Flight attendants have a secret language — and here’s what they’re saying

1. 'Senior Mama'

An affectionate term used to describe veteran flight attendants.
As a newbie, I had heard horror stories about flying with the "senior mamas."
When I discovered I’d be flying with Blanche, a no-nonsense veteran who never smiled, I was scared. But I listened and asked questions.
By the end of the trip I knew not only how to perfect my drink cart but also how to cook rice in the coffee pot.
“Here,” she said handing me a strange utensil at the end of our last flight. “You’ll never need another piece of silverware in the air again.”
And I haven’t. I’ve used my spork — half spoon, half fork — on every flight.