Thank you Mom!

 

 

My mother just finished working her last trip to Japan with United Airlines and will be officially retired on October 30, 2015.  She started on June 15, 1986 and has traveled all over the world.  She has been my inspiration and reason that I had to become a flight attendant. 

 

 

Mom's Graduation Day from United Airlines - June 1986

 

 

She came to the United States from Japan in 1970 and tried to travel to Japan to visit family as much as she could.  My parents both worked hard to save money for us to travel overseas and visit our relatives but it can get expensive paying full fare for a family of six.

I'll always remember the day that we sat down for a family meeting to talk about an important decision that my parents wanted us to be a part of.  My father and mother gathered the four of us kids around the table to get our input and thoughts.  I was 15 at the time and my brother was the youngest being 4 years old.  They explained that my mom had always wanted to become a flight attendant and she had this opportunity with United Airlines.  The only thing was that she would be gone for so many weeks training in Chicago and then would be flying a lot so she may not be home very often.  The positive was that we had the world at our fingertips and could travel to Japan more often.  We could see how excited that my mom was and what a great opportunity for us kids to be able to travel the world.  We supported her 100%.

I remember the first time that I traveled by myself with her.  I was so excited when she asked me if I wanted to go to Seoul with her.  Of course I did!  It was February 1989 and I was in high school.  My mom told me that I would only be missing a couple of days of school.  Well, I didn't mind that at all!  I had traveled a number of times but never on standby.  What an adventure.  Back then, we had to get dressed up to fly.  As standby passengers representing United, the women had to wear dresses or skirts and nylons and the men or boys had to wear ties.  Things have definitely changed since then!  We had such a fun time shopping together and exploring Seoul.

She would take each of us kids from time to time to different destinations.  She showed us how to travel without a plan and to be spontaneous.  It was exciting!  Children of employees could travel on their benefits until a certain age.  I can't recall if it was 18 or 21 years old but I knew that my time had come to where I couldn't fly on her priority and I would have to start paying for my flights.  Well, I couldn't have that happen.  I had too many places to explore and not enough money to pay for it.  Thanks to her, the travel bug had bitten me!  I knew I had to become a flight attendant!

Mom, thank you for showing us the world.  Thank you for teaching me how to travel on a moment's notice.  I have had such awesome experiences and have seen amazing sites.  I am so grateful for everything that you have done.  Thank you for the opportunities that you have provided our family and thank you for all of your hard work!  I'm so proud of you and dad and am happy that you both can now enjoy the retired life.