My Day With Lufthansa Steward:
The gate agents allowed me to board the plane along with first class passengers as I was traveling with kids. I said “yay” to myself and boarded the plane. Went directly to my seat but still did not notice him. Kept unessential luggage in the overhead cabin while thanking my heels for helping me to do it myself instead of asking any flight attendant’s help. Kept the luggage which had kids books, in front of my legs. Then, I asked my kids whether they want to use restroom. My daughter said ‘yes’. The restrooms were at the tail section of the plane and I couldn’t walk directly from my seat to the restroom as few passengers were on my way. So I had to walk around center seats. I’ve illustration to go along with this content, but the website won’t allow to add pics.
Even on my way to the restroom, I was still unaware of his existence. I couldn’t open the restroom door, just murmured to myself – how to open this?. Out of nowhere, he came up to us with twinkle in his eyes along with an attractive smile. He did not say anything. Of course, I might have said “thank you’. My first thought was – whoa, I totally forgot about attractive European stewards being on international flights….flight is going to be an interesting one. [First clash]
Not sure of how long he watched me? Not sure of when and where? How did he know that I needed help to open the door? The smile on his face was like there was some kind of understanding, like as if he knows me.
Strange thing is when I went back to my seat, I never even thought about him or tried to see him. Basically there was no curiosity. And then for a second, I thought about leaving Texas, going far far away…felt good about it, which was quite opposite of how I felt when I left for California in 2009.
We settled nicely for an hour or so…but still, no thoughts of steward in my brain. I don’t even remember of him walking to the galley to serve drinks. He asked me – what can I get for you ma’am….sort of that way. I said, “What do you have to offer?” It sounds flirty but prommmmisssse, I did not plan. Before my international journey, I read it on the internet about how to ask flight attendants of what all drinks they are offering. In the past, I always asked for orange juice… so this time I wanted to know what all they have to offer.
The moment, I uttered “what do you have to offer?”, I saw him rolling his eyes with a smirk on his face and that’s when I thought – oh God, is he thinking that I’m flirting with him? He spilled out the long list, but only one thing, I heard loud and clear – RED WINE. Well, I never had inflight wine. Along with the wine, he served pretzels. [Second]
Few pretzels were heart shaped. I saved one and carried it over to USA after two and half months of abroad trip, only to lose at home in US. Waaah!!! picture me weeping. Totally crying…cursing myself for losing.
And then maybe after an hour, stewardess started serving meals. There was a confusion about who should get the special meal. I said, I’m not sure whether it belongs to me as I did not book the tickets. While I was talking to her, even though, he had nothing to do with it, he tried to overhear the conversation. [Third]
My daughter couldn’t open the cheese wrapper and then I tried, I couldn’t open either. So, I told her to take his help if he walks by. He was so kind and gentle in talking to her. He sat down next to her and with a smile, said “Hmmm…let us see.” I couldn’t see his face as I was in the middle seat, but when he uttered those words, we all just laughed. He opened the wrapper pretty quickly. It looked like I set it up, but again prommmmisssse…I really couldn’t open. I’m assessing the scenarios…so, no reason to lie. [Fourth]
After sometime, my daughter has started working on educational worksheets….her pencil broke. To my shock, both of my kids packed new pencils without packing a sharpener. So, I told her to ask him if they carry sharpeners but ask only, when he passes by. So, she asked, he said politely, “No”. [KINDA FIFTH]
After few hours, lights were switched off, me and my daughter went to use restroom. Even though my heart was pounding in anticipation of interaction, I stood there in the waiting line. But he did not come from the galley. I checked myself in the mirror and did not like the way I looked…doubted myself about him liking me.
Along with kids, I watched Matt Damon’s “The Adjustment Bureau”. After that, we tried to sleep. Once he walked past my seat, but did not look at all. A sign of no thought about me.
But then, when we woke up, lights were on, morning sunlight was hitting the windows. I saw his bright face and thought within myself – did he even sleep?.. How come he is so fresh? He was handing out hot facial napkins. Every time he looked at me, I used to feel a familiar face with expressive eyes, which are trying to say something. No look of urgency or distraction or frustration, but total attention with eye contact, like a slow motion video. Always with a smile, totally keeping eye contact with 100% undivided attention like as if we both know each other from long long time ago [Sixth]
After sometime, stewardess indulged herself in small talk with the front row passengers. He stood behind her. And the whole time, I watched him, just admiring and thinking of how fresh and bright his face is. That prolonged admiration might be the reason for me to remember his face even after months of separation. He never even looked at me, even though he was right in front of me. They were all speaking German(I guess) and he said something to his colleague and laughed about something while pushing the cart and was about to pass my row, I turned towards left, facing upwards to see him one more time and there, I caught him watching me once he passed my seat. You know, what that proved, that he was conscious of my existence. [Seventh]
Why Cranberries song “Dreams”, suddenly started playing in my head? Is my brain trying to say something about him? When I tried to find the meaning of this song’s lyrics, this is what I came up from SongMeanings.com site:
“I’m not sure exactly what this song means, but I think it’s about falling in love with someone unexpected. Like, you never thought you’d fall for this person, but it just happened and the amazing thing is that, they like you too. 
”
God, I’m trying my best to be in reality but I just love the moments I had with him. Even though, I try to avoid, but the moments run in my brain over and over again. Is it to keep him alive forever? Wish God bugs him with my face and the moments he had with me. Hope he kept me alive in his thoughts.
Well, let us get back to that day. After sometime, they started serving again. And he started serving drinks. I asked for an orange juice to go along with breakfast but I still had my headphones on. My daughter wanted to try tomato juice. This is when things started kind of becoming serious. When my daughter asked for tomato juice, I heard him speaking…so, I removed my headphones. He came closer to my face, showing off his beautiful big eyes and started saying in a soft voice, “You should try tomato juice with salt and pepper.”. My heart started beating fast…timidly, I said, “It’s not for me. It’s for her.” He said, “well, I’m just letting you know. Some prefer with salt and pepper.” Holding my breath with a half smile, I said, “Well, thank you!” [Eighth]
During my trip back to US, I noticed flight attendants offering salt and pepper with tomato juice without mentioning it has an option but totally as go-to thing along with tomato juice. Well…that explains – he tried hard to make some kind of conversation.
I want to see him. I want to hear his voice. Wish I could see a video of that moment. God, is it real? Did it happen? Did I dream about the whole thing? How can a person miss, just like that in this huge world? Not a trace of him anywhere, other than in my thoughts. I see his face – crystal clear. Those eyes, the way, they came closer to me. The voice, which was like a gentle breeze, just swept me off the floor. Wish he keeps me alive in his thoughts. Wish, the whole thing has some meaning in his life. Wish he won’t play the same tricks with everybody. Wish me and the moments with me are unique in his life.
Back to the story! Now, time was approaching for us to arrive in Frankfurt. He was the one who was collecting headphones. Once, I noticed that he was the one who was collecting, I quickly made my kids to be ready with headphones, so that, he won’t have to wait. Many times, I have observed in movies due to nervousness, people rush whatever-they-were-trying-to-do, pretty fast, in front of their crush. Why do people rush? Well, I did the same. He came to us to take our headphones. He gave me a smile for which I returned a nervous smile and unwrapped myself from the blanket and handed over the headphones . I was so ready to give off the headphones, but my son apparently was not. Totally with nervousness, I tried to untangle the cable, pulled it harder to give it off to him. He was patient. I saw his face filled with a sly smirk but did not know the reason behind the look. The look of some kind of excitement was all over his face, no poker face and that’s when he leaked his age to me. That’s why I think, he is in his early twenties. They are the ones, who just can’t hide their feelings/thoughts. It’s all just open. I remember having “National Geography Bee Book” beside me(just a side note).[Ninth]
Within few minutes, he was back on his way to the galley, but something surprising and amazing happened.
While crossing my seat, he looked back towards me and stared for the whole time with expressionless face until he reached the curtains of the galley. Easily ten seconds of uninterrupted stare. I was like what’s happening. I stared back with a questionable face and lip synched with a shy smile and said, “what?”, but he just stared without any expression. I questioned myself that his stare might have been somewhere else – inspecting some flaw of the aircraft but from my angle, it looked like he stared at me. Recently, after reading few flight attendants websites, I came to know that flight attendants are very conscious about passengers observing them. Once he entered the galley, he adjusted the curtains. For a longtime, he was there in the galley. I did not know whether to act on it and fool myself. I was not brave enough to go and talk. Totally, no guts. Well, now, if I think of it, I know the reason of why his face was filled with excitement when he came to pick up the headphones as he saw the unpicked food tray still being there. So, he thought if he gives a signal, I may come over with an excuse of helping with the trash. Usually, that’s what many youngsters do, but I turned out to be a DUD. What surprises me is my attitude. Usually, when someone watches/stares at you, natural tendency is to unlock the eyes, but here, in that moment, I behaved like we are well acquainted with each other – for me to stare back at him and question him by saying ‘what’ is almost like two known people trying to act on something behind the back of others. That shows that we both kinda know about each others intentions. Wish he has the same understanding of how I still miss him and still think about him and want to meet him again.[Tenth]
When he came back from the galley, while he was about to pass my seat, I said excuse me and passed the tray and did not even say ‘thank you’ as he said in a sort of sarcastic/frustrating way, “well, how did I forget to pick this up?” Everything happened so quickly that I did not get a chance to see his face when he uttered those words. After few seconds, it crossed my mind that maybe he wanted me to pick up that tray and use that as an excuse to come to the galley and talk with him. Even now, I would have not taken any step….it was risky to believe in a stare and to go and talk with a stranger when I’m so ignorant of how flirting/dating world works. Just no courage/belief on myself! [Eleventh and FINAL]
That’s it over, my plane saga. While waiting in the line to get off from the plane, I turned back couple of times to see him, but I couldn’t see him. It was over. Right now, Adele’s song “Someone like you” lyrics is playing in my mind…”Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead”
Will our paths ever cross again????
I even contacted Lufthansa to help me out in finding him:
Hi,
Please see the attached file which is a sketch of the flight attendant whom I met on LH 441 flight who was genuinely unbelievably good with me. I would like to interact with him again. I did not get a chance to speak or say at least “bye” or “thank you” as he was at the tail section of the plane. Please I beg you to pass this message to him. My heart says and believes that he would be extremely happy to get in touch with me. If he is willing to interact, please pass my email id. I would really like to know more about him. Please don’t hang me out to dry, just let me know if you were able to reach him or able to identify him. I beg you not to ignore my request. Lufthansa is lucky to have him. He was always smiling, welcoming and helpful without showing not even once a dot of tiredness on his face during our ten hour flight. Even on my return flight too, flight attendants were so helpful to the boy who was in need. She was totally like his mom, helped him out without getting irritated by his complex situation. Kudos to your service and cleanliness. I really enjoyed flying on Lufthansa.
Lufthansa replied by saying:
Thank you for your correspondence regarding your recent experience. In an industry where customer satisfaction is essential to our success, we are grateful to have received your comments.
It is our goal to impress the customer at every touchpoint with professional courtesy and we are always pleased to learn of successes like the one you describe. Your comments have been preserved for review by management in an effort to maintain our high standards of excellence.
Your feedback is especially valuable because it helps us keep in touch with your needs and it gives our team members plenty to smile about. We look forward to the opportunity to welcome you onboard in the near future.
Sincerely,
Lufthansa German Airlines
A good friend of mine informed me about this site. I highly doubt about him coming here and checking.
Crazy to the nth degree, a youtube video: http://youtu.be/yoI4QeW0eI0
I don’t want to believe in “love at first sight” or destiny or anything of that sort. I strongly believe that something is wrong with “current status of mind” for people who fall into these kind of patters until my own personal experience contradicts by notion, but for now, this is how my mind is working.
As our anniversary is approaching fast, I composed a letter to him.
Mein Lieber Freund,
You’re still in my heart, still in my thoughts and I still remember our moments. I want to say ‘Thank you’ for giving me the best day of my life. I still remember like as if it has happened yesterday. Believe it or not, on June 7th 2011, I felt magic in the air – about something good is going to happen….kind of optimistic but did not know what for and never fantasized that it will come in the form of you. I’m basically happy-go-lucky girl, but due to many years of not-so-happy-moments took away the original me but after the day I met you, I sensed the inner me. I felt like, I found a part of me in you – the happy one, the one who wants to believe in the things she sees, blurt out exactly what she feels and share anything or everything with the person she adores without fearing of any backlash. Even with all the pain of not able to see you, ever again, somewhere deep within me that happiness of meeting you is still there…it wants to come out, wants to believe again… just waiting for you to show up. You cajoled me with your mannerisms and awakened my inner soul which was in a dormant state for long time. I just want to feel the happiness I felt after meeting you – the effortless instant smile, the inner glow, the real unhidden facial expression. I just want to meet you one more time, to hear your voice, to see your happy-to-see-my face look. You almost barged in my life by indirectly saying “Hey! Come on, wake up! I’m here” which made you special and memorable. I hope, I left something with you which made you feel special and made me memorable.
Year long, I came across numerous blogs about Flight Attendants glamorous, adventurous life and infinite possibilities of meeting beautiful people. I sketched away our tender moments because I did not want my memory to fade way.
I read countless missed-connection stories and felt my story too will sound nonsensical and will remain just-a-phase. I even read “Power of Now” to understand in depth of what causing me to feel the way I feel about you. The book mocks my feeling for you as a mere ego status of my mind. I even heard inner voices saying that I’m a fool to think that you still remember me or give importance to our encounter. I even know that too many high expectations lead to disaster, disappointment.. and very well aware that nothing in this world lasts forever – people come, people go and everybody is easily replaceable. Yes, I even know, guys just flirt for fun and there are plenty of fish in the ocean. Whatever it is, in the midst of all these negativeness which puts me down, dictate me to get away from your memory, but the truth is you gave me, an immense effortless joy, hope and reminder of my how I wanted that one special person who can make me feel special. Whenever I think about you, all I can see is your smiley familiar face looking deep into my eyes assuring me, by saying “hey, I’m here for you”. I really can’t believe myself that I am not able to find you when my belief of finding you for sure is screaming within me and on top of that, whenever I lose hope, your smiley, sense-of-belonging face appears. Plenty of times, I acted out in front of the mirror like as if you were watching me and I was like lip synching “what?” with a shy smile….of course, that led me to tears. I’m not expecting anything from you, other than acknowledging the special feeling you bestowed on me and good deed of yours is well appreciated. I see you in every flight attendant, in any plane related news, in every young, happy, charming, bright guy. I see you in every plane in the sky -looking through the window. I see you especially in look alike Jude Law’s oil painting portrait:
Wish our meeting was something meaningful and productive. Wish it was much more than just a mere coincidence. One thing I truly wish from bottom of my heart is, if we ever meet again, you and me should react, the way we were on June 7th 2011 – indescribable chemistry with familiar glance and happy-to-see-you-once-again.
Wish you were not my past but my future. I wish you best of luck! Hope all of your dreams come true! Always be merry! ich vermisse dich! Wish you remember my existence! If ever telepathy world really exist, it will lead you to this webpage. Whatever that makes me believe in us and gives me the feeling of sense of belonging, if truly exists, we shall each other again in future.
One republic song “Secrets” is popping up in my brain.
This time, don’t need another perfect lie
Don’t care if critics ever jump in line
I’m gonna give all my secrets away
Your Awaiting friend
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