Author gives insight to life in the skies
Some writers wait for inspiration to find them. Some have routines they follow in order to ensure that spark of inspiration will light the fire in the creative furnace.
In Bobbi Phelps Wolverton’s case, it isn’t a matter of waiting for inspiration. It’s a matter of going out and finding it.
“Eager to taste adventure at age 23, Bobbi Wolverton became an international flight attendant.”
This is the beginning of the description on her latest book, “Behind the Smile: Sex, Humor and Terror During the Glamour Years of Aviation.”
Behind the Smile is a collection of short stories, detailing Wolverton’s time as an international flight attendant.
Wolverton is from Darien, Conn., and eventually made her way west, all the way to California.
After graduating from The University of California at Berkeley, Wolverton began her career as an international flight attendant in 1965 with World Airlines.
“It was a more innocent and glamorous time of travel,” the description goes on to say.
In fact this is a time period that is romanticized, when passengers dressed formally and everything seemed to be just fine.
But there was another side to the job during this time period, a less glamorous and at times dangerous side.
“I flew for six years. Part of that time was flying into Vietnam during the height of the war.” said Wolverton.
Wolverton writers about the worst flight she had ever been apart of in the story G.I.’s On A Rampage.
The flight was from Hawaii to the Philippines and the passengers were soldiers headed for Vietnam.
The senior flight attendant from the flight that brought the soldiers to Hawaii from California warned Wolverton about the soldiers and how drunk and rowdy they had acted.
“We got on the plane and the passengers were drunk military men.” said Wolverton. “The difference was that there was no officer on board.”
A lack of a formal authority figure on the flight caused the 180 men to act crude and extremely inappropriately towards the flight attendants. The men groped and verbally abused Wolverton and her crew, and there wasn’t anything that could be done but wait for them to fall asleep.
Wolverton also recalls in the book how strict the qualifications were for a flight attendant at that time.
Stewardesses weren’t allowed to be married, couldn’t weigh over 135 lbs and had to be between 5 –foot – 2 and 5 – foot – 8.
Along with harrowing stories of flying through war torn countries, which occupy roughly the last third of the book, Behind the Smile also contains delightful stories about Wolverton’s travels through Europe and Asia.
She writes about events such as Oktoberfest in Munich, Bull Fights in Spain and even a horrible first date in Hawaii.
Wolverton is one of 45 members of the Authors Guild of Tennessee and is currently working on her sixth book, Sky Ranch, about living on a remote ranch in Idaho.
Her other works include Black Empress, Fly-fishing Always and Saving Frankie.
All of her books are memoirs, giving readers a look into her life, which has undoubtedly been an adventure.
Bobbi Wolverton now lives in the Loudon area with her husband.
Wolverton and fellow authors from the Authors Guild of Tennessee will be at the Lavender Festival in Oak Ridge on Saturday, June 16.
You can find out more information on her website booksbybobbi.com.
