Pilots have bromances..not the typical male in his early twenties, chest-bumping, jager-bomb frenzy, 'I crashed my car' bromances (ok - maybe initially) - but more of the no matter what, no matter where, no matter when - 'I have your back' bromances.
You see pilots are a special breed. I have met a lot of people that are dedicated to their jobs, but I have yet to meet an accountant who crunches numbers all day, then rushes home to have a braai with other accountants and afterwards, to unwind, loads up a quick PS3 simulator game of 'Accounting wars' or "Start your own accounting firm". Pilots are what some may call obsessive about their chosen line of work - whether they care to admit it or not.
So it makes sense that along their career path they make friends with other pilots who go through the same training, the same crappy hour building job in some African bush hell-hole, the same struggle to get onto a bigger/heavier/better aircraft etc etc These guys work (live) together, drink together, braai together, frequent awful hole-in-the-wall night clubs in places after weeks of cabin fever together. These experiences bond people differently to the 'we went to university together' friendships. Some of the things that happen, or that one sees in Africa.... it's hard to explain to someone who has never been to the likes of DRC.
As careers progress, the special bromances remain as they move across the African continent and/or the world, get married (or not), have kids (or not). The wives and girlfriends of these pilots come to accept that these bromances exist and that their houses are always open to certain people. That if a particular individual calls needing help - they will get help from you and your family - it doesn't matter if you had prior arrangements or if it suits you or not....there is an unspoken agreement between husband and wife that these bromances are quintessentially family and we do anything for family.
Eventually for many girlfriends and/or wives, this aviation-family attitude rubs off. It is why one will often find pilots wives readily accepting 'new blood' into their circle when a member of the bromance meets 'a new chic'. There is an understanding of their boyfriends/husbands careers, their schedules, their training and the 'pilot lingo'. So when someone new arrives on the scene, who wants to cry on someones shoulder because her partner has gone back on tour, or because he failed his ATPL, or he didn't get the airline job because he falls short by 3hrs on the requirements....there really are not many people to talk to who will understand what on earth you are saying - bar other pilots WAGS. By the way - for some reason - partners of pilots seem to always know about aviation, in detail. Unlike people who for example may have a partner in engineering but has not one clue about what their partner actually does.
Friendships for those with partners in aviation can be tough - people often don't know how to class you...the friend who perpetually appears single at every event yet is not, the one who doesn't fit into the singles party scene but whose partner is never present for couples events. Readily available when their partner is away but who seems to disappear when their partner is home. You quickly become the Odd one out with a capital 'O'. Sometimes we are lucky enough to find special individuals who have nothing to do with aviation, or careers involving such strange set-ups - yet they understand...these people are true blessings but few and far between. It is therefore very necessary to take care of the relationships within the aviation-family - those who you do not need to explain anything to because they are in the same situation.
My husband has two very special bromances - both equally hazardous and incredible. Both now live in far off lands, one with a gorgeous family, the other - no doubt still using his French accent to charm the ladies. One we hear from sporadically (in true pilot fashion), and the other - well - he calls a little more often...and after he's done running up a long distance phone call I sometimes get to speak to his wife...a woman who will always inspire me - for her adventures in life, her mental prowess, her ability to raise a family in pretty much any country in the world without skipping a beat, the list of reasons is endless really.
Maybe I struck gold - but I'm really grateful for my husbands pilot bromances - they are, in all honesty, family.
No comments:
Post a Comment