My Bird's Nest ...

  

Next morning, as a new day had broken through the last images of darkness, stretching voluptuously in the white sheet, I had found myself so refreshed and alive.

Dawn had brought to me a sharp sense of purpose, given me its urgency as I had wakened up into a clearer reality.

The second chapter in the book of my American life was about to be written.

I had qualified from the demands of the job as the probation period had ended. Simultaneously I had been granted the stamp of approval from my French family. The power behind entertaining my own destiny felt like it had become my exclusive right.

Thus my heart had found tranquillity.

I had considered these moments of solitude in the apartment as pure luxury, whenever they were, during the whirlwinds of my first months living in Manhattan.

With precise movements, restoring order to the sofa-bed and finding the privacy of a long and warm bath as the most wonderful spot of heaven on earth, I had followed the train of my thoughts with a body freshly cleaned and delicately perfumed.

The morning rituals had cleared the leftovers of nocturnal clouds.

Propped up with self-confidence, I had realized that the contours of the coming months had materialized themselves through my accrued seniority.  As soon as I had reached that point, I knew I would be able to bid for a run.

Good bye to the long and frustrating hours of waiting and looking at the black telephone to ring!

Good bye to the agonies of insecurity, not knowing from day to day where I would be commanded to spread my wings!

I had now become the proud owner of the “little brown “book, the most important one at that in the even bigger book of my life in America.

My bible and faithful servant which was TWA’s own one hundred pages and into which all policies were clearly written, paragraphed, witnessed, signed under the following:

“ …Agreements  between Trans World Airlines, Inc. and the Flight Attendants in the service of Trans World Airlines , Inc. as represented by The Air Line Stewards And Stewardesses Association, and Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO… “

I had deeply engrossed myself into its reading, to understand the language terminology based upon the American written law.

This was serious business.

Leafing through it, there were naturally some chapters that were more interesting than others as this one:

“5. Awarding of Run Selections:

(a)        Run selections shall be awarded in accordance with seniority and posted. Every effort shall be made to post the run selection awards within 48 hours after the time and date of the closing of bid preferences…”

With this information at hand, I had counted the days until the next month’s deadline which would allow me to place a bid. Those were the days when internet or mobile phones hadn’t made their dramatic entrance yet. Let alone a computer. Everything written by hand in huge logs and for me, it meant to move and travel to JFK airport.

There at the TWA operations offices in hangar 12, at the scheduling offices, was the strategic place to learn how to write a bid, to select and finally attest the international run I would be awarded.

Fully aware I needed more time as to be rewarded with my first choice, nonetheless I could envision the month ahead and depending upon its outcome, able to weigh between the several options on where to find my own lodgings – for later!

Oh…The joys of anticipation before the final moments when I could build my very own bird’s nest. At long last, my personal landing platform into which to find the peace, to brush the exhaustion out of my feathers!

Knowing where or when I would fly next month had given me the incentive I had been looking for and, with adrenaline kicking, I had followed the energy inhabiting me.

I was ready to make the next move, as soon as my next month’s selections had been confirmed.

A matter of time now…

I am waiting for the posting of run selection awards ...

Deep attention is required...

Patience...

"I'm youth, I'm joy, I'm a little bird that has broken out of the egg."

                                                                      - Sir James M. Barrie -