Most of the time, our lives diverge from what our childhood dreams were. If you had the opportunity to pursue the life you wanted as a kid, would you take it?
One woman got a second shot at fulfilling a longtime ambition when her path crossed with just the right person. Thanks to the combination of their bubbly personalities, she lived as her childhood idols for the day. That’s only one of the great parts of this story. The other wonderful effect is the happiness it brought to onlookers.
Tracy had always wanted to be a flight attendant.
She never got the chance to fulfill that goal though. Tracy lives with Down syndrome in California, and has always been fascinated by flight attendants and their job that most people do not know the full complexity of.
For a long time it had seemed like she would never get a shot to experience her dream. That all changed when she met Vicki Heath.
She befriended a flight attendant on one of her flights.
Vicki is a flight attendant with Southwest Airlines, and she’s been a pro at the job for years. When Vicki and Tracy’s paths crossed, Tracy got a chance to finally live her dream.
The two women became friends on a flight. According to Heath, it was Tracy’s positive attitude and smile that enticed her and made her want to get to know her more. Eventually, their conversation lead to Tracy revealing that she longed to be a flight attendant. With that, Heath knew she was going to help her out with it.
So, Vicki decided to make Tracy an honorary flight attendant for the day on a trip from Sacramento to Seattle.
In video posted to Twitter, you can see the moment that Tracy finally got a chance at what she always wanted. Tracy got all dressed up in her Southwest flight attendant uniform: including a red shirt, a special badge, and flight wings. Vicki met Tracy at the gate, and from there was ready to go.
Even before getting on the flight, Tracy was getting the celebrity treatment. In the waiting area at the gate, she was noticeable in her uniform, and excited passengers came up to her for selfies and well-wishes. They already knew she would be treating them to an extra-special flight experience and they were ready for it.
For everyone, this was a major moment. Vicki got a chance to help lift someone else up, and that is always a great feeling.
The plane was decked out with a welcome sign for Tracy and she was standing ready to greet all the passengers with a high five. Everyone was looking forward to this flight, especially Vicki.
It’s great to help someone just for the sake of it. But there’s no denying that doing good also makes you feel good, and that should be celebrated as well. The same is true for Vicki Heath. Heath tells CBS Sacramento:
“I feel like I’m living my purpose driven life, and that’s huge.”
A few other people got a chance to feel special on this flight as well.
Tracy’s parents were also on the flight. It turns out, that day was their wedding anniversary. The honorary flight attendant made sure to treat the happy couple extra special for their special day: she gave them a complimentary glass of champagne. Even more than that, her parents got to see their beloved child achieve a long-held dream. Her mother, Linda, explains:
“I just can’t believe that she gets the opportunity to do something she’s wanted to do.”
Everyone on the flight thought that Tracy did an excellent job as a flight attendant, and the whole experience was special for all.
For the duration of the flight, Tracy worked dutifully as a flight attendant. Part of her duties included checking on flight passengers and providing refreshments. She got to stride the plane aisles with the authority and command she always wanted, and it paid off.
This experience seems to be delightful and meaningful. When the plane landed and Tracy’s flight attendant duties were done, she received a round of applause from all the flyers she helped out. It must have been a moment she never saw coming in her lifetime.
Watch the adorable video below to see her full reaction!
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