My most enduring memory of that day:
Black and yellow buses
Waiting like wasps on the tarmac
To take us Refugees to safety.
Herding us like cows from field to milking shed.
We, docilely, accepting our fate.
Waiting, waiting forever waiting.
Watching the in-flight movie on Delta 37 - Technicolour
Our pilot announces a Terrorist Attack on America - Black & White
An eerie silence ensues.
Our plane slowly descends to a small airport.
Planes, so many planes waiting on the tarmac.
Air France, BA and US Air nestling alongside
Lufthansa, Aer Lingus and Continental.
The greyness of the US fighters stealthily creeping,
Heading the crocodile of planes.
Silent, great birds on the tarmac.
Silent, still and grey.
The World is on hold.
Waiting, waiting, forever waiting.
Waiting to disembark
30 hours of waiting, waiting.
Confusion, mayhem, disbelief.
37 planes waiting on the tarmac.
Finally freedom beckons.
Wasps come swarming.
Silently we descend
Breathing in the air, blinking in the sunlight.
Arriving at the terminal,
Corporal jumps on board.
Attack on America.
Welcome to Canada.
Military men, guns at the ready
Embarrassed soldiers, searching bags.
Back on buses, our next destination.
A small town called Gambo.
The scenery is stupendous.
We could be on holiday
And then we remember New York.
New York - a wonderful town.
Arriving at the Church Hall
Our home in Gambo
Faces beaming, welcoming
Beds on the floors, stacked like a school dormitory.
Dinner served by beaming 'Newfies'
Cooking, caring, helping, supporting.
Watching in disbelief
As Twin Towers topple
Again and again.
Sleeping, snoring
Tossing, turning
Waking wearily, waiting
Breakfast, waiting
Lunch, waiting
Dinner, waiting
Sleeping, waiting.
Community and camaraderie,
Friendships forged through adversity.
Helping and supporting,
Laughing and crying.
Giggling at the snoring
God Bless America
Will they ever sleep again?
Waiting.
Finally returning to Gander Airport.
Wasps come buzzing back
Newfies crying, waving wildly.
Waiting, searching bags.
Waiting, false alarm.
Waiting, waiting, forever waiting.
Back on Flight Delta 37.
Slowly taxi-ing past the planes.
US Air, Lufthansa and Aer Lingus.
Absent are Air France and BA.
Previous escapees from exile.
Have a good flight.
Come visit Canada again soon.
Flight Delta 37, destination Cincinnati
3 days late.
Remember the black and yellow buses
Waiting like wasps on the tarmac.
Waiting, in Gander, forever waiting.
Louise de Caux
Dedicated to Delta Flight 37 to Cincinnati
11 September 2001