Two weeks ago I was traveling back to Greensboro, NC from Altoona, PA where I conducted individual interviews of key leaders in a Gastroenterology group prior to facilitating a team retreat. I had never done that before (the interviews on the same day as training) and felt it gave the afternoon session a boost in value so I could gently highlight some sensitive issues the team was experiencing in fun, light way.

While in the airport at State College, I was feverishly summarizing some of the material from the flip chart papers so I didn’t have to drag multiple sheets of paper on the plane with me. As I packed up my gear and headed toward the doorway I noticed this cute lady all decked out in her flight attendant outfit with shiny white hair….

I just had to ask her a question, “Hi! I’m curious, how long have you been a flight attendant?”

I was shocked with her answer. She said, “Oh, about six months.”

I replied, “WOW! How cool, is this a second career?”

She said, “No – it’s more like a fourth career.”

I asked if I could take a picture of her and learn more…

She said, “Sure, let’s walk on together and where are you sitting? I said, “7A” she said, “I’m at 7C maybe we can sit together in the back.” With that we shuffled to the very back of the airplane and had six seats to ourselves where I spent the next 40 minutes learning and listening.

This is her story:
Forty one years ago, she had a dream to be a flight attendant. She put that dream in a box and began her career as a seamstress. Her first big gig was a menswear designer for Ralph Lauren based in Canada. Her career was taking off when she met a football player who was a former Penn State star that had turned down an offer from the Green Bay Packers. He was now playing for the Canadian League where they were both attending a charity event. They dated and he asked her to marry him.

Her answer? “No.”

She thought about her career and it was just beginning, she felt that she would have to follow his career if she married, so they parted ways. He went on to play in the NFL for 16 years. Mary Ann went on to design clothes for Pierre Cardin for many years and then her career shifted to Disney and Warner Brothers designing children’s wear. The last leg of her fashion journey was designing liturgical items for the Catholic Church.

In 2009 she found Bruce Clark on Facebook. They reconnected and a romance was reignited. He was divorced from his second marriage and had seven children. She had never married….at least not until 2009, she finally said “Yes”

Mary Ann always wanted a big family but God didn’t bless her with that ability. Now, she has seven! After being married a few years, she decided to follow her dream of being a flight attendant. Bruce was fully supportive and realized that retirement didn’t suit Mary Ann’s personality. Creative, Helpful, Vibrant…three words I would use to describe my new friend as I sat on the back of the plane, taking notes on my iPhone.

As her story unfolded, I couldn’t help but think of the parallel’s of my life with hers. My mother was a seamstress and opened a shop on State Street in Greensboro, NC called SEWphisticated when she was in her 40’s. Mom followed her passion. One of my favorite and most challenging clients was Ralph Lauren where I worked with one of their leaders conducting two different leadership retreats. I’m 50 and following my passion for coaching, speaking & professional development. My grandmother Freda Hunt played the organ at her church in West Virginia until she was 91….age is just a number. Mary Ann didn’t let her age stop her and wasn’t afraid to take risks to follow her dream of becoming a flight attendant.

Back in the day, she was 5’8” too tall, she wore contacts, so her vision wasn’t 20/20…two qualities required at the time to be a flight attendant. In the past several years, requirements have changed…the timing was right. She’s 63 years old and told me, “I love my life. I get the bubblies when I think of him.” Moments later Bruce called her on the phone. I sat in awe of this amazing woman and thanked God for bringing her into my life.

Blessings to you today and be willing to follow your dream to be a catalyst for positive change in your life.