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Hi--

Well, I finally made it back home late (11:15pm) Saturday evening, after leaving London on Tuesday morning.

Appreciate all the kind thoughts, prayers and calls that so many of you made.

I could write volumes about the love, generosity, compassion and warmth of the Canadian people who housed us for three days, in a small town called Gambo, south of Gander, Newfoundland.

We were told while in flight over the Atlantic only that " There is a terrorist threat, and we have been ordered to land in Canada." We found out later, that was all the captain had been told.

After first being assigned to St. John's, later Goose Bay (?) and finally Gander, we landed on Tuesday morning, around 11:30. Only after landing did someone have a very small radio, and we were all barely able to listen to a small station broadcasting out of Gander, and began to get the news--along with considerable erroneous information.

We were held on the plane for another 26 hours (that's a total of abut 32 hours on the plane), not getting off until about 1:30 the next day. Our captain had set a good tone, I believe, by telling us shortly after landing, that although we were obviously going to be severely inconvenienced, miss our connections, miss meetings, etc., that our "situation" was extremely minor when compared to what had happened. The crew was excellent, somehow serving us throughout the 26 hours on the tarmac--although we were largely out of food, obviously. The Salvation Army/Airport management did send out potato chips for breakfast--by then, they tasted pretty good!!!! I was proud of the people on our flight--they all kept a good attitude, maintained their composure. No screaming, panic or crying. Apparently, other flights were not so fortunate. Although a "priority" had been established for unloading and processing us, that priority changed as various captains reported that their passengers were losing it. Therefore, we were one of the last flights to be removed, which was OK. There were 38 - 41 (numbers varied--I think some counts included the 3 NATO B-52 bombers on the ground to protect us) planes on the ground, and each evacuation took about 2 hours.

We were then processed. First, we were searched, and our carry on luggage was searched. Our main luggage remained on the plane. The Salvation Army had a box lunch for us. First aid and other supplies were available. Somewhere between 8,000 and 11,000 people had landed at Gander in just a few short hours. The population of the entire Gandor area (including the small towns) is only around 5,000. How these people came up with those kind of supplies and food is beyond belief.

Ultimately, we were bussed to the small town of Gambo. The schools had all been closed, and the bus drivers were on strike. However, they "set down their pickets" to help out, most of them had been up for over 30 hours.

I could write a book about the treatment we received in the town of Gambo. As we later found out, the same hospitality and love was shared by every small town that everyone was taken to. We were housed in private homes, 2 churches, the Salvation Army, a volunteer Fire Department and the Fisherman's Lodge. I was in St. George's Anglican Church. The folks in this town had been up all night gathering pillows, blankets, mattresses, sleeping bags, food, home made jelly, bread, etc. The 2 small stores simply opened their doors all night long and told the community to "take what you need". The people had already been up all night long, not only in preparation, but also because they had been given the impression we were coming "right away". Hence, they'd already been "up" for 16 - 18 hours when we finally did get there.

In short, love, untold generosity, compassion and warmth surrounded us. Every meal was a feast. I gained 28 pounds. Friendships have been struck not only amongst flight members, but probably more so with members of this wonderful, idyllic little community. The community was in a "post card" seaside setting.

For two wonderful days and evenings, we were treated like royalty. The people were so compassionate and truly caring that this had not only happened to our country, but also that we had been "stuck" here.

The school was made into a "command center". We were given clothes--from underwear to sweaters. First aid, counseling and every personal need was provided. The two computer labs were turned over for our use--providing e-mail access and Internet connections.

On Thursday, a wonderful church service was organized and held at "our" church. The bells rang, and the entire community turned out. It was a very moving and emotional experience. There were probably people from at least 10 nationalities there.

After many "mixed" messages, we were finally given the OK for Delta flight 37 to board the busses on Friday morning. A wonderful, wonderful gentleman had written a poem, which he read to us before we all got on the bus. Once we were all on the bus, the people of the community lined the streets, blowing kisses, but mostly cheering and crying. As bad as we wanted to get to the airport for our eventual flight home, we also did not want to leave this wonderful town and these wonderful people - - but leave we did.

It took us most of the day Friday to wait for the plane, get cleared, load onto the busses, wait in the plane and finally to fly to Cincinnati. We cheered at everything--when we saw our "crew", when we saw "our" captain, when the engines started, when we taxied, when we finally and actually took off, but most of all when we finally landed in Cincinnati, USA. A tremendous cheer went up, followed by "God Bless America", sung in terrible harmony, with some of the words missing, but sung with spirit nonetheless.

Personally, I ended up spending another entire day at the Cincinnati (which is actually in Kentucky . . . go figure????) Airport. Delta had given us all hotel and meal accommodations, which they really were not obligated to do. I was booked onto a 9:00am flight Saturday morning, and told to be there at 6:30, which I was. The line was horrendous, but no one complained. When I finally got to the front of the line, I was told my flight was cancelled, which had been happening all morning. Apparently, I had just missed a flight the previous night, but was never told about it. I guess it was either full, or they did not figure there was time enough to process me through Security, etc. to get on it. I later found out Rudy Shappee was on that flight!!! Both of my two travelling companions on this trip had planned to stay in England a few more days. I, of course, wanted to get home "early", to get back to work. Their flights were delayed in London, but both made home before I did!!!

I was then booked on the 9:00pm flight, and put on stand-by for the 4:45pm. Long story short, I sweet-talked my way onto the 4:45 flight, then after an unbelievable number on cancellations, flights lacking crews, captains, officers, etc., the plane left at 8:45. The 9:00pm flight was also getting "bumped" back. We actually had a plane at 6:30, but it took another 2 hours to find 4 flight attendants! I volunteered, along with several others, but they opted for someone better looking! As each flight attendant would show up, they would be cheered--an occurrence happening throughout the airport. Some folks had been called from home, but most had just come off of another flight. They must have been dead tired, but they certainly did not show it.

I was amazed that some of the "regular" travelers who had to wait a whopping 4 hours for this flight to leave started to complain. I gently but firmly told this one couple to "gain a bit of perspective"!!!!

The San Diego Airport never looked so good!

All through this, one of my main thoughts was that in spite of the horrible tragedy which had occurred, we have to remember that the world is still populated by good, decent and wonderful people. How sad it is that it takes something like this for all of us to be reminded of that simple fact.

Thanks for your concern,

Steve