Author: admin

Fast forward to February 24, 1068. (Yes, I know that was a long time ago….) I had been flying flight #299/#90 for two months in a row. It was a killer trip to work—Leave La Guardia at 5:00PM, serve dinner on the way to Nashville, serve drinks to drinks to Memphis, then fly nonstop to Los Angeles. It had gotten to be a big joke between me and the agents in Memphis and every time I’d hand them the papers from the trip I’d ask “Where’s Elvis? Well, is he out there waiting for me tonight?” I had heard American Airlines was his favorite airline and I wanted to be his favorite Stewardess. This time it was different. The agent told me to block off three seats towards the back of First Class. I jokingly asked if they were for Elvis and his bodyguards? Jess told me they were. I didn’t believe him. Especially since this was my last flight through Memphis for the month. I figured he was just having fun with me.

I had started to deliver some coffee to the cockpit when the man sitting in the front row of First Class asked me why he had seen three men in plain clothes coming up the stairs outside the boarding ramp. As I leaned forward to see if I could figure out why there would be men in plain clothes out there. I heard voices coming on the airplane. I was bent over the F/C seat with my derriere sticking out in the aisle. I heard a man’s voice say, “Nice view.” I quickly stood up to look straight into the face of Elvis Aron Presley. I caught my breath but felt like I was going to faint. I managed to direct Elvis and his two traveling partners to their seats, hoping none of the passengers looked up and saw him.

I hadn’t asked Elvis what he wanted to drink. When I went to him, I asked, “What may I get you to drink Mr. Presley?” He was sitting by the window seat. He looked at me with a puzzled look on his face. “What did you call me?” he asked. “Mr. Presley” I replied. “No Hon, it’s just plain Elvis” he replied with that gorgeous smile of his. I smiled a huge smile and said “Ok, Just Plain Elvis what would you like to drink?” Elvis looked at Joe Esposito sitting beside him and stated, “We are going to have our hands full with this one.”

To learn more about this incredible flight and making and developing a connection between me and Elvis you will need to buy my book. I guarantee you…. you just might enjoy and be envious of my long, lasting connection with Elvis until his passing.

Beverly Golden Cuevas’ Behind Her Smile: The Adventures of a Tall Girl from WVA and Her Life as a Stewardess offers a rich tapestry of historical context, personal growth, and nostalgia. It traces the journey of Janie, the protagonist, from her modest beginnings in Parkersburg, West Virginia—a town marked by limited opportunities for women and above-average poverty rates—to her transformative career as a flight attendant.

The narrative starts with Janie’s early life, highlighting her transition from a stagnant job at a telephone company to the dynamic world of aviation, spurred by her best friend’s encouragement. Despite initial apprehensions about her height affecting her employability, Janie embarks on a career that takes her to numerous cities and introduces her to a variety of notable figures, including politicians, movie stars, athletes, and musicians. A particularly poignant aspect of Janie’s story is her interaction with Elvis Presley. Their heartwarming connection, forged during her time as a flight attendant, remains a memorable part of her life, enduring until Elvis’s death in 1977. Cuevas masterfully uses first-person narration to bring alive the 1950s, skillfully weaving together the challenges of the era with personal struggles and the journey of coming of age. The novel not only serves as a memoir but also as a vessel for valuable life lessons, such as perseverance and the importance of a strong work ethic.

Behind Her Smile: The Adventures of a Tall Girl from WVA and Her Life as a Stewardess offers insight into the demanding role of flight attendants, highlighting the extensive work and various challenges they face in ensuring passenger safety. This portrayal aims to garner appreciation and respect for the profession and the dedication of those who serve in it.

https://literarytitan.com/2023/12/07/behind-her-smile-the-adventures-of-a-tall-girl-from-wva-and-her-life-as-a-stewardess/

Being raised just above the poverty line in Parkersburg, WVA, Janie didn’t have big aspirations and dreams for her life. Yet moving to Columbus, Ohio changed everything about her including her name.

She was in a dead-end job at the phone company when a dare from her best friend took her to an interview to become a Stewardess. Fearful she would be rejected on sight because of her height; she was shocked when she was accepted to be the one out of 5,000 applicants who applied for the job.

A whole new word opened up to her. Seeing places she had only read about, spending time with politicians, movie star and professional athletes. One very special athlete, a professional basketball player named Wendell Ladner stole her heart with his southern charm. And extraordinary ‘connection’ with the King of Rock & “Roll (Elvis Presley) allowed her the unique experience to spend ‘one on one’ time with and remain in touch until his passing.