Tag: airplanes

Goodbye, Chicago… I’ll miss you!

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I can still hear the “ding dong” alerting riders that the doors are about to close on the CTA train. I miss it already, even though just hours ago I was on my early morning train ride from downtown to the airport.

I sat tiredly in a daze on the Orange Line. I leaned against the window and looked back toward downtown—the buildings were dimly lit against the dusky mauve sky. I thought I’d realize my dreams in Chicago… and I guess in a sense I did, but I just didn’t think my time here would be so short. It was so, so short.

I made the decision to look back only once more. I turned my head and stared in awe at Willis Tower. I vividly remember sitting outside of what was then the Sears Tower as a 12-year-old, proudly holding my geography book as I posed for a photo to bring back to my seventh grade class as part of our “Where in the world has your geography book been?” project. And even now as a 31-year-old, that building never ceases to take my breath away, if only for a split second.

I passed Willis Tower every weekday morning as I walked from my South Loop apartment to Boeing’s world headquarters, and every evening as I returned home. I remember exactly how it looked at sunrise and sunset. I remember exactly how it looked in the rain and in the snow. I remember exactly how it looked in my “favorite light” (the golden hour) and exactly how it looked when clouds completely engulfed the structure from the tippy-top of its two antennas all the way down to the 80th or 90th floor.

I really love that building… and I’ll sure miss seeing and living within the Chicago skyline.

I was now about halfway to Midway Airport. I was loosely holding onto the luggage tag on my suitcase as I noticed it still showed my Chicago address. I then realized that our downtown St. Louis apartment will mark our eighth residence in eight years—Jeez Louise. But I’ve loved each and every place that my husband and I have together called home.

Before I knew it, we were pulling into Midway. It took me all of 20 minutes to get from my seat on the train to my seat at the gate, coffee in hand. After a last-minute flight change yesterday evening (from 6:50 tonight to 7:45 this morning) I was certain I’d get a boarding number in the C30-60 range, and was astounded to see A32 on my boarding pass. This told me two things, I’d get my coveted window seat and our flight would be really, really empty. Turns out we had a total of 45 passengers, meaning we had about 100 open seats and everybody got their OWN. ROW. Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about.

I hopped on board the pitifully empty Southwest 737-700, situated myself in seat A7, and waited for pushback. The MDW-STL flight has us airborne for a mere 45 minutes. Now for most folks… that’s awesome, but for me… I find myself wishing I had just a little more time in the sky. Once we hit our cruising altitude of 26,000 feet, we were up there for only 10 or so minutes before beginning our initial descent into St. Louis.

I’m of course so happy to have been able to get back to my new home ahead of Winter Storm Gia, but I hated having to leave The Windy City so hastily. However, my quick exit was so in line with how my one year in Chicago was… it was always go, go, GO!

I had visitors seemingly every other weekend, which helped make Chicago feel a lot homier. I took seven day trips to six new cities. I traveled to Florida once to see my dad, made it back to Minnesota several times to visit family and friends, and made one trek each to Los Angeles and Seattle. I explored so much of Chicago on foot, and even more of it on my bike. And that’s all on top of doing what I was there to do in the first place—work for Boeing.

Working in Executive Communications was fun at times, difficult at others. I worked mostly 10 hour days, but plenty of 11, 12, or even 13 hour days too. I was never truly unplugged… I almost always had my work phone in tow, and some days I found myself spending more time on my work computer than on my own iPhone. That’s not to complain, that’s just how it was… it was an adjustment for sure, but it’s an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world. I gained so much knowledge and so many skills. I made lifelong friends and I learned a lot about Boeing and a lot about myself. I’m so thankful for that.

I think my new adventure in St. Louis will be a bit more my pace, but only time will tell. Several of my coworkers told me they couldn’t think of anyone more fitting to work in the Boeing Archives… which is music to my ears and makes me that much more excited to start on my new team.

I’m really glad that I’m the type of person to go wherever my dreams take me… wherever life takes me. Not a lot of folks are fortunate to live that type of lifestyle, so I do consider myself extremely lucky. So, for now, here’s to fond memories of Chicago, new beginnings in St. Louis and following your heart. Right now mine is in the sky—literally and figuratively—and I couldn’t be happier.

Peace Out, 2018!

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My 2018 Top Nine

Wowzers, 2018 has been one heck of a year. As most of you know, I spent the majority of it in Chicago in my new job with Boeing. My brief stint in the Windy City was great, but living apart from my husband was—and still is—quite tough. I made the best of it though… by exploring new neighborhoods, making new friends and spending a heck of a lot of time out at O’Hare—my happiest place.

Looking back on the past year, I’m so glad I did all those things, and I’m really proud of myself for making it a priority to embrace being a Chicagoan… as I had no idea my time there would be so short.

A couple months ago, I was offered a position working on the Boeing Archives team—an opportunity that I truly believe would have been foolish to turn down. And even though it meant packing up and moving to St. Louis (even before my husband made it down to Chicago!), it felt right, and I’m all for doing what feels “right.”

So, this New Year’s Eve, I’m once again a Missourian—for those who don’t know, my first full-time job was at KCTV in Kansas City, so this isn’t the first time I’ve called the “Show-Me” state home. Having only lived in St. Louis for a few days, there are things I like an awful lot: rent is dirt cheap, it’s a bit warmer, I have my car back, there’s a lot of neat little neighborhoods and I’m quite fond of the arch AND the fact that I can see it from our ninth-floor windows. There are also things I don’t like at all: it’s SO spread out, it’s the most dangerous city in the U.S., it doesn’t have even close to the same vibe as Chicago…much less the awesome donuts and pizza that I loved to veg out on, yada yada yada.

But, one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned from my other half is to always make the best of things… and that’s exactly what we’ll do here together. I’m working for the greatest aerospace company on the planet, and now I get to truly embrace my inner AV geek and tap into my writing skills to help tell the story of this company that’s been going strong for more than a century—it’s a complete honor and privilege, and I can’t wait to embark on this journey with my family, friends and all of you fellow AV geeks.

Thanks for the support and here’s to another solid year of peace, love and airplanes!

Meet Me in St. Louis

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I’ve actually never seen “Meet Me in St. Louis,” but with my love of classic movies, and given it stars none other than fellow Minnesotan Judy Garland, I can’t believe I haven’t! More to come on that…

Today is important, because I’ve officially worked at Boeing for a year now. I’ve learned a lot about the company and the industry, and even more about myself. Living alone in a new city has been telling—sad at times, exhilarating at others—but I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.

To be honest, the last couple months have been really tough. The loneliness of living alone has really started to set in, and a few other things here and there had led me to feel a bit hopeless and unsure of what my future held. But I did my best to “keep calm and carry on” with a positive attitude… and that, coupled with the love and support of my family and friends, kept me going.

And believe it or not, as much as I love the city of Chicago and the amazing friends I’ve made here at Boeing World Headquarters—and despite having only been here for just more than a year—I’m moving on. Heck, I’ll just say it: I’m movin’ on up!

Well, technically I’m making a lateral move career wise… and I guess I’m moving farther south… but to me, this new adventure is a huge step up. In approximately three weeks I’ll be moving to St. Louis to work in the Boeing Archives.

I’ve always been fascinated by the history of The Boeing Company, and to be able to work with a team who shares that passion and in a building that houses and preserves such remarkable artifacts… it’s incredible. Man, I’m excited!

To add to that excitement, I’m currently onboard Spirit Flight 737 from ORD to LAX to celebrate my great friend Chris Sloan’s 50th birthday at the PAN AM EXPERIENCE! And… AND… this morning I got a call from one of my favorite people on the planet: my mentor, Benét Wilson. She said “I told you so…” with regard to my new adventure, and she’s absolutely right.

She DID tell me so.

She knew that despite my having to deal with some tough stuff over the past couple months, everything would ultimately work out for the best. And it did.

With that, here’s to perseverance, positivity and new adventures. Cheers!

If you never try, you’ll never know

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A year ago tonight—a Thursday evening in the third week of October—I sat at home with my husband in our downtown St. Paul apartment, frantically preparing myself for what I considered to be the biggest opportunity of my life. The next day, on October 20, 2017 at 12:30 p.m., I was to board American Airlines flight 2455 from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Chicago O’Hare—a 400-mile, 80-minute flight. Upon arrival, I’d board the CTA Blue Line, exit at Clark and Lake, walk one block south and five blocks west to get there… to get to Boeing World Headquarters to interview for a spot on the Executive Communications team.

You may have read my blog from last November, proudly announcing I’d be moving myself and my two cats to Chicago to work for the greatest aerospace company on the planet. It was such a bittersweet time in my life—I was following my dream, but leaving my friends… my family… my husband… I was leaving all of them behind in the state I called home for 28 of my 30 years of existence. Lucky for me, I had a rock solid support system then—luckier yet, I have that same rock solid support system now.

While it’s been tough at times, everything about this experience has made me a better, stronger person. I’ve met incredible people and learned incredible things about the aerospace industry, the world, communications… and I’ve even learned some pretty incredible things about myself. It’s been one heck of a year, but I wouldn’t change a thing.

A few highlights:

  1. I live a hop, skip and a jump away from the second-most-connected airport in the world… it’s truly an aviation enthusiast’s dream! To say I’m out at ORD often may be an understatement.
  2. I got to visit Boeing’s Everett factory for the first time in my life. It’s an overwhelmingly huge, city-like building where incredible, beastly machines are built to connect people and goods across the globe. So. Flipping. Cool.
  3. I met one of my best friends, and her amazing partner. You know how sometimes you just connect with someone, and you immediately feel the goodness in their heart? That’s how I feel about this person—she’s a remarkable human, and one heck of a communicator.
  4. I reunited with one of my best friends… someone I went to high school with and someone I’ve always had a special bond with. She handed me an extra stick when I dropped one of mine while drumming in an emo band more than a decade ago, and today, she brought my doodle to life to create a legit logo for The Great Planes.
  5.  I started traveling by myself. I find cheap, same-day, round-trip flights to new cities and I go explore. If you have the capacity to do that, I highly recommend it as it’s helped me to break out out of my anxiety-ridden, introverted shell, and meet new people and build a sense of confidence I never thought I’d have.

Coming to Boeing taught me that following your dream is worth it. Even though being in a new city is tough, adapting to a new lifestyle can be stressful and learning a new routine can be really, really hard… it is worth it. I’m a very, very lucky girl… and I cannot wait to see what the future holds.