True Tales of TWA Flight Attendants by Kathy Kompare and Stephanie Johnson

This collection of ‘flight’ tales is full of historical vignettes...such as "the look"... as in the nails, the hair, attitude, mannerisms, dress and grooming all hostess/stewardess/fight attendants (prior to the 80's) were expected to exude. I remember those days. My aunt began her career as a TWA stewardess in the 60's (one of the first black females to earn her flight wings). Our family adored her. She was gorgeous and so poised, which this book is an eye-opener to what her other experiences with TWA must have been like. 

Along with the sexual harassment (quite prevalent prior to the 80's), racial injustices directed at both flight attendants and passengers, by flight crews and passengers alike were just as prevalent. This was the not so nice part of being a flight hostess. Couple these harbingers with other rules; i.e., female flight attendants couldn't be married, have children, and had to leave the field by age 32, contributed to the challenges...what some might argue actually made this career so special…so admirable to see the best of the best who actually made it. As addressed in the very beginning, not everyone was suited for this career. To quote; “Becoming a hostess with TWA (once upon a time) was like getting accepted into Harvard.”

Overall however, this book, filled full of stories based on Kompare's and Johnson's experiences included some personal favorites; "A Christmas Lament" (cute poem)…and the “Slam clickers”(haha)! “Hey little mama” I as well enjoyed, and oh man, "Did I hear him correctly…” that one I won't easily forget!