December 18
I love flying during the Christmas holidays. Passengers are so thoughtful, quite often giving me chocolates of some other small gift and saying, “Thank you for helping us get home for the holidays.” Don’t you love people who are so big of heart that they recognize the sacrifice of others, even though it’s all part of the job.
December 1
My favorite month with preparation and enjoyment of Christmas. Even our burned out townhouse was included when my husband hung a wreath on both the front door and the garage door, just over the Fire Damage, Do-Not-Trespass sign.
November was also a month of additional loss. My daughter drove me to at least 25 rental townhouses to find one with a door that opened directly to the yard level for our aging 15 year-old-dachshund who can no longer climb stairs. Most had a minimum of 8 steps to the main level, many with 22 steps, but we finally found one and saved our personal insurance carrier $685 a month from the unit they found for us. Two weeks after move-in, we lost our dog to a massive tumor in her lung.
Thanksgiving
We’ve always spent Thanksgiving with our children but this year seemed so much more meaningful as we wait for the rebuild of our home. Instead of being surrounded by the sadness of the current catastrophe, we are filled with laughter. Our daughter planned a game in which all ages of family participate. I, with my son and daughter-in-law tied with my daughter’s sister-in-law an her two sons, under the age of 7. How did we settle the tie? We had a gobble-off. I wish I knew how to add the video. You would laugh, too.
November
The month of November is a blur, waiting for the insurance company to at. Here we have the warmest fall you could hope for, a perfect time for demolition ad rebuild of five town homes but nothing is happening. The charred remains stand there as if in monument to the past instead of being torn down in a timely manner and rebuilt for the five families displaced by one careless and inconsiderate smoker. Who is more careless and inconsiderate, the smoker or the insurance company? I wonder.
accommodations October 31
Halloween–when all the little kiddles dress up and giggle about their appearance and the candy they are soon to receive. Since we lost our home during a fire, I can’t help but wonder what the little children in the area will do. Should I put a bowl of candy on the front porch or maybe a sign that says, see you next year.
October 20
If you watch television news at all, you watch the yearly occurrence of homes involved in mudslides, fires or some other catastrophe in California and probably shrug your shoulders and say, “It happens every year,” never thinking about the displacement and loss each family is incurring. Everyday
October 17
I mentioned my daughter’s help. Today she brought her handy electric drill over and took down shelves that she had helped install years before. She also went through water filled dressers to sort out soggy clothing. This is addition to the fact that we are staying at her house and she is fixing us dinner every night while cooking for her own family of four.
October 15
I cannot imagine going through this process without family. My daughter and son have been tireless in helping us. My daughter has driven me to numerous rental places. We have to find something with a door that opens directly to the outside because we have a 25 pound Dachshund that cannot go up and down stairs. Many of the rental townhomes have as many as 18 to 22 steps just to the first level. Finally we found a place in Apple Valley that is very small but meets those needs and signed a rental agreement.
October 12
I never mentioned the firemen the night of the fire. They were unforgettable. Fire trucks came from Burnsville, Apple Valley, Savage and Bloomington. It wasn’t anything like on TV. They worked quietly, efficiently and respectfully. One asked if he could rescue a few things for me that night and proceeded to rescue my Bible and my airport ID. We also heard that the Burnsville Police entered the burning buildings looking for residents before the fire trucks arrived; before we arrived. What an amazing event to watch first hand.
October 12
Back to the work of sloshing through soaked items. Found a townhouse we liked but the agent never showed. This is obviously not a hungry market. But today a miracle happened. I was buying some plastic bins at Target to store things in until we get moved and telling the gentleman at the register about the calamity of our house. Suddenly a tall, beautiful girl wearing a University of Minnesota sweatshirt walked up and told the cashier that she would pay my bill. At first I protested and continued to protest until I was almost rude when she continued to say “Please.” All she would tell me is that her name is Bree and then she disappeared. Just Minnesota nice or the appearance of an angel?
October 11
As once was always the case when I was a child, today was a day of rest. We didn’t go near our charred and soggy house. We having beautiful fall weather. All the maples have turned and the Sumac has started. The sky is without a cloud. My daughter, granddaughter, dogs and I took a long walk. It was heaven. Just a reminder of how beautiful a world we live in.
October 10
Spent the day looking for a townhouse to rent. Not an easy proposition with two dogs. Some places were nice enough but some were really sad. Just a reminder of how fortunate we’ve been, even with our home in ruins.
October 9
I arrived this morning to find my couch in the dumpster along with both our bedroom armoires and a small, antique platform rocker. That brought a tear. “Soldier up,” my dad would say, “Soldier up.”
October 8
Packers are still working in the kitchen, diningroom and breakfast nook. They hope to get to the livingroom tomorrow. We can already see that many of our framed pictures are damaged by water. It’s a little like watching your life march past your eyes, remembering the memory behind each piece.
October 7
Packers are in the kitchen, going through each cupboard carefully. Pots and pans and silverware will be held aside for us to take to a rental townhouse. My electric teapot was toast as well as the toaster.:) A little jaded humor there.
October 6
Today we watched our mattresses and box springs from both bedrooms go into the dumpster. Evans Cleaners came and went through all our clothing, again, piece by piece, to determine what could be salvaged. Those items will be cleaned and stored. They will clean and return a few items for immediate use.
October 5
The town-homes Insurance Company sent a company called ServiceMaster that goes through each item, piece by piece, to determine what can be salvaged and what can’t. It is a long and tedious job but their compassion and humor has been awesome. These are specially gifted people who work in aweful conditions. Imagine if it was winter.
September 30
Still no sign of insurance adjusters but the fire department let us collect a few sodden, smoke filled items for immediate use. And though the reality is grim, the outpouring from friends, family and best of all, my fellow flight attendants, has been amazing. Thank you all. Delta and Endeavor Airlines have been incredible.
September 29
Daylight and the grim reality of last night’s fire. Everything burned to a crisp or destroyed by fire, and yet our flower boxes were blooming as if nothing had happened. What a ray of hope they were. I posted a picture on facebook www.facebook/egnerink. Now we wait for the insurance companies.
September 28
How life can change in just a few days. We were staying at my daughter’s house while our refinished hardwood floors were drying. Midnight, she brings a phone to us. It’s the police informing us that our townhome along with three others was on fire. We sat and watched from 1AM til 4:30AM. Big life change.
Sept 25
Had a wonderful layover in Boston with a great crew. Our Captain made sure we visited the Green Dragon Tavern where many early historical events occurred with Paul Revere, Samuel Adams and others. Then onto another pub for live awful and finally ended at Frost–everything was ice, tables, chairs, the glasses, etc. I’ll try to get a picture on later.
August 20
First day of recurrent. Three written exams. Aced all three. Even under enormous stress, the brain is an amazing thing. Thank you to good instructors.
August 18
Still in a little shock after last night but found out he has a heart condition called an musice or Atrial Fibrillation. Now that things are under control, I need to applaud the emergency room staff at Fairview Ridges Hospital. I was so impressed by their quick response and care. Husband was released today with some additional medications but doing well.
August 17
Only three days until recurrent training which involves numerous written and hands-on testing. However, today my attention took a dramatic turn when I took my husband to the emergency room at 10PM, thinking he was having a heart attack. I watched as they rigged him up with a defibrillator and stopped and started his heart three times. When all three times failed, he was admitted and I returned home at 3AM.
August 4
Flight attendants are required to be re-trained once a year on all the emergency equipment and procedures involved in flying. It’s always a little tense as we study to make sure we’re on top of things such as avionics, weather including turbulence, medical treatments, medical equipment, fire fighting and so forth. Today the studies begin.
August 2
What? Another birthday. My daughter’s. Exactly one week after mine. But it’s a great day for me. There aren’t enough superlatives to describe my daughter. One of a kind and truly a marvel. Always a reminder that I have been truly blessed.
July 28
As I mentioned, today is my husband’s birthday.
July 27
A double holiday; our wedding anniversary and the birthday of our youngest granddaughter. If you noticed, it’s the day after my birthday and the day before my husband’s birthday. Our family royally celebrates these three days all in one. What fun!!
July 26
Another birthday. It’s been fun to watch all my high school classmates posting on each other’s birthdays. Though only a thin thread of connection between many of us, it is filled with joint memories to be re-lived. Thanks for all the birthday wishes from my classmates.
July 4
My family always goes to the lake for the 4th. As usual I’m flying, but though I’m missing the fun family gathering, I’m meeting lots of Americans who define the meaning of the national holiday. I’m so grateful for the individuals who respect and honor what this country has accomplished.
July 1
I’ve worked with a lot of great flight attendants, but one in particular is one of my favorites. She’s very musical. No matter what the circumstance, she can find a song with lyrics to accompany the situation. It certainly makes for a light hearted work day.
June 23
I always enjoy talking to the passengers on our flights. On my latest flight, I mentioned that I write mysteries in my free time. One gentleman immediately pulled a card from his wallet and handed it to me, saying, “Call me if you need any help.” Turns out he’s a fingerprint analyst in Texas. How cool is that?
June 15
I’m currently working on a book that takes me to Jamaica. Remember Montego Bay? How many of you remember the song by the Beach Boys? The song makes you want to hop a plane and head for tropical waters, doesn’t it. However, I discovered an unusual tidbit of information that might sap your interest in snorkeling in the famous bay. It’s original name was Manteca Bahia or Bay of Lard. It seems in the early days of the Spanish acquisition, the largest industry was pork butter (lard) from the wild hogs found on the island. Care to take a dip?
June 8
Just experienced another wild and crazy moment with a shuttle driver named Joseph. The only other passenger in the shuttle was the Assistance Director of the Metropolitan Opera. That got me talking about my children’s animated television program and the need for funding. Joseph excitedly jumped in and said that his wife was in funding and that he planned on calling her right away. I wore a big smile today.
June 1
Our hotel shuttle driver today referred to himself as Special K. He greeted my fellow crew members and me with a smile and good morning. I asked him if he was always in a good mood. He replied, “Always. What’s the point in being any other way.” He said his wife once asked if if he was ever in a bad mood and his response was profound, “Yes, but you’ll never know about it.” What kind of grace pushes a man to rise above all the negative feelings we all experience and radiate happiness and contentment instead. Awesome grace.
May 27
My most recent flight offered a contrast in life situations. I had a passenger who was one of the policemen that arrested Susan Smith in Union, South Carolina. If you remember, she stunned the nation with the drowning murder of her two children who were helplessly strapped into their seats while their car was submerged. A heinous, horrible act. This gentlemen assisted is cutting their tiny bodies free from their restraints. I was gratified to hear that his belief in God and a better world steeled him for the task. As a child, I was a tomboy, never played with dolls and never thought much about being a mother. Was I ever surprised when I became one. This ferocious lioness climbed into my skin. Defending and protecting my young stormed into my soul demanding its acknowledgment and obedience. Thus, I’m at a loss to understand the hearts of the Susan Smiths of the world. Why are some given these strong maternal instincts while others are not?
May 21
Thank you to the captain on the Sioux Falls turn yesterday for sharing tootsie rolls.
May 21
I know I sound redundant when I talk about the joys of being a flight attendant. Don’t get me wrong; it’s hard work and very tiring, but full of surprises. Yesterday I was seated in the aft flight attendant jumpseat and seated next to me was a family from Norway. The woman, Ann-Karin, showed me beautiful pictures of Norway on her phone and promised to send me some. They even gave me their contact information and told me to call them when I travel to Norway. If that wasn’t thrilling enough; they became very excited when they heard my pen-name, Egner. It seems a well-known children’s author named Egner was from Norway. What a delight.
May 10th
Well it must be my year for celebrities. I was saying goodbye to passengers the other day on one of my flights and as a gentleman approached to exit, I asked if anyone had ever told him that he looked like Robert Mitchum. He replied, “They should; he’s my dad.” It was Chris Mitchum.
April 17
Another reason I was disappointed about not recognizing Arnold Palmer is because of my father. As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, he was a photojournalist for the Florida Times Union and an avid golfer. He even played in a couple of Pro-Am tournaments. One with Lee Trevino and I think one with Jack Nicklaus. My kids think he played with Arnold Palmer as well but I can’t prove that. However, I do know he took hundreds of pictures of Mr. Palmer and was one of his biggest fans. It would have been so nice to share that with my passenger.
April 16
I think I met Arnold Palmer. He didn’t identify himself and I’m sorry to say, I didn’t recognize him; or at the least, was not expecting him on my flight. He was travelling to Atlanta with whom I assume was his grandson. We started chatting about the Masters and I asked him if he was going. He said, “Not to play; just to watch.” His grandson added, “He’s a super guru of golf!!” Two nights later as our crew was checking into an Illinois hotel, I was standing at the front desk waiting my turn when I noticed the latest edition of USA Today. On the front page was a picture of Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus at the Masters. “Isn’t that the man who was on our flight?” I asked the other FA. The answer was yes. If only I had known.
April 15 In a month I’m going to visit my close friend in Sioux Falls. I haven’t been in an age and I’m really excited. I think I’m going to miss all the spring colors. Ours are just starting in MN but SD is about two weeks ahead of us. That’s okay. The best part of the trip is getting together with a great friend.
April 12th I’m struggling with the use of social media as a way to introduce my books. Does anyone have any suggestions? I use facebook so far, haven’t figured out twitter and though I’m linked in, that’s about as far as its gone. There must be an easier way to reach the public.
April 9 I previously mentioned being late to the gate by 2 minutes. The captain said he was getting ready to send out the Navy Seals. I would like to add that we closed on time and departed on time. However, in flight, I think he felt bad that he had been so impatient with me and invited me into the flight deck to see the sunset. There it is. Pretty dramatic, don’t you think?
April 6
Just heard about a flight attendant that recently gave birth to her first child. What’s so great about that, you ask. Well, she’s 51. I think that’s omen of very good things to come. Her bravery and commitment are impressive. Well done.
April 5
A passenger gave me the new Greg Iles book, “Natchez Burning.” Can hardly wait to immerse myself in its 865 pages.
April 1
No April Fools Day. My daughter and granddaughters joined me at Macy’s flower show, an annual event that takes your breath away. Looks beautiful, smells wonderful and reminds you of all the beauty to come with spring and summer. Big thank you to Macy’s for providing this at absolutely no charge.
March 30
Winter is almost over. Spring is around the corner. You can feel the excitement all around you, even at the airport, where people are arriving wearing sandals and shorts.
March 26
I lost a post that told about a scary event. It seems one of the flight attendants was late reporting for the shuttle to the airport. When the captain called and asked how long she’d be, she said she couldn’t find her shoes. He went to assist. They searched the floor of the room, the closet and the bathroom. No shoes. He asked if she’d checked the drawers. “Why would my shoes be in the drawer?” she asked, clearly puzzled. They searched and found the shoes with a note that said, “I enjoyed watching you sleep.” Creepy.
March 25
It’s been a windy month, making some flights bumpy; however, one passenger said that he and his wife watched me. They said I seemed very relaxed and not concerned; so they followed suit. I was pleased.
March 22
I’m always amazed at how sarcastic some people can become when you ask if their electronic device is on airplane mode. People, it’s not my rule, not the company’s rule; it’s a federal regulation.
March 20
Rarely fly with any of the pilots I flew with in my first few years at Mesaba. Many have gone on to fly mainline or have chosen other companies. But I just flew with one of my favorites. He’s so full of fun while very respectful or his crew members. Thanks Doug
March 13
In one of those posts, I told you about a flight attendant who pointed out something very curious on the flight monitor board at the airport. It became the title of my next book. I’ve written 17 chapters so far.
March 11
Well I lost all my posts from January and February.
March 9
In working on my book, I discovered something interesting historically. I was researching Williamsburg, VA, and found that a plantation between Jamestown and Williamsburg called Berkley Plantation had written in their charter that the day they landed would be celebrated as an annual Day of Thanksgiving. That was two years before Plymouth, MA. did you know that?
