In 1972 I was divorced, living in N.Y. and dating Andy, an international airline captain. I received a phone call from him in the middle of the night in late December from Spain asking me to see him New Year's eve. I explained I couldn't do that since I was going to Florida with a friend of mine and in fact, had my plane tickets. He was very disappointed and tried to talk me out of going, but I insisted I couldn't just abandon my friend at the last minute.
The following night I once again received a middle of the night phone call, this time from Dubrovnik, Croatia, trying to talk me out of going to Florida. Again, I said I couldn't cancel. It wouldn't be right to leave my friend to go alone.
The third night, the night before we were to leave, I received yet another call from somewhere in Europe from Andy. He asked me where we were going to stay in Florida and I said at my friend's friend's townhouse. He asked if her friend would be there and I said yes. He then said, "Well, you won't be leaving her alone after all." I had not thought of that. I then agreed to stay in N.Y. instead and spend the holiday with him.
I called my friend in the morning (Friday, we were to leave that night.) and she was fine with my not going. I went to the travel agent that afternoon, returned the tickets and got my money back.(Remember the good old days when you could do that?)
The next morning, Saturday, to my horror, I learned that our 9:00 PM flight out of JFK airport had crashed into the Everglades in Florida as it was coming in for a landing and as it turned out, 101 people were killed.
At the last minute, my friend who lived nearer to LaGuardia airport, was able to switch her flight to the sister flight leaving from LaGuardia, so she was also not on flight 401.
Andy had saved both our lives with his insistence on seeing me New Year's Eve. This book tells of the nightmare of the crash and the amazing aftermath. You will hang on to every word. It is especially fascinating because you know it is an incredible true story. The movie is also terrific. Watch for it on late night TV.
I literally owe my life to Andy and I will forever be grateful for my wonderful husband, children and grandchildren.
The following night I once again received a middle of the night phone call, this time from Dubrovnik, Croatia, trying to talk me out of going to Florida. Again, I said I couldn't cancel. It wouldn't be right to leave my friend to go alone.
The third night, the night before we were to leave, I received yet another call from somewhere in Europe from Andy. He asked me where we were going to stay in Florida and I said at my friend's friend's townhouse. He asked if her friend would be there and I said yes. He then said, "Well, you won't be leaving her alone after all." I had not thought of that. I then agreed to stay in N.Y. instead and spend the holiday with him.
I called my friend in the morning (Friday, we were to leave that night.) and she was fine with my not going. I went to the travel agent that afternoon, returned the tickets and got my money back.(Remember the good old days when you could do that?)
The next morning, Saturday, to my horror, I learned that our 9:00 PM flight out of JFK airport had crashed into the Everglades in Florida as it was coming in for a landing and as it turned out, 101 people were killed.
At the last minute, my friend who lived nearer to LaGuardia airport, was able to switch her flight to the sister flight leaving from LaGuardia, so she was also not on flight 401.
Andy had saved both our lives with his insistence on seeing me New Year's Eve. This book tells of the nightmare of the crash and the amazing aftermath. You will hang on to every word. It is especially fascinating because you know it is an incredible true story. The movie is also terrific. Watch for it on late night TV.
I literally owe my life to Andy and I will forever be grateful for my wonderful husband, children and grandchildren.
