Calming Thanksgiving Afterthoughts From Maison Steinbuchel

Thanksgiving is an emotional holiday. People travel thousands of miles to be with people they only see once a year. And then discover once a year is way too often. – Johnny Carson

The day before Thanksgiving is one of the heaviest travel days of the year.  This true of all modes of transportation, but none more filled with tension than air travel.  During my years in air traffic I worked many of these days.

From the inside, it was serious business.  I arrived to take my position at the radar in the Los Angeles Center with coffee at hand, my mind focused and with a bit of apprehension for the task at hand.  It was fun and awesome at the same time.

Those days were also days of honor, where I could serve the travelers of this nation, even the world, so they could get home to be with family and loved ones.  I was aware of what was at stake:

• hugs and tears of welcome
• reminiscence with family and friends
• reminders of those no longer with us
• grandparents seeing grandchildren, perhaps for the first time
• and perhaps some reluctant endurance of bad memories

Whatever awaited at the end of each passenger’s voyage, we did our best (really) to not add to the stress of the travel.

Sending Thanksgiving Afterthoughts

Today, I have to admit, I don’t miss the tension and stress.  Yet, neither do I regret having served in this way.  As I said, it was and honor.

This BLOG posts the day after Thanksgiving.  The video above is to provide you a moment of peace, respite or even escape, if needed.   To reflect on your own Thanksgiving Afterthoughts The Music is from David Cullen (not the one I am married to).

So from Maison Steinbuchel we sent our warmest prayers for a day filled with peace, good food, and fellowship, wherever you may be.  For those serving our country in the military,  public safety, air traffic or any other civil service, we send our thanks.

If you are serving in some way away from friends and family, please let me know in the comments below.  I want to thank you personally.   If not, where are you spending your Thanksgiving this year?