The sheltering sky
I AM LISTENING intently to a passenger standing in the front galley of my airplane. The service is over, the trash picked up. Passengers are watching movies, listening to music, reading, sleeping, or trying to sleep. It’s going to be a long night flying Seattle-Detroit-Tampa.
All four flight attendants are clustered around Vicki, who came into the galley to share her story with us. She tells us she was one of 3 (out of 8) flight attendants who survived the horrific crash of Delta 191, the L-1011 that crashed in Dallas in 1985. Microburst, windshear and vortex, a deadly combination of three weather-related events, killed 138 souls onboard that airplane, sparing Vicki and 26 others.
In the darkened galley, Vicki tells her story, speaking in a hushed voice, remembering the lost and celebrating the living, talking about grief and guilt, death and life, destiny and restoration. We ask questions. What did you see, what did you do, where did you go, how did you do it? She answers us frankly. We are all crying.
She never flew as a flight attendant again, and 25 years after the crash, finally overcame her abject terror of flying. A day that redesigned Vicki’s life forever created a strong woman with a courageous spirit.
Every so often I meet someone who makes a profound impact on my life, usually without realizing it.
Your blog stories are fabulous and I want to enjoy each and every one of them. You must know that when I was on the Detroit-Tampa leg home to SW Florida, something came over me and I felt the need to talk with my people, Delta flight attendants. The flight was calm, the lighting dim, the skies gorgeous, it felt like a moment in time I hadn’t experienced for decades. You all were lovely, accommodating, and warm. I hadn’t felt that sense of “ home” in many years. You are a wonderful person and I was drawn to you to share in that Delta galley just as we all did on all those jump seats through the years. Thank you, Ann, for sharing your stories, they’re beautiful. 🥰
I’ll never forget you, Vicki. ♥️