A Touch of Human Kindness

We changed crew in Oslo, or to be more precise Halden, which is in Oslo Fiord, but we flew out of Oslo. SAS early in the morning to Heathrow, enjoying a better than average airline breakfast enroute served by bubbly flight attendants. An auspicious start for the day. 

Called home from Heathrow and was informed that a massive Nor' easter was barrelling down the Eastern Seaboard. Not good news to anyone burning to get home after an ardous winter tow across the Atlantic. 

After what seemed to be an interminable wait, we climbed on an Air Canada DC 8.....direct flight to Halifax. By the time come to board, needless to say, we were all pretty happy. The DC 8 was old, and I don't know if AC did it on purpose or if it was chance, but the flight attendants were all of pensionable age. Cranky ! Whoa, Betsy !! 

Travelling as we were in a group all us animals were seated pretty well together. But interpersed in our herd were two Newfoundlanders on their way home on leave. They were rig pigs and were working in the far east with some American oil company. They had been travelling for two days, could have used a shave, but were in very mellow mood......they fitted in nicely with our herd. 
We just got up to cruising altitude when the pilot announced we were going to touch down in Prestwick, which we did. I had a window seat and watched the cherry picker drive up and two attendants push a wheel chair on it and presently, they were coming down the aisle with this elderly scotsman, who had one leg amputated above the knee and one arm amputated above the elbow. His seat was between the two Newfies who were directly ahead of me. He was a big man. The flight attendants held a consultation in whispers as to how they were ever going to get him in his seat. When you're 64 1/2 years you don 't lift too much. 

The Newfies heard this dialogue and the guy on the outside jumped up and said to the flight attendant, " Don't you worry, me dear, me and Mike will put he in hee's seat!" "Come'on Mike givus a lift ' er" Mike staggered to his feet and they placed the old gentleman in his seat with the admonition; " Me and Mike's gonna put you in yer seat, Uncle, not gonna hurt ye B' y, just lif' ya in nice an easy like! " And they did. Lifted him bodily under the arms and sat him in his seat. 
The old Scot thanked them for their kindness and offered to buy them a drink when we got aloft. By the time we were two hours out of Prestwick, everyone in that section was without a care. The Newfound friends of the old Scot had him singing in Gaelic, and nobody cared that our attendants were six months away from OAS. 

About mid Atlantic the pilot came on to say that he might have to divert to Monteal, due to the storm. This gave the old Scot, whose daughter was meeting him in Stephenville, grave concerns, " What' ll I ever do," he said to Mike, " I'm kind of helpless, y' know, on me own!" 
" Don't worry about that, sure, me and me buddy' ll look after ye' sir, no matter what" 

We flew north and came up over the Strait of Belle Isle. The pilot decided he' d have a try at Halifax, and we touched down in a vertiable blizzard..........the last flight in before they closed it up. 

The last I seen of the three companeros, they had the old Scot in a wheel chair, the first leg of a ride to the Airport Hotel, and I knew with deep conviction as I collected my sea bag that they would in fact, look after him as they promised. Made me feel right good!