| I never forget just how lucky I was that day that my | | | | headed and the next thing I know she's volunteering |
| plane landed! It all seemed so surreal. Even though I | | | | the gent across from us to take me too. Turned out |
| was shocked and grief stricken for the victims, I still | | | | that she and the baby were dropped at the airport |
| had to deal with the challenges of my immediate | | | | and never took off so he said he would take them |
| situation which was "how do I get out of Kansas?" | | | | home which was really close to where my rental car |
| Clicking my heals 3 times surely wasn't going to get | | | | was. Her name was Aletha and the baby's was |
| me home. | | | | Colton. Aletha had tears in her eyes as she told me |
| On 9-11-2001 I was in the air that morning en route | | | | that her husband was in the service and had just been |
| from Baltimore to Las Vegas for the International | | | | shipped to Kauiwait the day before. |
| Baking Expo. that takes place there once every four | | | | The generous gent, now about to drive 2 ½ |
| years. It was back in the day when I had a Corp. | | | | complete strangers 2 ½ hours away from his home |
| America job that I actually loved and was in the air a | | | | in KS had also not flown out so we were all shuttled |
| lot for business so I guess you could say I was a very | | | | to his super-cab pick-up truck in the parking lot. When |
| seasoned traveler. | | | | he was loading the luggage I apologized that I couldn't |
| I knew something wasn't right as soon as we started | | | | help him because I had had rotator cuff surgery not |
| to descend because we were still two hours from our | | | | too long before and he said that his wife had that |
| destination. Just as after I turned to the couple sitting in | | | | surgery also. Then we got in the truck and realized we |
| my row and said "something isn't right because we're | | | | didn't even know one another's names. So he said "I'm |
| descending and we're two hours out from Vegas", the | | | | Larry" and I said "I'm Sally". He said, "that's my wife's |
| pilot announced "For National Security reasons all | | | | name"! |
| aircraft have been ordered to land at the nearest | | | | When we arrived at Larry's home and his wife |
| airport and we're landing in Kansas City". | | | | opened the door I said "Honey, we're home"! She |
| Everything got so quiet on that plane you could hear a | | | | chuckled. They were the most wonderful, gracious |
| pin drop and the flight attendants looked ashen! No one | | | | couple. They offered to take us where we needed to |
| had to tell me that this was BIG. After a few more | | | | go that day and even offered to let us stay the night |
| minutes the pilot came on again and said "something | | | | with them and they would take us the next day if we |
| happened in New York and the East Coast". Well that | | | | wanted. Then the phone rang and I could hear Larry in |
| sure narrows it down doesn't it? Now I'm not the type | | | | the kitchen saying, "that's right, I picked up TWO |
| to panic and I continue to be the eternal optimist but | | | | women AND a baby!" They were so kind and |
| let's face it, this was something HUGE and it had | | | | generous. |
| NEVER happened before. | | | | We left on our journey to pick up my rental car and |
| Then there was one last announcement from the pilot | | | | take Aletha and her baby home. Larry and his lovely |
| "this aircraft is not in any immediate danger". | | | | wife Sally wouldn't take any money for gas or their |
| I didn't realize it at the time, not knowing what had | | | | trouble, I tried! I told Larry and Sally about the movie |
| happened, but later I realized that they still didn't know | | | | "Pay it Forward". They hadn't heard of the movie so I |
| where all the terrorists where and they needed to be | | | | described the concept of "paying it forward". |
| careful about what information to give out. Also, I'm | | | | During the 2 ½ hr. ride I continued to try and reach |
| sure they didn't want people to panic. | | | | my sister and her family and several people that kept |
| This vague information left us all to wonder what | | | | calling me finally got through. Every time someone got |
| horrible things might have happened. I noticed a couple | | | | through to me they asked me which way I was going |
| of people trying to use the phones onboard with no | | | | to go when I got the car. I didn't know until I was able |
| luck. I tried not to imagine the worst but it was | | | | to get my brother in-law on the phone and he assured |
| impossible for some thoughts to not cross your mind | | | | me that my sister and my three nephews were fine! |
| given the information so far. The thought that the | | | | Phew! You see my daughter was turning 21 on the |
| whole east coast could have been nuked and I might | | | | following Tuesday and she was in Santa Barbara |
| have lost all of my family and friends! When we finally | | | | alone so I had taken a vacation right after my Vegas |
| landed (you'd be surprised how long 45 minutes can | | | | trip to be with her for her birthday. |
| be), they had us stand up and sit back down three | | | | I got through to my boss and told him I was on my |
| times until they finally let us de-board. The last thing the | | | | way. He said "really?, how are you getting here?". I |
| pilot said was "you'll see what happened on the TV's in | | | | said "I'm driving" and he said "that's a really long drive" |
| the airport". | | | | and I said "it's an even longer walk". He said "good |
| When we left the plane they handed us each a plastic | | | | point I'll see you when you get here". |
| boarding pass (yes it was back when Southwest used | | | | When we arrived at the rental car location they |
| to use the plastic boarding pass with numbers). When I | | | | waited to make sure I was all set. When I came back |
| got inside the airport and saw what had happened I | | | | out Larry said "Now you be careful driving by yourself |
| knew that no one was flying anywhere any time soon! | | | | across the country now and pass it on" I said I |
| So, I still have that plastic boarding pass and guess | | | | absolutely would!! To this day I regret that I never got |
| what? I'm number 12 so I'll be in the first boarding group | | | | their full contact information so that I could send |
| if they ever board that plane to Vegas!! | | | | something to them. So if anyone knows a Larry and |
| So there I was, stuck in the middle of the country all by | | | | Sally in Kansas City please let me know so I can thank |
| myself without a soul I knew. The worst feeling was | | | | them properly for their unbelievable kindness! |
| that I had one child on the west coast and the other | | | | So I'm going west 2 days drive to Vegas. I immediately |
| on the east coast and I was nowhere near either of | | | | began my trek across this enormous country we live |
| them! The natural instinct is to want to be with your | | | | in. I want to tell you there is a whole lotta nothin' out |
| family in times of a crisis like that. And I think we all | | | | there! |
| wondered "what next?" | | | | Every time I saw a sign that said "Speed checked by |
| Everyone was trying to get calls out on their cell | | | | aircraft", I thought, "not today". |
| phones so every time I tried to all I would get was that | | | | The most amazing thing happened during that two day |
| weird German Police sound, dew dew dew dew. Very | | | | drive, every single sign, I'm talking two days of driving |
| few calls would go through because the circuits were | | | | worth of signs, said "God Bless America"!!! |
| overloaded and the towers were down in NY. | | | | I stayed in a small motel that night in Colorado. It was |
| I tried to call out but there were hundreds of stranded | | | | 29 degrees when I went to bed. By the next |
| people in the airport and everyone was doing the | | | | afternoon it was 105 degrees in Arizona! Unbelievable! |
| same thing! I tried every rental car phone in the airport | | | | My family and friends were calling me for three days! |
| and when I could get to one, the answer was always | | | | Many of the roads were closed in the metro area so |
| the same, none left! We were the last plane to land so | | | | my sister and brother-in-law were not able to get |
| there were no cars and no rooms to be had. | | | | home to their youngest son who was home alone. He |
| Finally I was able to get through to the National | | | | turned 14 that day. So, every time I could get through I |
| Emerald Isle number and I asked the gal about getting | | | | called and kept talking to him and singing happy |
| a rental car in Kansas City. Her response was "I have | | | | birthday to him and telling him not to leave the house |
| two left in the whole state of Kansas"! I said "which | | | | and just wait for his mom and dad to get home. They |
| one is closest to the Kansas City airport?" and she | | | | finally got through about 1 am. |
| replied "I don't know". I asked her if she had a map and | | | | There were no flights and no rental cars to be had in |
| she said she did. I said "could you get it out and look at | | | | Vegas. Many people were stranded there for days. |
| it?". It turned out that the closest one was in | | | | When the valet parked my rental car I said "Don't you |
| Manhattan, KS 2 ½ hrs. away by car. Believe it or | | | | give that car to anybody else!". Amazingly enough the |
| not I had actually been there before, about 15 yrs. prior | | | | valet said that 3 people from that hotel had actually |
| for a course at the American Institute of Baking! They | | | | purchased cars that morning so they could leave town. |
| call that town "The Little Apple" as I remember. | | | | The convention center had been shut down because |
| Ok, now that I had a car reserved here's the next | | | | of a bomb threat that day (it was Wednesday). So I |
| challenge, how would I get to it? | | | | stayed the night and worked the show the next day |
| Keep in mind that the whole time I was working on | | | | then kept my rental car and drove to LA where I had |
| each challenge ahead I was still trying desperately to | | | | my vacation rental car reserved. I had a flight booked |
| get through to my sister and her family who lived right | | | | from Vegas to LA but I could see that that wouldn't be |
| across the George Washington Bridge in the metro | | | | happening any time soon. After driving for 2 days |
| area. The only number I could call was their apartment | | | | what's another 6 hrs. anyway? |
| since the towers were down their cell phones weren't | | | | Amazingly enough, good ole Southwest Airlines was |
| working. | | | | one of the first to start flying again. My boyfriend at |
| Finally, this woman working in the airport approached | | | | the time was supposed to meet me in LA on Friday to |
| me to help. I told her about the car and she said I | | | | start our vacation. Southwest delivered him to LA just |
| would have to take a bus to get there. She then said | | | | one day late and the flight arrived early! |
| in order to get the bus I'd have to take one of the | | | | We were able to be there for Jenna's 21st birthday! |
| shuttles. So, I proceeded to take the shuttle that would | | | | Never try to keep a mom from being there for her |
| take me to the bus that would take now 4 hrs. to get | | | | kids! Jenna will turn 30 this September 18th! My how |
| to the car that was going to take me 2 days to drive | | | | the time flies. Make sure to make the most of every |
| to Vegas! Phew! | | | | single moment because time has a way of really |
| Well, when your options are that limited you just have | | | | sneaking up on you! |
| to do what my son says and "soldier through". | | | | There are still lots of really good people out there and |
| Out to the curb I went and hopped on the shuttle. (It | | | | so many proved it on that fateful day. Strangers were |
| wasn't even the right one I later found out from a | | | | not strangers. They became new friends. |
| colleague that was from there and was already | | | | To this day I wish I had gotten Larry and Sally's |
| stranded in Vegas. But on a day like that there is no | | | | contact information so I could thank them properly for |
| "right" one) There were only three and a half people | | | | being so kind and going way out of their way to help a |
| on the shuttle besides me, a young woman with her 16 | | | | couple of stranded people on September 11, 2001. |
| month old baby boy and a middle aged gent across | | | | So, if anyone knows how to find Larry and Sally in |
| from us and another gent in the front. | | | | Kansas City please let me know. |
| The young lady started asking me where I was | | | | |