meeting Mr. Lombardi at the Marriott at 11 O’Clock.”
“You know how I feel about Airline Stewardesses,” said Dad. “Not only that but you think nothing of meeting a strange man in a motel room? Where’s your head? What kind of sense does that show?”
“If you go into the city for that interview don’t bother coming back home!”
Dad never spoke to me that way before. What should I do?
I never went for the interview. I do notice that modern Airline Hostesses are older,
heavier, and frequently married women, something that was unheard of when I longed for
the job.
AirlineHostesses are not as awesome as they were in the 50’s.
MorristownMemos 
Comments on: "RULES AND REWARDS" (14)
Ronnie, you’re pretty, poised and polished no matter what job you have!
Too kind, too kind!!!
At one time, I thought this job would be a great way to see the world. But today I don’t see it as that glamorous a position, but a very responsible one.
I agree, Bev; I doubt whether a high school student would envision herself rescuing people in an emergency rather than thinking of how cute the uniforms were.
and many flight attendants are now men who get very snarly if you call them “stewardess.”
There’s nothing worse than a snarly flight attendant; am I using the right terminology now?
I also dreamed of being a stewardess, but never got as far as you in setting up an interview! My father also squashed my enthusiasm for the job when he told me “Over my dead body!” Since he flew a lot for business in those days, I figured he knew something I didn’t about the job that it wouldn’t be a job for a nice Jewish girl, or any nice girl, for that matter!
Now they’re flight attendants, not only female, and have greater responsibilities in this age of travel amid terrorist threats. I don’t think the job has much glamor, but perhaps travel benefits, and admire how hard they work.
They’re more than “waitresses in the sky,” as people used to say. You’re right; they do have greater responsibilities than the calm, sensible 50s called for.
Everything seemed to be brighter, better, more enlightening, and more fun back in the 50s, Ronnie. Strange how our thoughts and ideas change as we become older and somewhat more mature (at least some of us). I still long for my 55 Pontiac ! 🙂
All you have to do is take a trip to Cuba, and you can revisit your 55 Pontiac. It’s alive and well AND still running in Havana!
Hahahahahaha !!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe…..?
I remember those days! Great post and your Dad was sooo right.
Thanks, Dor; I often wonder what would have happened if I went into NY that day…but it couldn’t have worked out better than real life did work out!