A Pan Am stewardess shares her experiences

Shirley McMahan lived the life of a Pan Am stewardess back in 1955, and while the new ABC show "Pan Am" may look glamorous, Shirley sets us straight.

Back in 1955 Shirley said she wanted to see the world and decided to become a Pan Am stewardess.

"I always wanted to be a stewardess. I went to Ohio State for 2 years and I waited until I was 21, and then I applied to Pan Am," said Shirley.

At the time, there weren't many career options that fit Shirley's needs.

Shirley says "nursing and teaching, neither of which I wanted."

What Shirley wanted was to fly overseas, and because she spoke Spanish, she flew to Latin American countries.

Shirley got a big kick out of watching a "Pan Am" promotion where girdles were prominent.

Yes they wore girdles, but "we didn't have somebody slapping us on the rear end to see if we had one one!"

The job wasn't all glamorous, but Shirley especially remembers an overnight flight from Caracas to Rio.

"We were not allowed to sleep, while everybody else did, and in the morning, we made eggs," said Shirley.

Still Shirley says it was a wonderful time in her life and she "wouldn't give it up for the world."

She did give it all up after only 2 years, for something better, marriage. Now "Pan Am" is bringing back memories and some laughs.