Here comes a rant...

Being the wife of an airline pilot is challenging. My husband is gone for 3-5 days at a time. Since he doesn't have a whole lot of seniority, he is on call and has to be at the airport within 2 hours of a call if he hasn't gotten advanced notice. He has to work holidays, including this Christmas. Since there was a blizzard in the middle of the country, he and his crew and fellow travelers were stranded. Now the problem is compounded by the fact that many of his fellow pilots have called in "sick" and they are having trouble getting holiday travelers to their destinations. His fellow pilots (with more seniority) have also complained because with the furloughs at the airline they now have to work four day work weeks instead of the 2 and 3 day weeks they had prior to our American economy tanking. I think his colleagues need a serious reality check. Unemployment is over 10%. They make salaries close to six figures a year with generous benefits. A little gratitude for being able to work in an industry that is doing everything it can to survive even in the best of times and empathy for their colleagues that have not enjoyed the benefits of longevity with a company as well as holiday travelers trying to get to spend time with friends and family-now that is the true spirit of Christmas. Bah humbug to the pilots that called in sick and feel entitled!