We boarded our Aer Lingus flight in Boston and made our way through the various sections , First, Business, 2 long sections of 2 4 2 seats, into another with the same configuration until we reached the third from the back row where there were 2 3 2 seats across.
Just before takeoff, the Captain came on to tell us this was a special flight, that after 37 years of service, this was the final flight before retirement of the Chief Cabin attendant, Annie (?). All clapped but that was only the beginning. Then all the crew were named as chosen by Annie to accompany her on her final flight. Deep friendships from working together over the years were obvious.
Annie was the person who make all the pre flight announcements and various formulas to the crew to prepare for take off and landing. I realized this crew had accompanied her from Ireland and were returning for her final trip.
When we landed in Dublin you could hear the tears in her voice as she said all those familiar words for the last time. Then the Captain came on and told her she was not going to get off that easily. He spoke for about 5 minutes about her career and told us her family including her two daughters were on the flight to accompany their mom on this ending of her long career.
We made our long exit through the pane as it became empty and found in the front Annie - tears streaming down her face as she was hugged by passengers and crew. Then we stepped into the walkway to the terminal and found both sides lined with people in black uniforms with the yellow fluorescent triangles - not sure of their roll in the airline or terminal but they were clearly an honor guard for Annie as she would leave the plane for the last time as an employee.
Over the years I had never thought much of the lives of the crew but supposed it was not a life long job. It was heart warming to see the culture of caring and closeness that obviously existed in the crew of Aer Lingus and not just cabin crew but pilots and cockpit. It was a nice start to our travels in Ireland and Wales.
Annie - may your retirement be as full as ours has been.
Just before takeoff, the Captain came on to tell us this was a special flight, that after 37 years of service, this was the final flight before retirement of the Chief Cabin attendant, Annie (?). All clapped but that was only the beginning. Then all the crew were named as chosen by Annie to accompany her on her final flight. Deep friendships from working together over the years were obvious.
Annie was the person who make all the pre flight announcements and various formulas to the crew to prepare for take off and landing. I realized this crew had accompanied her from Ireland and were returning for her final trip.
When we landed in Dublin you could hear the tears in her voice as she said all those familiar words for the last time. Then the Captain came on and told her she was not going to get off that easily. He spoke for about 5 minutes about her career and told us her family including her two daughters were on the flight to accompany their mom on this ending of her long career.
We made our long exit through the pane as it became empty and found in the front Annie - tears streaming down her face as she was hugged by passengers and crew. Then we stepped into the walkway to the terminal and found both sides lined with people in black uniforms with the yellow fluorescent triangles - not sure of their roll in the airline or terminal but they were clearly an honor guard for Annie as she would leave the plane for the last time as an employee.
Over the years I had never thought much of the lives of the crew but supposed it was not a life long job. It was heart warming to see the culture of caring and closeness that obviously existed in the crew of Aer Lingus and not just cabin crew but pilots and cockpit. It was a nice start to our travels in Ireland and Wales.
Annie - may your retirement be as full as ours has been.
St. Brigid's Blessing
May Brigid bless the house where you dwell,
every fireside door and every wall;
every heart that beats beneath its roof,
every hand that toils to bring it joy,
every foot that walks its portals through.
may Brigid bless the house that shelters you.
May Brigid bless the house where you dwell,
every fireside door and every wall;
every heart that beats beneath its roof,
every hand that toils to bring it joy,
every foot that walks its portals through.
may Brigid bless the house that shelters you.
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