QUARANTINE BLOG # 530

September 11, 2021

Never Forget!

Chance Encounters

This story is adapted from CNN Travel. Thanks, Amy, for the tip.

Twenty years ago, Nick Marson and Diane Kirschke were strangers on board Continental Airlines flight 5 traveling from London Gatwick to Houston, Texas.  Four hours into the flight, the pilot came over the intercom and announced the airplane would be diverting to Newfoundland, Canada.  “There are problems in US airspace,” the captain said, giving no further details.  The date was September 11, 2001.

Nick was a British businessman who worked in the oil industry. He was heading to Texas for work.  At the other end of the aircraft, Diane, an American divorcee, was returning from visiting her son, a member of the US Air Force stationed in England.

Following the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, US airspace closed and, under an effort dubbed Operation Yellow Ribbon, more than 200 commercial aircraft diverted to Canada.  Nick and Diane’s flight rerouted to Gander, population 10,000.  As Continental 5 was the 36th plane out of 38 to land.  

When Continental 5 landed, the captain told passengers there had been terrorist activity in the US and airplanes had flown into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

One aircraft at a time, the passengers disembarked.  When they got through security, they were greeted with smiles and reassurance.  “They were so friendly and open,” says Diane of the Gander volunteers.  “They just welcomed us.  We just needed help, and they were going to take care of us.”

Nick was taken to a small shelter in Gambo, about 30 miles outside of Gander.  Several hours later – after a detour to a Gander shelter that was full – Diane ended up there too.  The “plane people” lined up to collect blankets and supplies.  As Diane was handed hers, she commented to herself that it smelled of mothballs.

“Camphor,” said a voice behind her.  It was Nick.  The two started chatting, first finding humor in the distinctly scented blankets, and then realizing they’d been on the same airplane heading to Texas.  “I asked Diane if I could take the cot next to hers, and she said, ‘Sure, why not,’” recalls Nick.

The next morning, Nick and Diane went out for some fresh air.  When they returned to the shelter, they found the cots had been temporarily cleared away and evening entertainment was underway.  The Newfoundland volunteers were initiating the “plane people” into a local tradition known as a Screech-In – a way of designating visitors “honorary Newfoundlanders.”  There are several steps to the process, including drinking a shot of screech and kissing a cod fish.

Nick and Diane embraced the ceremony – kissing the cod and all.  When it was Diane’s turn, the master of ceremonies asked her where she was from. She explained she lived in Texas.  The MC then moved on to Nick.

“What part of Texas you from, buddy?” he asked.

“Oh no, I’m from England,” explained Nick.

“Well, how does it work?” asked the MC.

Nick was confused.

“How does your marriage work?” clarified the MC, gesturing to Diane.

Nick and Diane explained they weren’t married – it turned out everyone else had figured they were.

The MC, amused, said he was a justice of the peace. “Do you want to be married?” he asked Nick and Diane.

Diane laughed. “Why not?” she said.  And for the rest of the evening, Diane’s answer kept running through Nick’s mind.

The next day, some of the locals took the now-honorary-Newfoundlanders on an outing to a spectacular local lookout, the Dover Fault.  Nick had his digital camera with him.  He’d already snapped a photo of the moment the Continental 5 passengers had disembarked, as well as shots of the shelter with its makeshift beds.  But there was only one picture he really wanted from his detour to Newfoundland – a photo of Diane.

His camera didn’t have a zoom function, so he had to get pretty close to get her in the shot.  “I offered to get out of the way, because I thought he wanted a picture of this beautiful scenic spot,” recalls Diane.  He told her not to move, and that the view he had was perfect.  “I knew then that it was he was interested in me and not the scenery,” says Diane. 

Five days after the planes had landed in Gander, the aircraft were permitted to leave. Diane recalls, “I was a bit upset because we were leaving these wonderful people – and I’d gotten to know them and their children, and they’d been so sweet to us – and I knew I’d never see them again.  And I probably wasn’t ever going to see Nick again either.  So I was very teary.”

Nick, sat next to Diane, realized she was welling up.  He put his arm around her, and went to kiss on her forehead as a comforting gesture.  “I thought this is my chance,” recalls Diane.  “So I just grabbed him and gave him a nice big kiss.”

Nick stayed in Houston for a few days, checking in with work there. In the evenings, Diane took him out for meals at her favorite restaurants, and before Nick left they exchanged email addresses and telephone numbers.  Back in their respective home countries, Nick and Diane kept in contact, writing long emails about how they were feeling, and about their lives on opposite sides of the Atlantic.  In October 2001, Nick convinced his office that he had to return to Houston to check on a work project.

A month later, in early November 2001, Nick proposed.  Overjoyed, Diane said yes.  After navigating the red tape involved in marrying someone from another country, in September 2002 – almost exactly a year after they’d met – Nick and Diane were married.

For their honeymoon, the Marsons returned to Newfoundland.  Nick and Diane also wanted to host a small get together to thank the Newfoundlanders for their hospitality the year before.  They’d stayed in touch with many of the people they’d met, and felt they owed them so much.  But Nick and Diane underestimated the extent of the Newfoundlanders hospitality.

“We turn up and there’s a full blown wedding reception,” recalled Nick.

“Complete with a multi-layer wedding cake, gifts, candlelight, the head table had champagne,” added Diane.

During their five days stranded in Newfoundland, Nick and Diane were forced to live for the day – it was that mindset led them together and it’s a mantra they’ve stuck with in the years since.  “Make the most of every day, make the most of it,” says Diane. “Because who knows how many days anyone has.”

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

-30-