Flying with the Rich and Famous: True Stories from the Flight Attendant who flew with them by Patricia Reid
Authors: Patricia Reid
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wasn’t drawn in yellow crayon. His outfit was, however, like yellow crayon—very bright and eye-catching, and, believe me, he caught everyone’s eye. He was dashing. Then he spoke to me in that delicious accent and it all came together,
Forget it, Sis, if the moon falls, I get first dibs!
He was exaggerated in every way. He asked for a cocktail right away and continued downing them one after another. Each cocktail brought him to an even more cheerful place. He was animated during our brief, delightfully amusing conversations. We had an easygoing repartee, and he was easy to please. As he drank, his accent became more and more pronounced and by the end of the flight, I could barely understand him.
But with the outfit, the hair, and the personality, I was loving life and grateful for the opportunity. He was the kind of celebrity that didn’t require much attention, and he was very considerate. I had a marvelous time flying across the continentwith him, and I secretly hoped to have the opportunity to serve him again.
And that I did, shortly after our first flight. When he came aboard, I could tell immediately that something was different. His whole demeanor had changed. There was no animation this time. He was quiet and reserved. Maybe he needed a cocktail, I thought. But when I asked him for his choice of beverage, he requested “fizzy water.”
What the heck is fizzy water?
I wondered to myself. He must have seen the surprised look on my face because he quickly explained that fizzy water is sparkling water. Oh, thanks for the clarification, maybe he’s just thirsty. Or maybe he’s preparing his kidneys for the upcoming festivities. I anxiously awaited the call for alcohol, but it never came. He drank only fizzy water. No alcohol at all.
He seemed much more “British” on this flight and a wee bit shy. There were no bubbly conversations—no bubbly of anykind. He kept to himself and was very quiet. I was bewildered. I really didn’t get it. Maybe his cat just died. Maybe the cleaners ruined his yellow coat. What had happened to Mr. Wonderful? It was very strange.
As I tended to the other passengers, I noticed Rod looking at me with a weird expression on his face. When I approached him, he began to chuckle. He seemed to know something I didn’t, and it quite amused him. I thought he was going to start drinking, but then he told me that he was on “week off.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean ‘week off?’ I asked.
He explained that he lived a week-on/week-off lifestyle: one week he drank, and the next he didn’t. Wow! Thank you! Mystery solved! I explained my confusion to him, and he broke into heartfelt laughter. I served him another fizzy water and went back to my role of fervent fan and first-class flight attendant. Now that I understood, he was the man sitting on the moon again (please Rod, gain some weight, so the moon will fall). Theduration of the flight was awesome. He was much more chatty and lively even without the alcohol. Polite and easy-going, he smiled at me a lot. I adored him. What a rock star role model Rod was.
DOM DELUISE
I love to rollerblade on the boardwalk in Newport Beach, California, where I lived, cruising along, listening to my music and inhaling the scent of the ocean and sand. One sunny day, just as I was lacing up my boots, I received a phone call. It was disappointing to have to stop what I was doing and pack a suitcase, but that’s the way this lifestyle works. When I read the manifest, however, I was happy to trade in my rollerblades for a set of wings. Movie and TV star Burt Reynolds had booked the charter for him and his friends.
Unfortunately, Burt was not feeling well, so we were told to monitor him without intrusion. We sat Burt in the very rear ofthe aircraft where he could have peace and privacy, and he was subdued for the most part.
One of the guests on this charter was comedian Dom DeLuise. Dom and Burt were best buds and often co-starred in various film and
Forget it, Sis, if the moon falls, I get first dibs!
He was exaggerated in every way. He asked for a cocktail right away and continued downing them one after another. Each cocktail brought him to an even more cheerful place. He was animated during our brief, delightfully amusing conversations. We had an easygoing repartee, and he was easy to please. As he drank, his accent became more and more pronounced and by the end of the flight, I could barely understand him.
But with the outfit, the hair, and the personality, I was loving life and grateful for the opportunity. He was the kind of celebrity that didn’t require much attention, and he was very considerate. I had a marvelous time flying across the continentwith him, and I secretly hoped to have the opportunity to serve him again.
And that I did, shortly after our first flight. When he came aboard, I could tell immediately that something was different. His whole demeanor had changed. There was no animation this time. He was quiet and reserved. Maybe he needed a cocktail, I thought. But when I asked him for his choice of beverage, he requested “fizzy water.”
What the heck is fizzy water?
I wondered to myself. He must have seen the surprised look on my face because he quickly explained that fizzy water is sparkling water. Oh, thanks for the clarification, maybe he’s just thirsty. Or maybe he’s preparing his kidneys for the upcoming festivities. I anxiously awaited the call for alcohol, but it never came. He drank only fizzy water. No alcohol at all.
He seemed much more “British” on this flight and a wee bit shy. There were no bubbly conversations—no bubbly of anykind. He kept to himself and was very quiet. I was bewildered. I really didn’t get it. Maybe his cat just died. Maybe the cleaners ruined his yellow coat. What had happened to Mr. Wonderful? It was very strange.
As I tended to the other passengers, I noticed Rod looking at me with a weird expression on his face. When I approached him, he began to chuckle. He seemed to know something I didn’t, and it quite amused him. I thought he was going to start drinking, but then he told me that he was on “week off.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean ‘week off?’ I asked.
He explained that he lived a week-on/week-off lifestyle: one week he drank, and the next he didn’t. Wow! Thank you! Mystery solved! I explained my confusion to him, and he broke into heartfelt laughter. I served him another fizzy water and went back to my role of fervent fan and first-class flight attendant. Now that I understood, he was the man sitting on the moon again (please Rod, gain some weight, so the moon will fall). Theduration of the flight was awesome. He was much more chatty and lively even without the alcohol. Polite and easy-going, he smiled at me a lot. I adored him. What a rock star role model Rod was.
DOM DELUISE
I love to rollerblade on the boardwalk in Newport Beach, California, where I lived, cruising along, listening to my music and inhaling the scent of the ocean and sand. One sunny day, just as I was lacing up my boots, I received a phone call. It was disappointing to have to stop what I was doing and pack a suitcase, but that’s the way this lifestyle works. When I read the manifest, however, I was happy to trade in my rollerblades for a set of wings. Movie and TV star Burt Reynolds had booked the charter for him and his friends.
Unfortunately, Burt was not feeling well, so we were told to monitor him without intrusion. We sat Burt in the very rear ofthe aircraft where he could have peace and privacy, and he was subdued for the most part.
One of the guests on this charter was comedian Dom DeLuise. Dom and Burt were best buds and often co-starred in various film and
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