Well originally I wanted to be a flight attendant because I wanted a bigger life.

I wanted lots of life experience I didn't want to be at the same desk

Everyday. I wanted to travel. I wanted to go to as many places as I could.

In the airline business I can't think of a better airline to work for.

People ask "oh you're a flight attendant" and then of

course the next question is "who do you fly for?" And then when I say “Alaska”, of course on the West coast

it's just "aww I love Alaska Airlines. They're the best Airline, I would take them everywhere if I could!"

I just have a lot of pride in working for this company.

"How are you guys doing today?"

"Great, Thanks!"

"Everyone is all settled. Oh do you like Dinosaurs!" "I love dinosaurs!"

My name is Dixie and I am a Los Angeles-based flight attendant And as my friends know, or as I like to say

"A Burbank based flight attendant" because Burbank is one of our co-terminals and it is my favorite airport to fly out of.

I was originally hired

in 1986 by a small

California-based airline called Jet America. Jet America was

started in 1981. Ut was an elite little airline. It had

8 airplanes and a lot of very enthusiastic employees.

I knew it was going to be such a good fit with Alaska Airlines when

they

purchased us in 1987 and we merged

and it's been Alaska Airlines ever since.

I had a great upbringing. I can't say one bad thing about it.

I grew up in a smaller town

suburb of Kansas City. It was different times.

We would play outside all day and as long as we were home for supper that was great.

My parents did instill in me a great work ethic. It plays into my life every day

and right through into working for Alaska Airlines.

I admire them both very much and I was raised with "do the job, be there,

you can make a difference each and every day". I am very comfortable working Alaska

because one, it's a wonderful airline and I love the people here.

I think they're very special.

I have seen a lot of changes

over the years just in the airline business

and even in our small corner of the world

at Alaska Airlines, which has grown to not be such a small corner anymore.

But when you fly with me, I hope that you leave

thinking this person likes her job; she likes to have a good time; she likes to laugh.

Mostly, I hope you had a nice flight

and if you are a crew member, I hope you had a good time and you look forward to flying with me again.

Being a flight attendant is a lifestyle. It's

a way of life. It becomes your family's way of life

When I interviewed and was hired for this job,

they make it very clear there are no holidays in the airline business.

When you interview for this job and they explain that to you.

You understand but you don't really understand what it means

and then you have little people counting on you that makes it even more

different but that's just part of the job and it's not

for everyone.

The hardest part of mom being a flight attendant was probably

the extended period she'd be away even though in general I would say that

she wasn't gone for that long.

If, you know, three days at a time so it's a while compared to

families where Moms are home all the time. Well when you're gone you don't always

know what's going on at home -

good or bad - but we do have video in our archives

of Christmas day, 1995

and my two children sitting at the kitchen table

with their father videoing them, my daughter sitting in her undershirt

at the table crying because she has to eat her pork chop.

And in the background

you hear my son who is five years older laughing his head off.

He just thinks it's so funny they make you smile yeah

and I look at the date on that video.

You look at it and it warms our heart and we think "this was their Christmas?"

Where was I and the turn was I on a three-day? What was I doing?

What's great about my mom is that she really just kept this family

Together.

And ties them together whether it's picking up extra Flights or

sacrificing a couple of flights just for us.

She really just holds this family together.

It's hard, you know, when you give some time way,

but in the exchange you get so much more back. Your kids may not know that Christmas Day is

December 25th

or that the 4th of July is

on the 4th of July, but your family adapts and

it's a

small price to pay to be able to be home

as much as I am and

it's been a good life for us and for my family.

My name is Dixie I'm a Los Angeles slash

Burbank-based flight attendant and I'm proud to be a 27-year

Employee at Alaska Airlines.