The biggest thing I’m thankful for is Mary. The next would be my children, then alcoholics anonymous. By the end of AA we were starting to become a family again.

I’m grateful for United Airlines for hanging with me.

When I was 30 I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I could be a Mechanic anymore because I couldn’t hold the tools. I had to give up being a Mechanic and I would need to work in the shop.

The union and I worked on good terms. I didn’t like them; I didn’t like what they did to people. Anyway, I was out of a job. I snuck into the union office looking for a job but they said: “sorry, can’t help you.”

So here I was with five kids and no job.

But a friend of a friend called someone and the next morning the manager called me and told me that he had a job available as a clerk. He told me it wouldn’t pay much but I could work my way up.

So I went back and became a clerk for maintenance manuals. I did that for about two years and then I became a scheduler. That person hands out the jobs to the shop. Then I went on to become a planner and started making better money. As soon as I became a planner they told me I had better get into alcoholics anonymous. So I did.

I think united for a lot, because they put up with a lot. I had a good health plan from Kaiser. Damn! I’ve been lucky there!

Mary’s a nurse at Kaiser, and I’ve always had good doctors there. I’m grateful to Kaiser because they have kept the walking and out of bed.

I didn’t get hurt on my attention when united went bankrupt because I didn’t make enough money. The people who got hurt the worst were the pilots and the higher-end managers. I wasn’t up high enough for you to hurt me.

If I had it to do over you again I would go to college. If I had to go into the service I would make it a career, but that career as an officer! It’s much easier as an officer.