This weekend was a whirlwind of craziness. It all
started out Thursday I worked a shift at the JFK airport from 4pm to 4am. I got off work and packed the car and drove
12 hours to get home for Tina’s birthday. I surprised Tina for here birthday, she didn't think i would be home once again. It was great to see her and the girls event though it was just for the night. I got up the next day on Saturday and got 2 new tires on the car because
I got a flat on the way home of Friday L. At around 2 pm I finally was able to get on
the road to drive to Miami. It took be
just a bit over 8 hours, then I worked all-night and got off around 830 am. So to sum it up I drove 1300 miles in a few
days, and I had 2 days that I was up about 30 hours at a time.
I had 2 instances over the weekend that really made me
thankful for my past experiences in my so called past life. I think that I am blessed to have them and
most women would never have the chance to have them so in a lots of ways I feel
very lucky.
On my way home Friday I had just passed into North Carolina
coming from the JFK airport. I was
driving along and all of a sudden I get the dash lighting up that I have a flat
tire. I pulled off at the exit that was
coming up and pulled into a gas station figuring that I my need air in a
tire. I got out and my left front tire
was leaking air pretty good and had a bulge in the side wall. My 1st thought was what a way to add to my
already long day being up for 24 hours already.
So I go inside and the gas station and get a nice cold Pepsi and use the restroom. I come out to the now flat tire. Here is where my past experience comes to my
rescue. Back in the day as I call it I
used to work for my Uncle in a tire and wire rope shop. A flat tire really doesn't intimidate me in anyway. I get down to business; pull the
spare tire out of the trunk and all the implements that are packaged nice and
neatly with the spare tire. I notice
that there are 2 older gentlemen sitting on the curb outside of convenience
store watching me, as I am getting ready
to jack up the car they come over and ask nicely if I need help. From what I can see on there faces its is mostly because I am woman and for sure can’t change a tire. I politely say oh no thanks I can get it,
they walk away and sit down to watch just knowing that I have no idea what I'm doing. In about 10 minutes I have the spare on and everything packed away, and I didn't even get my shirt dirty. They were in shock J I just look at them and smile and get back to my trip home. I am thankful that my VW had a full size
spare being I had 320 miles left to drive home.
My Second experience happened when I got down here in
Miami. I have been sent down to help our
other Loadmaster Camille out. I got in
really late around midnight Saturday and checked into the hotel and headed out to the
airport to watch the operation. I am
really just counting on observing the operation and learning how they do things. When I got to the airport I was met by
Camille who was very panicked because the plane was do in around 5am and the
cargo build crew was short handed by about 4 people and had only build 6 out of
18 pallets needed for the flight. At the
rate they were going there was no way they would get it done even by departure
time. Once again here is were my previous past life came to the rescue. About
8 years ago before transitioning I ran a warehouse that built and broke down freight
for a cargo airline. I have a vast
amount of experience in that area, and again you would never expect a
woman to have that. I went to the lead
of the crew and asked if he would like help, he was very stressed out and agreed
to let me help. I could see in his and his small crews eyes
that they was very apprehensive. I figured that my efforts would be best used by running the forklift and building up pallets. Needless to say they were shocked that a
woman could run forklift much less build freight like I could. I build faster than one of their seasoned
workers was even though I was well out of practice. After a few hours we got everything all
built in time for the flight. I ended up building 1/2 of the freight for that flight. Once again I am so thankful for my previous experiences in life.
After a few long days now I can rest and relax and start to explore Miami a little bit.
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