October 3, 2010
A Few Words
Portland Firefly was out-of-town last week for my friend Chris’ funeral.
I flew down to California and was picked up by my oldest childhood friend. We visited in the car as she drove me to my Brother’s house near a beautiful Southern California beach . Each of the three days that I was there, I made a short visit to my elderly Aunts home.
School friends of mine live near my brother so they picked me up and I rode with them to the city where the Rosary service and Funeral were to be held. They were the most beautiful Rosary and Funeral that Portland Firefly has ever attended.
Many of our school friends were there also and it was really so good to see all of them and to get caught up on our lives. At the end of the Rosary service , they asked people to get up and say something about Chris. Well, no one got up right away and there was a little pause and then I heard my name called by the surviving spouse. He wanted me to say something. And I wanted to say something; only I didn’t particularly want to be the first one to do so.
But, as happens in those cases, one pulls oneself together and goes to the front of the church for the sake of the family. Fortunately, I had printed up a copy of the post that I wrote on July 21, 2010 about Chris being one of my heroes, and stuck it in my purse!
Wearing a teal floral top, I started off by introducing myself and telling the importance of my teal top. Do you remember that teal is the color for the Ovarian Cancer Ribbon? Well, not many present at this service knew that, so I was pleased to be able to inform everyone of the importance of teal. I then read my article. The family was very appreciative and I know that it meant a lot to Chris’ husband.
And so Portland Firefly had yet another opportunity to do a little bit of Ovarian Cancer awareness – all with the family’s blessing – while honoring her memory at the same time.
September 25, 2010
Stand On One Foot
A few weeks ago, my Son and his Wife and my 2 1/2 year-old Grandson were over at my home. We had to look up something on the computer, so we were all in my office. Since the adults were ‘computer screen’ oriented, I thought that I’d give my delightful grandson a little ‘something to do’ while we adults were occupied. I know that he loves to ‘jump’, but I didn’t want him jumping in my now crowded office, so I thought of something else that he might be able to do.
Recently I have started taking Tai Chi lessons. One of our exercises is one that is designed to improve our balance. I thought that this would be an easy and fun exercise for him to do. The exercise consists simply of standing on both feet and then raising one foot so that all of your weight is on the foot you are standing on.
Well, in my haste to give him this little exercise, I simply stated, “Can you stand on one foot?” After giving his Nonni a perplexing look, I repeated the request. “Honey, can you stand on one foot? It’s Ok, you can do it.” Once again he gave me that unusual look and then promptly complied by putting one of his little feet on top of my nearest foot and then putting his other foot on my foot as well! His look said “Is THAT what you wanted me to do, Nonni???”
There you have it! Yes, he could stand on one foot! He could stand on one of my feet with both of his!
I am still laughing!!!!! And I can hardly wait for the day that he will read this delightful story about himself and the pure joy he gives to his Nonni who loves him with her whole heart.
September 10, 2010
September 11, 2010 ~ Rembering 9.11
Tomorrow is September 11th. 9 / 11
Where were you that day? How was your world changed?
At the time, I was an active Flight Attendant for a major United States carrier. Yes, one of the ones that lost planes, crew members, and passengers. And no, I did not know anyone on board any of those historic flights and even though I lived in NYC for a number of years, I did not know anyone who was murdered in the attack on our country that day.
I was at home between flights thinking about packing for my regularly scheduled flight the following morning when the phone rang before 9:00 am. It was my Mother calling to the midwest from her California home. She did not greet me with “Hello.” But her anxious voice said my name, and then,”Is that you? Are you home?’ Then with audible relief in her voice “Oh, thank God! Are you alright?” I was puzzled and probably replied something like “Yes, I’m alright. Why wouldn’t I be alright?”
She then said “Don’t you know what is going on?” I said, “No. What is happening?” My mother then asked if I had the TV on. When I said, no, she told me to turn it on. When I asked her, “what channel?”, she said, “Any channel.” I watched the attacks in unbelief trying to wrap my mind around what my eyes were seeing…. trying to process the visual information that just didn’t want to process mentally. To this day, when I watch the documentaries of the attacks, I still cannot totally comprehend the magnitude of the events of that day.
It reminds me of my reaction to the plane crash in Sioux City, Iowa years earlier. Over and over I watched the news reports trying to imagine the horror inside that plane as the plane tore apart while on fire . You will recall, many passengers survived finding themselves alive in the tall Iowa cornfield that graced the runway. The cool moisture of the tall cornstalks may have had a beneficial effect on the flames. Remember that whenever the fuselage of a plane ruptures you are provided another possible exit; take advantage of it. But believe me, no Flight Attendant will have to tell you that!
The attacks of 9/11 were very well planned . I know that they were in the planning for many years and a lot of money was spent in their careful planning. I am convinced that I had six of the terrorist/hijackers on at least two different flights of mine and that I personally spoke to at least 4 of them on separate occasions during their reconnaissance flights prior to 9/11. A chilling retrospective thought.
The first time was out of Florida. This small-in-stature middle eastern man was a passenger in coach sitting about seat 10A on our MD-80 aircraft. The flight was moderately light, about half full. At that time we were still serving drinks and meals in coach! After we finished the meal service, this man told me that he was in flight school in Florida and that he would like to go look around the cockpit.
When I inquired what type of aircraft he was training in he replied that he was going to be a Captain on a 767. I found that almost unbelievable knowing how much our Captains have to go through in order to become qualified on the wide-bodied aircraft. And the years of flying that were needed for them to become senior enough to hold a Captains bid with the major air carriers.
I politely told him that I would check with the Captain, but I knew the answer even before saying I would check with the Captain. I asked him for his boarding pass so I could present it to the Captain and I remember his unusual name –Hani Hanjour. I remember the conversation well, because it was such an unusual request. Sometimes we would allow children to come to the cockpit during flight when there were none of the security cockpit restrictions that are now in place. After making the Captain aware of the request, I told the man that he was welcome to stop by the cockpit after the flight to visit with the pilots. He never did stop by the cockpit. I confirmed that he was Hani Hanjour from the photos I saw later of the terrorists.
The other incident occurred out of Newark, probably in early August, 2001. You will recall that one of the 9/11 flights departed from the Newark airport. There were five middle eastern men on my Newark-St. Louis-San Francisco flight; three in the rear of coach, one near the front of coach, Marwan al Shehhi, and one in First Class. Same type of airplane – an MD-80. I was working in coach and three of them had seats across from the back galley, but were very interested in the boarding process. They were standing up in and around the rear galley, blocking the aisle to the rear lavs and just generally “in our way”.
I recall that there was a lot of conversation ( in Arabic) between them and again, this is behavior out of the ordinary, so I remember it clearly, even several years later. All of them did not speak English and finally one of them asked me if there were still passengers coming on board. I told him that we still had twenty minutes before departure. With a very concerned look on his face, Mohammed Atta asked me if the “flight was going to be full? ” I remember replying very matter-of-factly, “We are always full, if not overbooked out of Newark.” He replied something like, “even on Tuesdays?” I said “Every single day, every flight I’ve ever worked out of Newark has been full.” He was very concerned by this bit of information and it prompted more intense conversation between the three men.
You will recall that 9/11/01 was a beautiful warm late summer Tuesday. Even during the recon flights during the summer of 2001, they already had the date of September 11th established.
The rest of our conversation went like this: He (Mohammed Atta) asked me about other American carriers out of Newark that flew to San Francisco. I told him that I just didn’t have that information and that they would have to check another carrier. I now firmly believe that it was my comment to Mohammed Atta that prevented the loss of one more American Airlines plane and crew. I believe that my remark “Every flight I have ever worked out of Newark has been full.” caused the terrorists to rethink their plans and change from American Airlines to United Airlines. I am sorry though for the terrible loss of crew and passengers of the United Flight 93 that the terrorists hijacked out of Newark. By the way, United Flight 93 was also scheduled to fly from Newark to San Francisco which is the same route that my flight took the day I had the terrorists on board for their recon flight.
Mohammed Atta was the ringleader terrorist and the reconnoissance flights in August , 2001 were their means of finalizing their terror plot.
You will recall that September 11, 2001 was a bright and beautiful Tuesday. This means that they had their plan in place MONTHS before the actual attacks. He actually asked about the loads on other air carriers and I told him he could check, but I had no way of knowing how full other carriers were on certain flights. You will recall that all of the hijacked flights were carrying very light passenger loads.
One of the men I spoke to on this flight was Mohamed Atta, the terrorist pilot who flew American Airlines Flight 11 into the first World Trade Building Tower.
Hani Hanjour was another of the terrorist pilots; he flew the American Airlines flight 77 into the Pentagon.
Marwan Al Shehhi was one of the terrorists on my Newark flight’ he was the pilot that crashed the second plane, United 175, into the second world trade tower.
I never used to turn my TV on in the morning. Now, I turn it on most mornings, just to get the news.
I will fly my large US flag on 9/11. It is a day we need to honor our country and those who lost their lives.
Will you please fly your flag also?
September 7, 2010
A Bit of Opera!
“On Saturday, April 24th, the Opera Company of Philadelphia teamed up with the Reading Terminal Market Italian Festival for a large-scale “Flash Opera” event! Over 30 members of the Opera Company of Philadelphia Chorus and principal cast members of LA TRAVIATA performed the famed “Brindisi” in the aisles of Reading Terminal Market, entertaining hundreds of Philadelphians, and proving that the perfect accompaniment for all things Italian is a little Verdi! The Opera Company sincerely thanks members of the Opera Company of Philadelphia Chorus and cast for generously volunteering their time and talents.”
To enjoy this bit of ‘Market Culture’ click on the following link…. Be sure to turn up your speakers!!! Oh, by the way, this song is known as the ‘ drinking song’ from La Traviata. That is why several cast members are raising their cups of cuppachino or coke while singing! “La, laaaa, la la laaa, la la la la la la la la laaaaa.”
August 26, 2010
Back to Writing
Hello! I’m back at the computer today… and I have so much to tell you that I do not think that I’ll really be able to get you caught up in the next month!
I’ll try to give you a little synopsis of what has been going on.
This summer, Portland Firefly took not one, not two, but three trips and when you add the little trip to Branson in April that makes four trips in about four months. No wonder I am tired!
My doctor did say that when I went off of Chemo the end of February that this next year could possibly be my best year ~ so I took that to heart and scheduled several trips.
The first one to schedule was my annual Harmonica Convention which was actually the last trip I took in August.
Then my girlfriends were going to spend a week in Paris and knowing that I wanted to go there ‘again’, they invited me along. At first I refused because they were going to be in Paris the end of July and the beginning of August ~ the very hottest time of year ~ and the height of the tourist season (I hate tourists) and also the time of full passenger flights (I travel on standby). But as the summer approached, I changed my mind and decided to go with them in spite of all the negatives. And I am glad that I did because I had a fabulous time!
Then, after I had scheduled these two trips (and fairly close together because the dates were dictated by others), Portland Firefly received notice that there was an annual Ovarian Cancer Convention in Washington, DC. I was granted a scholarship to pay for part of my convention expenses and so I went to that one as well!
Three big trips in a six-week span. That might be enough to wear anyone out! But there are lots of stories to tell and hopefully I’ll be able to share some of them with you. And pictures!!! I took 600 pictures on my Paris trip so I’ll be sharing a few of them with you.
August 13, 2010
Perseids Meteor Showers
This is the time of year for the most famous and most reliable of all meteor showers. The Perseids. They are visible from almost every part of the United States and tonight is the night of maximum ‘events’ to watch. Look to the North East sky.
When Portland Firefly was a child, every year during the ‘dark of the moon’ in the month of August, we would take our Family vacations camping in the great outdoors of the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains. We had a very special campground that we would retreat to and there were several wonderful cold water trout filled lakes nearby. I loved these vacations in the fresh high altitude outdoors surrounded by the beauty of God’s nature.
And it was usually when were sitting around the campfire roasting marshmallows or on the dark nighttime drive through the desert that my little child’s eyes would look for all of the ‘shooting stars’ in the darkness of the milky-way night sky. I was never disappointed.
This meteor shower gets the name “Perseids” because it appears to radiate from the constellation Perseus. An observer in the Northern Hemisphere can start seeing Perseid meteors as early as July 23, when one meteor every hour or so could be visible. During the next three weeks, there is a slow build-up. It is possible to spot five Perseids per hour at the beginning of August and perhaps 15 per hour by August 10. The Perseids rapidly increase to a peak of 50-80 meteors per hour by the night of August 12/13 and then rapidly decline to about 10 per hour by August 15. The last night meteors are likely to be seen from this meteor shower is August 22, when an observer might see a Perseid every hour or so.
And so this childhood ritual continues with tonight being the night of greatest ‘shooting stars’.
Be sure to make a wish!!!!
August 10, 2010
Shopping Miracles
Well, I have always had an affinity for finding just the right thing when I go shopping and today was no exception. Only today (as I have done on other occasions), I told God what I needed to find before I went into the store.
Well, how amazing! Or, maybe not! I was able to find exactly what I was looking for and on sale, too! On top of that during my eight stops today, I found a parking place in the shade of a tree seven times. My black car really liked that and so did I when I climbed back into it after completing that errand! Oh, the eighth time I found a spot right in front of the door to the store in a parking lot that had no shade!
August 9, 2010
Today is Her Birthday
Today, August 9th is my Mother’s birthday.
She passed away several years ago and whenever I see this date, I can’t help but to think of her. She was a vibrant, intelligent woman who lived life and enjoyed herself. There are times when I really miss her, but I think that as the years have passed by, I have resigned myself to her absence. But there are times, usually when my son and grandson are doing something really cute, that I wish she could be here to see that. She would be so proud of both of my children and I know that she was… They loved her so….
August 6, 2010
Travel Size Deodorant
I know this is a strange title for a weblog post, but that is what this is about –travel size deodorants.
While getting ready for a recent trip, I looked in many different types of stores for a travel size of my favorite deodorant. Since it is a ‘all natural’ product, I even searched the pharmacy sections of my local health food stores . No Luck. Oh they carried the regular size, but the TSA allowable 1 quart bag per passenger is so tiny and I have so many things to put into it, that I needed the smaller travel size so I could fit everything into that TSA allowable bag.
In desperation, I called the product’s toll-free phone number. The customer service representative was very nice to me and informed me that stores rarely stock that travel size anymore. I groaned. She said that they do have a few in the warehouse and that she would be happy to send me one. I gave her my address and was about ready to get off the phone when I realized that it would not arrive in time for my trip. She then offered me what I consider to be the worlds greatest kept secret and a super travel hint.
She told me that I can ‘make my own’ travel size if I have an empty container to put it into. I told her that I did. This is what she told me to do.
Take what is left in the bottom of the deodorant container and microwave it for just a few seconds. I found that 5 seconds was enough. Be careful, It can be hot and spill easily! Then you just simply pour the now melted deodorant into the smaller travel size container. Let it set for a few minutes and you have now made your own travel size deodorant!
It was so cool, money saving, convenient and best of all, I get to use my favorite deodorant when I travel.
August 1, 2010
Ezra
Portland Firefly finally arrived at the Portland Airport after spending two days in the Dallas terminal trying to get on a flight home. Since my travel was standby, I had not arranged for a ride to pick me up and bring me home, so I decided to take the Max.
I love the Max; Portland has a terrific public transport system and I always enjoy watching the humanity on the train. This trip was no exception.
Leaving the airport, I visited with a businessman who is an expert on tumor marker blood tests. I had just come from a conference where we had a session devoted to this topic. What are the odds of that! After he got off at his stop, I just enjoyed the ride for a few minutes until the train stopped for the passengers at the Zoo.
In the dark tunnel that is the Max’s Zoo stop, onto the train bounded Ezra. He was so full energy and so talkative that I was a little concerned. But he was a very likeable young man, 20 something , with a wild, messy ponytail of dark soft almost curls sort of sticking out everywhere. He started talking to me — telling me how he was taking the train to Wilsonville where he planned to hitch-hike to Bend to gather his belongings. As his story goes… his friends took all of his stuff to Bend and refused to bring it back to him. All of his clothes, his (probably meager) possessions, including his wallet with his ID in it were in Bend. This talkative, small in stature, compact bundle of energy told me that he had quit smoking two months ago and he was very proud of this accomplishment. He went on to comment that he didn’t realize just how improved his health was until he had to run several blocks to catch this train, yet he was not the least bit winded. I complemented him on it as well.
He had all of his things in a ripped plastic bag that he had set on the seat between us. I couldn’t help but to notice it and I wondered if the tattered plastic bag would make the trip without spilling its contents all over somewhere.
We continued to visit about things that mattered to us. He asked about my cancer and told me that he knew of two young women who had a type of gynecological cancer. He then added that he would never consider marrying either one of them. A family was too important to him. It mattered not that they might be beautiful, employed, and wonderful in every other way; he would not consider them. He then went on to tell me all about his name ~ a biblical one ~ and about his parents, both his adoptive as well as his biological ones. I was shocked at his piercing comments to a stranger regarding such personal matters, but he probably figured that he’d never see me again and he is probably right. This openness only added to his likability and charm.
Earlier that morning in Dallas I had packed a plastic bag into the side zipper of my carry-on suitcase. “One never knows when one might need an extra sturdy plastic bag,” I told myself. Well, I was almost home and I knew that I would not be needing that bag. I reached into my carry-on bag and withdrew the untattered, untorn piece of recyclable material and offered it to this interesting young man. He was happy to have it because it did look as though his ‘suitcase’ might not make the trip all the way to Bend.
We parted at the next stop wishing each other well.
July 29, 2010
An Airport Greeting
Two weeks ago, while trying to return home to Portland, all of the flights were full. Since Portland Firefly travels on standby status, this meant that I did not get on several flights.
When that happens, you just go to the gate where the next flight to Portland is leaving and you sit and wait there to see if you can get on that flight. Well, while doing just that, I started to visit with the people across the aisle from me as they were in the same situation. During our conversation, I heard someone say my name. I was perplexed because I had not yet shared my name with these people and I couldn’t imagine who would know my name. So I turned toward the voice.
There was a thin grey-haired woman looking at me and wearing a striped two-toned teal tee-shirt with a teal blue jacket. Well, since I was just returning from my Ovarian Cancer Convention where everyone wore teal, I immediately thought that she was one of the convention attendees. By the way, Teal is the color of the Ovarian Cancer Ribbon (now you know), wear teal!
Seeing only the teal top she was wearing, I asked her, ”Were you at the convention?” Her puzzled expression caused me to desperately try to place this face standing above me. She then said “I’m Eleanor.” It took me just a second looking at her face, seeing my own blue eyes looking back at me, when I realized that it was my cousin whom I have not seen in 8 years.
I rose and hugged her immediately – astounded by the coincidence that God had afforded us. I quickly explained to my neighbor travelers that she was my cousin and neither one of us knew that the other would be here at the airport today! Writing this, I am still amazed at the coincidence. The Dallas Fort Worth Airport is HUGE with four different terminals and hundreds of gates. This airport is so big that there is a monorail system (yes, like Disneyland) to take you from terminal to terminal! She was leaving from a nearby gate and for some reason, she recognized me from a distance! That amazes me also, but she explained that even though I was wearing a turban, my facial features were still recognizable (even after 8 years) to her.
She had taken Amtrak from her hometown to the airport and was on her way to attend a music workshop with her sister, who is also my cousin. All three of these sisters were/are accomplished musicians and Eleanor plays numerous instruments at church as well as for weddings and other events. My two cousins will be attending a string (violin) workshop near where her sister lives in California.
Well, we sat and visited for the few minutes before she had to board her flight and it was a wonderful serendipity. We both stood up as her boarding group was called and hugged again. Then, the solid Christian woman that she is, she grabbed both of my hands in hers and said that she wanted to pray for me before she left. She reads my blog and has been praying for me all along, but we were not going to miss this personal opportunity to pray together. We just stood there holding hands as she prayed a potent prayer for my healing from cancer. I was not self-conscious or embarrassed by this or anything and felt very honored that she would pray for me. At this point in my life, if people don’t like something, too bad for them!
We then hugged again and said our goodbys as she walked toward her gate.
What a wonderful gift to meet her at the airport!
July 27, 2010
My Favorite Plane
During all my years of flying, I was safety qualified to fly as a Flight Attendant on about 10 different aircraft. That may not mean much to you as a non-airline person, but it is a big deal to Flight Attendants. For instance, Southwest Airlines only operates one type of aircraft, so their Flight Attendants only have to be safety qualified on that one aircraft, a Boeing 737.
In order to be safety qualified to work a particular piece of equipment (aircraft), you must first learn all the safety features of the airplane. No big deal, you say? No, it isn’t if you only have to learn one aircraft; but for every aircraft that you are qualified on, you must take a FAA safety exam and pass the exam with a grade of 90% or better. And you must do that every single year, not just one time. In thirty-five years, I’ve taken a lot of FAA exams and passed every single one of them ~ many with a grade of 100% . Don’t ever think that your Flight Attendant is a ‘dumb blond’! Many women that I’ve flown with over the years had Bachelor’s Degrees, Master’s Degrees, Doctorate Degrees and even culinary Cordon Bleu Degrees. It was quite a varied and multi-talented work force.
The comprehensive FAA exam covers items such as the location and pre-flight of fire extinguishers (and don’t get mixed up with the next aircraft or you’ll fail), door operations (There are 5 different types of doors that I can think of just off the top of my head after being retired for 5 years!), operation and pre-flight of oxygen bottles (two different kinds), safety and medical procedures and emergency evacuation procedures.
Portland Firefly was hired by TWA, the premier United States Flag Carrier Airline. This means that TWA had the flag emblem of the United States emblazoned on the tail of each of their aircraft. Pan Am (Pan American) was the only other carrier allowed to have the flag of the United States displayed on the tail of its aircraft. Because you are supposed to light any flag if it is flying at night, the tails of every single TWA airplane had a light on them at night. We were the only carrier in the world to have aircraft with a light on its tail at night. It was really cool to be watching planes land and even when overseas or from a great distance, you could tell which aircraft were TWA’s because of the tail light. In some ways that tail light was a beacon that said to me “You’re home.”
Some of the aircraft that Portland Firefly was FAA Safety qualified on are: Boeing’s 707,727 stretch, 727 regular,747,757,767; Lockheed’s Constellation & 1011; McDonald-Douglas 80 regular and stretch, DC 9. Within each category, such as the 747, there were many different configurations due to the fact that TWA would purchase aircraft that were originally ordered by another airline to that airlines specifications and would therefore have a ’different’ safety locations from those of our TWA aircraft. We had two MD-80s that we purchased from Alaska Airlines and they were set up completely differently from the TWA configuration including Galley location and equipment.
I was originally hired by TWA to work the new 747 Internationally because I was fluent in a foreign language (not Spanish). I did love the 747, but eventually that beautiful aircraft became the workhorse of the fleet and had numerous problems. I doubt if I’ll ever forget sitting on my jumpseat being able to see all of my passengers and look out the big window on my emergency door and see the landscape as it fell away from us on take-off or came closer to us for our long-awaited landing. The 747 was my second favorite aircraft to work.
I want to tell my readers the reason for posting this particular story today, July 27th.
It is because today is 7/27. And the 727 Stretch was my favorite aircraft to work on in the entire TWA fleet.
Why did I love that aircraft so much? I think it was because it was so spacious yet had an intimate feel. The first class was really classy (for those days). The lavatories were big enough to actually turn around in! And the galleys had plenty of space for all of our cabin service supplies. There were designated places for the crew to stow their luggage and the cockpit was really nice and big with three pilots, a Captain, a First Officer, and a Flight Engineer. Today, most aircraft are designed to fly with only two cockpit crew members. The cabin seating configurations changed many times over the years and even one time TWA removed seats in the middle of the aircraft and installed (YES!) a piano! Yes, a piano lounge in the middle of the airplane. What was corporate thinking??!! There were the ‘blue chip’ flights from NYC to ORD. Then there was the ‘more leg room in coach’ campaign and now the airlines just have us all jamed in there as close together as they can get us. But nothing can compare to the glory days of the 727 and I was there!
And so today, on 7/27, I am thinking of my favorite aircraft ~ the Boeing 727 Stretch.
July 25, 2010
Ethiopian Refugees
While at the airport last week, I saw something that moved me.
It was one of those ‘airport golf carts’ that transport passengers from one gate to another because they have a special need. Well, if ever someone needed the cart this day, it was the woman I saw in the cart.
The thin black woman was from Ethiopia, I guessed, and surrounded by children. Sitting softly tall in the cart’s back seat, the beautiful mother had an African ‘baby sling’ wrapped around her complete with infant. She was also struggling to hold a restless child about 16 months old. Close in next to her was another boy about 3 years old who was mesmerized by what was happening all around him, yet not willing to leave the safety of his Mother’s side. He was seeing things he had never seen before and I wondered how this trip would affect him. Absolutely his life will be changed for the better, but what of this trip will he remember?
Then my gaze advanced up to the center seat — another boy identical to the two behind him, but about 5 years old sat with his mouth open looking mostly ahead of him. And in the front seat was the cart driver along with ‘big brother’ who was probably about 7. Again identical to his three brothers; there was no doubt that he was part of this same family.
I have seen such families before when working as a Flight Attendant. I believe that they ‘win’ some sort of lottery to come to America . And come they do. With nothing but the clothes on their backs. Literally. No checked luggage. No carry-on bag. Just their paperwork and maybe a few possessions in a white plastic bag with blue lettering.
This Mother had a large white / blue lettered plastic bag (about the size of our grocery bags) sitting where the luggage goes in the cart and that is how I confirmed my inclinations of their status. There is a very distinctive emblem on the bag and that plastic bag is ALL that she brought with her and 5 children to America.
They are sponsored by a family somewhere and that is where they will be living. The mother may decide to take ESL (English as a Second Language) classes and the children should begin school soon. Usually they settle in communities with similar families for common encouragement and because they can communicate with them until they learn English.
Anyway I still have the picture in my mind of this beautiful contemporary Madonna with child plus four more in the airport golf cart. And yes, Portland Firefly prayed a special blessing for this brave mother as I passed by.
July 21, 2010
Chris
This post is about one of my heroes who deserves to be recognized publically. It is my friend Chris who lives in Southern California and was also diagnosed with Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma.
Why is she one of my heroes? I’m really glad that you asked.
Shortly after I was diagnosed I did some online research on Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma. One of the statistics out there says that the average life expectancy is 25 months. I believe it because I personally know of 4 women who died just a few months after diagnosis. I was not only very sick, but cognizant of the fact that my life was now being cut shorter than I would like. Since I knew that I was very sick and I knew that averages are made up of the short-term survivors and the long-term survivors, I didn’t have a clue as to where I might fall in that ‘average’.
Then I found out about Chris. She is the wife of one of my high school friends and she had been diagnosed 14 months prior to my being diagnosed. Wow! 14 months….. I cannot begin to tell her how much her survival time encouraged me! I thought, “If she can live for 14 months with this, then so can I.” And now I am 16 months from my diagnosis. I am feeling well, gaining new strength weekly, living my life, enjoying it and my beautiful friends and family.
Chris has had a more difficult time with this horrible disease than I have. Initially, she was misdiagnosed, which is not un-common with this cancer. The 4-6 months delay in her obtaining a correct diagnosis allowed her tumor to continue growing.
She was so helpful to me when we spoke after my diagnosis. She told me many helpful things of what I could expect to happen and what to do about them. This was invaluable to me as I was struggling through this maze of Ovarian Cancer alone and her availability ~ just on the other end of the phone~ gave me the great comfort that I truly was not alone in this battle.
She is now 30 months post diagnosis and most of that time she has been on chemotherapy. Yes, 30 months on life-saving poison with all of the accompanying side-effects. Yet, during that time, she continued to work as a hospital nurse and she found the strength to travel to Lourdes, France with her family. When Portland Firefly took a trip to Southern California, Chris, even though she was not feeling well, made an enormous effort to come and meet me. Thank you for that, Chris. She regularly continues to take family trips ’to the river’, even if she isn’t feeling at all well. This beautiful woman has had hospitalizations, surgeries, and more chemotherapy; yet she perseveres and continues to be a vibrant, vital force to her loving family.
Recently, she has had so many medical complications that she had to quit work. Quit work! I couldn’t even get out of the recliner on most days. How did she find the strength to get up, get dressed and go to the Hospital. Yes, they did give her a ‘desk job’ but, my goodness! She was working full-time up until recently.
I doubt if she has any idea of the positive effect that she has had on my life and how much she is in my prayers. Chris, you are truly one of my heroes and I love you, my Cancer Sister. Thank you for the encourager you have been to me and to those that know your warrior spirit in this battle. God Bless you, Sweetie, and keep fighting. There are lots of people who love and care about you.
June 24, 2010
Maury
Well, life is pretty pathetic for Portland Firefly. Being fatigued, she just spent an hour of her life watching (yes, actually watching) Maury. Yes, the Maury Povich Show.
Today they did DNA test results…. Again…. Women who had a baby had the suspected father DNA tested.
I have seen little bits of Maury before when I was channel surfing, but I usually would never leave it on that channel very long. Today was different. I actually got caught up in all of the drama and found myself aweing and oowing over the adorable babies and looking carefully at the pictures trying to make my decision if “the baby looks like the suggested father” before the reveal.
Most of the babies were so-o-o cute. I think that is what hooked me into watching. (Well, it is as good of an excuse as any)!
I suspect that two of the women chose the previous sexual partner that has the most promise for a high income/ child support. They were sadly disappointed and the look of shocked realization ( “It was the other guy?!!!”) was evident on their faces. One guy brought his mother with him, another brought his fiance and still another brought his wife. Were these guys fooling around or what!!!
Most of the DNA results showed that the guys were NOT the father. But the married man with his wife also has 3 boys at home and was shocked when shown to be the father of this cute little girl. His wife said that they would do the right thing and be present in this child’s life and support her. WOW! The wife is going to make sure that her philandering husband will be responsible for this out-of-wedlock child. She is a classy woman. He is a creep and he knows it. I wonder how long that marriage will last? Oh, by the way, he presented himself on-line as single when he was obviously married.
Now that I have watched a complete show of Maury, I won’t ever have to do that again! But it was sort of fun while it lasted. I think I’ll get a good book!!!!
June 23, 2010
Landing in the Rain
While I was outside ‘playing’ with my flowers, it started to sprinkle. Since we have had the rainiest Spring on record (since the 1800′s!) Portland Firefly just continued with what she was doing ~ potting petunias. The sprinkles turned more frequent, but since I was wanting to finish this small project while I was still dirty, I kept on with my plantings. I just had a few minutes more until I was finished when a plane flew overhead.
Looking up, I see the plane through the misty rain and I am quickly transported to the interior of a MD-80. We are on final approach to Lambert Field in St. Louis, Missouri and I am sitting on the galley jumpseat strapped in for landing as I hear the rain hitting the fuselage. This particular jumpseat faces aft and you are looking at the galley coffee pots and the ovens and the beverage service carts facing you as you sit on the bulkhead seat. I make another careful mental check of all the storage latches. Yes, everything is latched down tight and proper as it should be.
The plane is in a rainstorm as it approaches Lambert Field. This is not uncommon, but today the rain sounds particularly hard. “Hu-u-m-m,” I think” perhaps we are in a little hailstorm. There were a lot of grey clouds outside just before I sat down and strapped in myself .” I look at my passengers (watching to see my reaction and for reassurance) and smile. I am not concerned. I am just noticing the fact that it is raining…. maybe a little hard…. no need to worry. I know these pilots and have flown with them off and on many times during our long careers. The plane sort of bounces a little bit in the air. I’ve lived in this air for so long, I can feel that the pilot has complete control and that everything is ‘normal’ for this type of weather. I feel the plane descend even more and soon we break through the clouds and I know by the passengers actions that they are looking at the ground below us. I think it is always a comforting sight, exciting and exhilarating at the same time to see that we have almost arrived at our destination. The plane wiggles ever so slightly as the pilots manuever into position for the runway, the rain still audible in the now quite interior. Planes get quiet in ‘inclement weather’ as passengers stop talking to listen and observe what is happening around them.
I am calm and at ease, however I am also very attentive. One never knows when she will have to use the years of Emergency Training that she has had. Years of flying also tell me that so far, this approach has been routine. I again smile at my passengers, as I wait and listen to the sounds of the engines. The engines sound fine. I tighten my shoulder harness and seat belt again just before the plane touches down. It is a habit that I have developed over the years and I will continue to make that safety belt as tight as I can stand it for landing and take off…even when I am a passenger.
This landing, like most others is solid and routine. Once again I am ‘grounded’ for a short while.
I finish planting the petunias and turn on the watering hose to give them a good solid drink of water before I go in the house. Somehow, it seems silly to be watering plants in the misty rain, but the dirt was dry before I started planting and it isn’t raining hard enough to soak the new plants roots. Now every time I look at my petunias I think of that misty airplane sighting and the memory it provoked.
June 22, 2010
Fathers
While sitting in church on Father’s Day, I glanced ‘over there’ and saw a man who resembles one of my step-fathers. My Mother had a zest for life and I had the privilege of having more than one ‘father figure’ in my life.
It is strange, because I had been thinking of my Father often during the previous week and the fact that his passing last year means that I no longer have anyone to purchase Father’s Day cards for was not lost on me.
I had not thought about Bill for a very long time as he passed away almost 25 years ago. He would come to mind mostly when I would find an item of his in my Mother’s things and then it would be a remote and fleeting thought. Usually I would set the item aside to mail to one of his daughters. This was my Mother’s last marriage and I was married with children of my own so his daughters and I never really had much contact with each other. Those four girls (lovely women now) did make a huge effort to contact my Mother and I as she became ill. The four of them sent ’the most beautiful’ floral arrangement (a natural rustic basket arranged with all white flowers ~ stunning!) for her memorial and one of them drove 5 hours one way to attend. And so my focus was more on them than it was on their desceased Father.
But this morning that changed. I had decided to sit on the other side of the sanctuary today and there was a man who resembled Bill so strongly that I actually just sat and stared at him several times. Oh, I tried to not be obvious about it, but my eyes kept being drawn that way. As I would look at him I started to think about how kind and loving he was to my Mother, my children and myself. He was very intuitively thoughtful with no ulterior motives. He gave because he wanted to give. He was a warm loving man who had experienced a terrible thing as a child – witnessing the violent death of his mother. Of course it affected him his entire life. How could it not? It is a shame that the demons of his life possessed him to the extent that they did for I would have liked to have seen the jewel of a man who lay hidden beneath the terrors of his childhood.
I will one day. So will his daughters.
PS: He always wore a ruby ring set in yellow gold. Before leaving the midwest I made sure that the ring was given to one of his daughters because it really is their family heirloom. And that is the jewel that I think of when I think of this ‘jewel of a man’ ~ a brilliant ruby.
June 13, 2010
Who Am I
This morning, when I woke up I was myself; but I soon became my Daughter’s Mother.
Poor Firefly, what is she talking about?
Stick with me and I’ll explain…. I am having a period of “Mom Pride”.
Some of you have met my daughter who is very talented in many different areas. She has been involved in the ‘tech’ (read that computer) industry for probably at least 13 years. There are several of her jobs that I like to brag about….. one being her association with iAmaze (during which time that little start-up created Slideshow –yes , THAT slideshow). Then she went on to become a Vice-President of Marketing for AOL/Time Warner ( PS: Correction below). She helped organized the LA Tech community and continues with organizing events for several groups in addition to her job. She has a natural ability to merge the worlds of the technology with marketing and personality. A rare combination because most ‘tekkies’ are not very good ‘people’ persons and she is both!
Anyway, this morning I set my alarm bright and early so I could log on to a live streaming of the Humanity Plus (H+) Conference that was being held at Harvard University. Yes, that Harvard. Why? I am so glad that you asked! My Daughter was a speaker at this conference and I absolutely wanted to see her presentation. She did an excellent job and it was very cool to see her in that environment. Her topic: “How do we create I”; it has something to do with emerging technology and personal identity.
I spent the first couple of minutes just watching her and being amazed at how much she resembles her brother… How come I never noticed that strong resemblance between the two of them before now? Then I noticed how poised she is. I still see that cute little first grader with her bouncy pig-tails. Today she is sporting a more sleek hair style — but Mom can still see the remains of some bright ( is that magenta?) hair dye on the ends of her naturally almost platinum appearing locks.
I notice how professional she appears even though I can only see what is above the tall podium. Most of the speakers at this conference are men and only a small percentage of women were invited to speak. More Pride. Sorry, I can’t help it! What is that she is wearing? Is that a tee-shirt with some sort of writing on it? Oh well, somehow it still looks professional with her jacket over it. How does she do things like that and get away with it? She is amazing! Then I notice the earrings…. they were my gift to her last Christmas. I fell in love with them when I first saw them and they suit her perfectly. She has since told me that they are her favorites and she wears them a lot. I smile when I see them on her.
Then I start to listen in earnest to her words. Her delivery is a wonderment to me. Calm, quiet and precise, her voice is serene. What happened to the hysterical teenager that grew up in my home?! Has she gone completely away? (I doubt it). Her fun-loving personality shows through in an occasional point that makes the entire room start laughing with her. She is relaxed and confident and unflappable even when the moderator reminds her that her time is nearly up and she unflappably skips to the ending of her well-prepared speech.
I am sitting up straighter with so much pride! Wow! She is a great public speaker and I am so glad that technology has given me the opportunity to not miss this occasion. Her speech ended with a quotation from Alice in Wonderland … I hope I got the right one…
“‘Who are you?’ ‘ I don’t quite know. I was one way when I woke up this morning but I think I have changed several times since then.’ “
To me, the applause seems much more enthusiastic than it was for the previous several speakers. But then, I am being quite objective! ( yeah, sure!) She has become a wonderful, delightful contributing member of society. What more can a parent ask for? And so, off and on (especially today), I shall not be myself… but I shall be… my Daughter’s Mother…. filled with pride and love.
PS: Correction…. My daughter insists that she was never a VP of Marketing for AOL/TimeWarner. She was a Project Manager for them. All I can remember is that they had her flying coast to coast for big projects and product launches and they practically worked her to death. Maybe it is because she was a Vice-President for several internet start-ups prior to that time, that I got her titles confused. Anyway, she is a remarkable young woman that I would admire and respect even if I wasn’t related to her. She deserves all the accolades that she receives because she has worked hard for them and she has earned them on her own!
May 29, 2010
I’m Depressed
I know … it’s Memorial Day weekend and I should be happy and sunny … but I’m not. I’m depressed.
It has been raining here for the last two months!!! And I was ill for the last five weeks with that icky cold, cough, throat virus thingy. And on Monday, I woke up with a terrible kink in my back. The chiropractor says it is a triple case of facets syndrome and very difficult to break up. So.. I have been hurting on top of everything else! And… I have no energy. If I go out and do an errand, then I come home and just want to sit in the recliner. I try to go out for a walk in the rain, but that isn’t much fun because it is also cold. I used to like walking in the rain — when I lived in Southern California!
I know that this post sounds like “poor me” but that is the way I feel right now; so there!
I think I’ll go and dig out my ‘light box’ and sit in front of it for an hour or so. Maybe that will help. But don’t worry about Portland Firefly because she will come out of this eventually and will be just fine.
May 25, 2010
Immortality or Beauty
The week before Mother’s Day, I received a phone call from my daughter. Halfway into our conversation, she posed this question to me “Mom, would you rather have Beauty or Immortality?” I chuckled at the prospect and immediately chose ……. Immortality. I chose immortality not knowing the form that this gift would take.
She went on to explain that she was considering my Mother’s Day gift and couldn’t decide between two gifts, so she gave me the choice. The gift of Beauty would have something to do with skin care and the gift of Immortality has to do with the writing and publishing of my book.
So the gift that I chose will be in the form of a writers workshop or publishing help as I arrive at that juncture and need help, she will provide it for me. Cool. For me the best part of this gift is the fact that she is supporting me in my book writing — emotionally and practically and that support is the best gift of all!
Usually she sends flowers to me for special occasions and even though I am looking forward to the help with my book, I did miss the bouquet that usually arrives a few days before Mother’s Day!
April 21, 2010
A Mom Sighting…..
At the last Hanna Anderson Outlet sale I saw a lady that reminded me of my Mother who passed away several years ago.
This woman had the same hair color and style that my Mother generally wore. And she was the same size as my mother and dressed in a fashion that my Mother would have chosen.
Initially I saw this woman from the back and I automatically headed in her direction. It took me a minute before I realized it was not my Mother! I remember thinking “Why is my Mom here?”. “How did she get here?” ….And then I realized it was someone else.
It doesn’t matter…. that woman gave me a gift… A chance to see in the flesh once again my Mother. It was so good to see her again — even if it was not really her!!!!!
I didn’t realize just how much I have missed her.
April 20, 2010
Pasadena Salad
When I was working as a Flight attendant, one of our favorite layover hotels was the Beverly Garland Hotel in Burbank, California. I’ll write about that hotel in another post.
But, when we stayed in Burbank we had a favorite restaurant where we would go to eat. This was a Chinese restaurant ‘up the hill’ from the hotel. Our favorite item to order was their delicious Chinese Salad. It was so large that we always had enough for our lunch the next day when working our flight back to St. Louis. It had lettuce, chicken, some other goodies, a clear crispy rice noodle that I loved and a fabulous dressing. I was never able to find a salad anywhere that compared to it.
Until I moved to Portland……………………..
And began to shop regularly at Trader Joes……………..
And one day I picked up one of their ready-made salads …. a Pasadena Salad to be exact.
I was ecstatic! I had found my ‘Burbank’ Chinese Salad!
The Trader Joe’s Pasadena Salad has a little packet of almonds and clear crispy rice noodles that you get to add to the salad when you are ready to eat it. The dressing is a ginger dressing.
I had found my salad after all these many years!! And it is still my favorite salad!
April 14, 2010
Hawaiian Riptide
My entire life growing up in Southern California, I can remember my Father advising me to be cautious of the riptides and instructing me to ‘swim sideways —parallel to the shore’ if I ever got caught in one. I remember being in some strong surf several times and one time I came in looking for the family’s beach blanket exhausted from the swim and happy to be on the beach once again!
But I never really understood the term ‘riptide’ until I was at the Waipi’o Valley Overlook in Hawaii and could see one from above. The riptide shows up as the lighter colored water in the center of the beach.
A current generally goes along the shoreline, but a riptide travels from the shore out to sea. Swimmers get exhausted trying to ‘fight’ the riptide by trying to swim into the shore which is against its strong outward pull. It is generally not very wide (maybe a hundred feet) and that is the reason you should swim ‘parallel to the shore’ in order to swim out of it.
Portland Firefly was really excited to see a riptide and is grateful to Marcus for pointing it out to us!
