An open letter to…

An open letter to Mr. Chaifetz, CEO of Contour Aviation,

Every year around Memorial Day my mother and I uphold our generational promise to visit and pay honor to our family that has passed. We spend the day driving to gravesites perched on the highest mountains in West Virginia. The drives are one lane unpaved roads that can be scary at times; but the views are breathtaking, making the journey to get there worth it. When you are surrounded by such beauty and peace, you cannot help but to be filled with joy in your heart knowing your loved ones who have passed are in a much more beautiful place.

It was the start of a normal trip. Monday, May 23, at Charlotte Douglas Airport, headed to gate A10 for Contour Airlines flight LF3402 departing at 11:45am scheduled to arrive in Parkersburg, WV at 1:45pm.

On the way to gate A10, I stopped at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and purchased a Happy Birthday box filled with goodies – all to surprise my mom, who was picking me up from the Parkersburg airport. (Her Birthday is this week.)

The Happy Birthday box, nor I, made it to Parkersburg, WV.

The series of unfortunate events that happened over 9+ hours are nothing less than… well, just less than.

Maintenance issue, ground stop for storm lightening, waiting for weather to clear on the route to Beckley, an unresolved maintenance issue requiring a plane change, new plane #2 arrives with a maintenance issue as well, the promise of plane #3 on its way from TN that has a computer error but unknown as to when/if it will arrive, in the end to be offered to wait for TN plane #3, reschedule for tomorrow and receive a hotel for the night, or cancel the trip and accept a refund.

All of this unfolded at gate A10 – a true customer review of what happened. But there is more to just what happened. In fact, I would say the review above is missing a crucial piece of information.

Here is my story of Gate A10; how 7 unlikely strangers traveling to Beckley/Parkersburg, WV became connected.

After pacing the airport for hours on end, working to hit my step goal before boarding, I would occasionally grab a seat at the gate and riffle through the pages of the book I brought to read. Occasionally, I would look up after some intense reading and take notice of the people around me.

Meet the Pastor. A dad traveling with his 2-year-old daughter headed to his grandmother’s funeral to officiate the service. The Pastor, who held his daughter for hours, serving her every need with kindness and patience, while orchestrating plans for someone to take his place in the service, did it all with grace. His daughter stole the hearts of everyone at gate A10 from the moment she arrived.

As she expressed herself in the terminal how she felt about the delay, I was right there with her! Internally, I was screaming just as loud as she was and struggling to figure out exactly what I wanted.

As I glanced up from my book, I would look at the Pastor with an intentional look of the kindest, empathetic, eyes I could make, to send a telepathic message saying, “you are doing a great job dad!”

I continued reading and when I looked up again, there was a kind woman holding the, now sleeping, Pastor’s daughter.

Meet the Engineer. An incredibly impressive career background with a heart of gentleness that is limitless and knows no boundaries – enough to ask a stranger if she could hold his daughter to offer him a sort of parent break. She quickly earned the esteemed title of stand in grandma. She had been eagerly waiting for this flight, so she could return to work, were she leads a team of experts on their continued mission in oil & gas.

During one of my many bathroom breaks, while washing my hands I ran into the Engineer and asked how she was holding up. In a relatable exhaustion, yet delightfully proud way she replied, “I got to hold the baby!” I immediately sensed the goodness in her. So, I did what any normal, stranded, person would do… I followed her back to her seat, where I joined others.

Meet the Cool Chick. Eager to get back home to her two dogs she missed dearly, she was all kinds of cool! Through her network of family and friends, she was diligently making plans to care for her dogs, to meet her at the airport when she arrived, to notify work of the situation, and so on. She was well informed and dialed in on problem solving; a skill that everyone admires.

Over the hours we had formed a little support group. My book remained tucked away in my bag as our group shared stories of Mothman conspiracies, WV history, WV geography, realized you really are just one person away from knowing each other, that the Pastor and the Engineer are both Golden Horseshoe Recipients and saw an impromptu bunny puppet show.

Meet the Puppeteer & her Mister. As the Pastor’s daughter awaken from her slumber, a lady crafted a bunny puppet out of a purple handkerchief, placed it on her hand and approached the Pastor and his daughter. The Pastor’s daughter was intrigued and requested her bunny that she brought; quickly “Harper” the Bunny was joined with the handkerchief bunny for a show. What an incredible artistic craft to turn something that is ordinary, into something that is extraordinary that brings people joy!

As the night went on, I would check in on my mom who had been patiently waiting for me in the Parkersburg Airport parking lot, reassuring her that I had not eaten her birthday gift of chocolates.

That was until we were all met with our looming fate of… stay and wait, hotel it and come back, or cancel. As we each left the gate counter, accepting our travel fate, we broke open that Happy Birthday box and dug right in. (I’m sorry mom.)

I should have realized sooner that what I thought was a Happy Birthday box of chocolate was really a celebrate the people around you box.

As I walked away from gate A10, with a cancelled trip and a refund, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for the opportunity to meet these incredible people and witness a heartfelt kindness that I have not seen in a long time.

So, Mr. Chaifetz, CEO of Contour Aviation, I hope you answer those robocalls offering car extended warranties, perhaps they offer a plane extended warranty too.

On every flight, there will always be someone like the Pastor and his daughter traveling to a funeral, the Engineer heading to work, the Cool Chick eager to get home, the Puppeteer and her Mister on a journey to be with family; or simply, a daughter sitting in seat 7C – all choosing Contour Airlines to help them be there for the moments in life that matter.

I wish all those that were booked for Contour Airlines flight LF3402. A well lived life, full of many blessings, and safe travels.

Sincerely,

A daughter in seat 7C.

Where do I know you from?

I did it. I stood in a 2.5hr line to order Jon G’s Barbecue from Peachland, NC. You likely will read my review and say, “that’s unexpected.”

I spent yesterday memorizing the menu, recruiting friends to join me in this adventure (presenting it as a recon mission). I watched the rain clouds continue to roll in as time ticked closer to Jon G’s opening at The Union Exchange .

At 6pm, the light rain drizzle and grey clouds joined us in line, where we found ourselves behind two gentlemen, huddling under their umbrella, excitedly talking about the menu options and eagerly awaiting their first time to try this local bbq.

As we settled in line, the cutest labradoodle and his family joined us on our quest. The kids were in heaven for the chance to pet our new line mate! Kids were doing great in line, until they weren’t. Our fearless line director, April, took the kids on an adventure to explore the grounds of The Union Exchange and eventually withdrawing from the mission, ordering pizza and going home; leaving, Nic & I behind to hold the line. Soon after, Nic detoured in search for beer.

Suddenly, our line-neighbors surrendered from the line too.

And I quickly found myself standing alone, in the rain. No umbrella; with an empty stomach, and a watch that said, 6:44p.

As I gazed at the line ahead, curious about the lack of bbq smell in the air, an energetic and vibrant, voice from behind me said, “You look so familiar to me. Where do I know you from?” Me, with a nervous smile, “umm…” She then asked me “are you on the Weddington moms Facebook group?” Me…“No, but I’m on the Union County Moms group?!?”

She politely, yet, curiously smiles and we spent the next moments wondering around in our memories of where we may have known each other.

Her name is Beverly, armed with a bright and warm soul, and a friend that had a blue umbrella. Beverly was there to see her churches praise band perform for CharityBeats Project.

I was rained on, hungry, and tapped on the head once by the blue umbrella and no longer alone. My watch now read 7:17p.

With each swing of this blue umbrella, a Mississippi accented, full of warmth, voice, would say, “Oh honey, I am so sorry”. Meet Dixie! A kind hearted, retired school teacher, whose love for her NC raised grandchildren is so strong, it pulled her to NC.

Dixie came to see her daughter and son-in-law perform, providing the contemporary Christian soundtrack to everyone’s line adventure. Dixie also came prepared for the rain with her, now infamous, blue umbrella.

Beverly and Dixie are a force. A force of fun, adventure, youth, wisdom, love, compassion, and a heart that shows kindness and praises Jesus.

A few footsteps later, with a tiny gremlin growing in my stomach and a watch that said 7:30p, I’d already been invited to the 10:10a Sunday Service at Weddington Methodist Church; sent on a mission to recruit help for Switchin' Kitchens, and exchanged phone numbers with specific instructions to send a text and refer to myself as “Jen, with the cute friend, Nic!”

Now, on my third tap of Dixie’s blue umbrella and narrowly focused on finding a solution to my food gremlin, I overheard a cheerful and joyful “hello” directed to Nic & I’s new besties, Beverly and Dixie. In the proudest of sentiments, Beverly introduces me to, Denise, who would influence me to join Oatmeal Cream Pie Addicts; the adoring creative baker. Denise’s incredibly, irresistible sweetness’s, are from her bakery, Sweet & Cozy Bakery, LLC, served at The Union Exchange.

It’s 7:34p, I am in line with an entire bag, full of sweet and cozy goodness, handmade by Denise! I let my tiny food gremlin order and purchased one of everything that was left! I was faced with the unexpected challenge, which one would I eat first and what would I share with Nic. Oatmeal Cream Pie was the winner of the first bite… and first share.

I am now obsessed with Sweet & Cozy Bakery.

Sugar now pumping through my veins, the concert came to an end, and with a watch that displayed 8:21p, Nic and I were next in line! Our game plan was to order one of everything that was left on the menu.

8:28p and it’s go time! Left on the menu: Brisket, Sausage Link and all the sides. We were assigned Order Number 23! Beverly and Dixie were right behind us.

As we all shuffled to the side, anxiously awaiting the lady with the megaphone to call our number, Dixie’s daughter and son-in-law, who had just finished performing, joined us for our final moments in this long awaited adventure.

A quick introduction to Dixie’s family, a highlight reel of our fast friendship and a body count of blue umbrella victims, I felt the bitter sweetness of this night coming to an end.

Soon the words, “Order Number 23,” blared through a megaphone, like a sports announcer calling out the next player to the field. We were up!

A large paper bag full of anticipated bbq goodness slid through sliding glass trailer windows and Nic and I said our “see you laters” to our new friends.

8:40p with a paper bag in tow, we bolted to the car (actually, it was Aprils car that she left us, so we could get back home after her and the kids left us behind). Side note: you know how they say people will give you the shirts off their backs, April leaves you a car… that I am sure has a shirt in it!

As I sat in April’s drivers seat, with a rain soaked jacket; a lowly lit dome light shining on an opened Jon Gs box; chewing on my first bite of brisket. I then realized, the line I thought I was standing in, was to order bbq, but God had a bigger order for me and it had nothing to do with bbq.

We all may have thought we didn’t know each other at the start of the waiting line, but, God knew we already did.

We just needed a waiting line and Beverly’s simple question…. “You look so familiar to me. Where do I know you from?”

Me: “Well, Ms. Beverly, I’m your sister in Christ, with the cute friend, Nic!”

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