Friday, December 28, 2007

Flight 96

I am on vacation. I guess you guys would be wondering about these vacations I take at the drop of a hat. I have a contract job so anytime I get fed up with things, I just drop everything and take a breather. In 2006 I worked non-stop for nine months before i took a vacation for one week. I didnt really enjoy myself because I was too tired to stay awake and tour the great city of New York. The only meaningful thing I did was to go on Broadway and watch The Producers, a great experience indeed. Ok, then went to the street mall at Furdham and spent all my life savings shopping for my nieces and nephew.My sisters were amazed but guess what, I didnt buy a single item for them. They didnt find that funny though.
I decided to travel on Christmas morning to the East Coast. I didnt wanna go through the hassels of organizing christmas lunches and dinners for the entire family so I bailed out, wanting to go where I would be a guest not the glorified caterer and maid rolled into one.

The airport was quiet and for a moment I thought the planes were grounded because of the weather. We boarded and took off on time. Half an hour into the flight, the Captain's voice came out loud and clear over the speakers informing us that we should remain seated at least for the next one hundred miles because there was gonna be so much turbulence. God knows I hate flying already, then this??? I tried to dose off to no avail. I increased the volume of the country music I was listening to, trying to block out the sounds made by the engines of the aircraft or better still block out the fact that I was thousands of miles above ground. Then it started. The shaking, the trembling and the slight dives.I was terrified.

I have a habit of studying the flight attendants. By their faces ye shall know your fate.I was really praying for mercy when I looked up and sighted one of the flight attendants walking down the aisle holding the compartments railing for support, shook her head sadly at her colleague at the end of the aisle. Now what was that???? Apparently I wasnt the only one who saw that gesture because a man suddenly shouted from behind me.
'' What the hell is going on'? The lady stopped short.
''Nothing' she said.
''Nothing my ass. I need to know what the hell is going on with this plane. A man gotta know if he's gonna die'' he shouted angrily. Passengers started getting excited and the flight attendant quickly made her way to the back of the aircraft. Kids started getting restless, people started getting up.

An elderly man got up and spoke in gentle tones telling everybody to be calm. Another guy got up, he had the longest ponytail I had ever seen on a man and he looked like a tatoo shop.
''Who the fuck do you think you are old man?'' he screamed. 'Do you think I wanna die? I wanna know what the fuck is wrong with this plane''
''Will you guys stop it? a lady with a screaming baby cried out over the bedlam.
People started cursing the airline and the twenty-something-year-olds planes they make people buy expensive tickets for. The flight attendants looked on. The frigging plane was still shaking and trembling.
''There is nothing wrong with the plane, its the weather''
''Fuck the weather''
''what kind of fucked up flight is this?

I knew it was the weather but I was too paralysed with fear to think straight. My whole body was trembling expecting the plane to nose dive any minute. There and then I knew I love life. I wanted to live and It was that thought that gave me strenght and focus to pray.
'' Father Lord, please have mercy. Have mercy on me. Please do not let me regret this trip. Father today is christmas and I can not die on a christmas day. Everybody in my family will go crazy if anything should happen to me, I plead the blood of Jesus on my body,my spirit and my soul''
I raised my voice as my trembling reduced. I could feel people turning to look at me. I prayed very loud and I could feel them going back to their seats one by one.In a short time, the passengers were all quiet. I prayed non-stop till we landed.

When I got to baggage claim, I sat down for half an hour before getting my bags. My legs were shaking so badly I could hardly walk. That flight was indeed fucked up. I thank God that we landed safely.

17 comments:

Eyin'ju Oluwa said...

Chei, i can just feel the trauma! Thank God oh...i hate flying as well. Infact, i was writing a mental will on my last trip sef, then i realised i dont even have much lol..anyways we thank God..it is well. 2008 will find us all hail and hearty in Jesus name, AMEN!! Happy new year!!

Naapali said...

I am thankful you are alive. It appears hysteria amongst the passengers made an uncomfortable flight into a nightmarish one.

This 2007 has been special in many ways, one of them has been learning about your joy for life, expressed in your childhood love for your nursery school boyfriend, reading about the untimely demise of King Rooster, your unsanctioned trips in your neighborhood.

Take care and keep writing.

little miss me said...

i hate flying and the slightest turbulence drives me nuts.thank goodness you got to your destination in one piece.

Bubbles said...

Thank God u are safe. I cannot imagine what i would have done in that kind of situation.

Anonymous said...

wow... so glad you are alive and well.
thank God!

PS happy new year!!

KMalinkaVintage said...

GOD SAVED YOU. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Orientatednaijababe said...

HAPPY NEW YEAR....

Eyin'ju Oluwa said...

Hey babe...happy new yr again:)

Carlang said...

Glad to know you're okay.
Here's my New year wish.
That You'll experience less trauma from flying.
Biggity Baggity Boom!
Have a lovely New year.

Lovely writeup by the way!

rethots said...

...and He whispered; "I will add to your joy this year."
HAppy New Year.

Allied said...

Dag.. what a show? i dont think i would have stayed calm myself with all those people shouting.

But We thank God for your life. I hope you enjoyed your holiday and your return flight was not as crazy.

Happy new Year

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year Yayi!!! hope you enjoyed your vacation :-)

anonymous gal(retired blogger) said...

BY THERE FACES U SHALL KNOW YOUR FATE? CHEI NOW I HAVE HEARD IT ALL. PS I THINK I LOVE YOUR JOB

Initium said...

Thank God He saved you guys! Good on you for praying boldly like that! Hope you have a great, peaceful new year!

Sam Oracle said...

Your story made me laugh.
Thank God it was not tragic, you could make a movie with it.
The Old man, ponytail guy and all of them are the characters.

Happy new year

anonymous gal(retired blogger) said...

my dear wr u at now?

yayi said...

Thank you guys for your love and concern. I am trying to recover from this nasty flu i caught somewhere, dont know where.
I promise to be back soon, as soon as i can eat by myself and not wanting to faint afterwards. lol
i am getting better though. Thanks y'all.