Storm Miracles

“Stranded in Edmonton! Storm wreaks havoc–Toronto resident.”

Don’t you hate the exaggerated way the media reports everyday events and makes everything sound like a complete disaster?

 

 This is me in the Edmonton Airport Saturday night. A storm was brewing in Toronto, where I was headed, and Air Canada was working to ensure that the flight would arrive safely. These things take time. The airline needed 15 volunteers to give up their seats to compensate for the extra fuel that was needed to fly to Toronto in severe weather. If you gave up your seat, and perhaps the last window of opportunity to see Southern Ontario in the near future, Air Canada was offering Executive Class seating on the next flight. Not a bad deal, if you didn’t know any better.

First miracle: “Toronto passenger, Andrew Lawson. Please see the agent at the departure gate.”

I approached the podium to speak to the agent while rehearsing arguments why I should not be bumped from this flight.

“Andrew Lawson. You paged me.” I tried hard to look homesick.

“Mr. Lawson. Are you travelling alone this evening? She was holding a boarding card in her hand. 

“Yes, I am.” Whew. Probably just gonna ask me to give up my coveted aisle seat so a family can all sit together. Ok, it’s Christmastime. I’ll do it.

“We have needed . . .” I held out my hand for the new boarding card. Let’s not delay the inevitable. ” . . .   to do some complimentary upgrades. As a Prestige member you were next.” Prestige means I fly more often than a tourist but less often than Madonna.

Pleasantly surprised I tell the agent, “Well, thank you. And, M- Merry Christmas.” Did those words come from my mouth?

Yes! Air travel has become such a chore these days that sitting in Business Class is such a welcome respite from the the sardine can that is economy class. The free booze is nice too for those who indulge. They really ought to offer more free booze in the back of the plane, those folks need it!  

This is me enjoying a mocktail. Two hours delay is such a small price to pay for having the entire front row of the plane to myself.

Second miracle:

“Attention ladies and gentlemen. My name is Linda and I am the customer service supervisor here in Edmonton.” Oh, no. The big guns.

Must be bad news.“I know you’re aware of our need to find 15 volunteers to fly to Toronto on our next flight at one a.m. So far we have only 7 brave souls willing to exchange their seats on this flight for an Executive class seat on the later flight.”

Here it goes. Their gonna cancel the flight and it’s my fault. But I already have an Executive Class seat. What would I have to gain. Sorry, not me.

“Ladies and gentlemen. A group of students traveling together have all agreed to relinquish their seats. There’s eleven of ’em so some of those seven original volunteers can have their seats back.” Whew. End of guilt trip.We all boarded the plane and after a short delay were on our way to Toronto.

Third miracle: I was so impressed with the patience and courtesy displayed by the ground staff in Edmonton. Linda, the supervisor, checked my ID and scanned my boarding card as I approached the boarding gate. I paused briefly and said, “You’re doing a great job. Thank you.”

Fourth miracle: Hertz car rental, at terminal one at least, is staffed 24 hours a day! I arrived at 02:30 hrs and there was my name on the board. My rental car was parked at position #27. I jumped in the car, stopped at the booth to show them my ID and was on my way into the snowy night in Toronto. I was home, safe and sound with 30 minutes.

Havoc? I must have missed it. 

Ambers Restaurant

Maybe the universe gives us illness so we will act before it is too late. When I heard Amber was finished her chemo and staying in Burlington, I made a point of calling her and went over to see her. She kissed me and said hello as if she had just seen me yesterday. It had been almost fifteen years. Oh, we had seen each other but in passing really. It had been years since we sat down and deliberately acted like the old friends that we are. She barbecued me a steak and told me, step by step, how to barbecue a steak and that she had been cleaning and straightening up things around the house. We had to walk the dogs after dinner.  I took pictures of her, of us, because I knew instinctively that they would be the last ones I had of her. And they are.

The other pictures I have of her are stored away forever in my heart, and some in my photo albums. I have pictures of her yelling down the house, a house full of dutiful girls and stereotypical boys.

I am in Alberta writing this and I am mindful of Amber describing driving into the Rocky Mountains. Dawn and Amber came here in the 70s and I will never forget Amber telling us about seeing the mountains for the first time. I really felt her presence as I did the same thing today. As I was heading out of Calgary on the TransCanadaHighway, larger than life, I passed Ambers Restaurant. I didn’t stop. I just imagined there was a fiery woman in that place telling people how to do things.