Our trip started on Monday, September 15, 2003 at 10:30 am on Air Canada Flight 1192 to Toronto.
When we were ready for take-off, June handed me a note: "There's a cop with two prisoners in the row behind us."
We recalled Jo-Ann telling us that she was on a flight to Las Vegas and prisoners sat behind them. Jo-Ann and Curt were asked to move and leave an empty row in front of the prisoners. This was so that they could not lean over with a knife and take Jo-Ann as a hostage. What if they held a serrated plastic knife to June's jugular? Would she bite the hand that heeds her? Would I wrestle it free and break his arm? Would the officer shoot him? Would the other prisoner grab the gun? Would it go off and kill us or hit the window and depressurize the cabin and we would be sucked out of the plane? If not, would we pass out until the pilot reached a safer altitude? We didn't cower in our seats expecting to be killed but we did eavesdrop on their conversations. The most common curse word was used liberally as a noun, verb, adjective, adverb and gerund; although they were very polite to the flight attendants.
We were travelling on Howie's air miles so we were in the second last row and they ran out of meals (costs $7 to $12 now) so all that was left for the prisoners was a bag of nachos. We wondered if a sharp nacho could sever an artery. Of course, nothing happened as our Canadian prisoners are well-behaved.
We finally arived in Toronto. Previously the time between planes and to get through US Immigration and Customs was 45 minutes but now we had three hours. That's why we look so tired, but the inspections were quick.
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When we got to New York's LaGuardia, Howie and Jacob met us. The last time Howie was at the airport was when the blackout started. He landed and everything was dark. Most people there thought it was another terrorist attack.
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Jake is going to be six on October 8. How soon they grow up. |
We had both forgotten how busy a young family can be. The following pages chronicle how busy our time was: school, homework, dance, gymnastics, hockey, soccer, lacrosse, science classes and trying to feed everybody,
Becca has Dance, Playground but no homework.
Mia Ballets, Jake Golfs, but Becca locks herself up with the Dog.
We Meet an Undercover Narcotics Agent.
Jacob Starts on his Ph.D at Hofstra University.
Becca and Alicia Train for the 2008 Olympics.
Hallowe'en Comes Early This Year.
Created: October 1, 2003 Revised: November 11, 2003