A Star is Born...
Scary as it may have seemed, brave as I was, self-confident as I felt, I believe I mastered each and every one of the initial stages pertaining to my advancement as a Purser.
I must also ascertain my lovely reader that none of the above was exteriorized. I appeared calm and extraordinarily strong to anyone with whom I came in direct contact with.
Knowing I had all the qualities to perform, I went ahead as if I had done this all my life. I oozed with a wonderful energy that I was careful to hide.
From crew briefing to boarding to fullfilling my new duties, from one end, high above the Atlantic, either East or Westbound, to the final de-briefing, back at base.
Upon my first P/A announcements, I did follow the written instructions dutifully, in a quiet fashion, stressing on my diction so that I would be clear. The emergency drills are important and my voice had the necessary inflection. Not too dramatic but enough for people to catch their attention.
I knew it was at that point I could really make a difference and , by God, I loved each second !
But quickly, it dawned on me that half of the cabin paid absolutely no attention, no matter which tone my voice played...
Yes! And with this sharp awakening to a sad reality , I , myself, felt that I had become bored by the mechanicality of it all... at the same time I had observed how desinterested a flight audience I had.
I became afraid to appear too "stereotyped" thus lose the passion for it.
Improvisation had begun its tickling and imagination had come to my rescue.
After a couple of flights, I had thrown away the book . I knew it by heart. After the usual life-saving announcements, which were given with the proper dramatic gravity, I had switched elegantly over to the ' free' text.
My own.
The witty part.
In several languages depending upon our destination.
Listen to me.
Hear the reaction.
I had the passengers'attention.
Hello there! Are you with me ?
