My Guys, Part Two

by Harriette Maxcey

December 2, 1996

{ EMOTION }

Emotion, a noun, expressing many different feelings; JOY, LOVE, HATE, INDIFFERENCE, PLEASURE, RAPTURE. That little lurch your heart takes when something grabs a piece of your chest and won't let go!

Returning briefly to the sad little tale of Ann, the stewardess in MY GUYS who lost her husband and small child to a drunk driver just before Christmas! the emotions in this case ran the gamit. The tears flowed like a river, the heart-break was never ending! The only consolation was in deep and never-ending prayer!

I remember meeting with her in the crew lounge several years after the tragedy when we were both waiting for our flights. After expressing my heart-felt sympathy for her loss she seemed anxious to talk about the events in detail.

She readily admitted that she was kept on tranquilizers throughout the funeral and long into the trial. She felt as if her life had ended and truly she wished it had! She couldn't face that MURDERER or even look at him with the malice she felt for him deep in her heart! Ann collapsed completely after the ordeal. She stopped working for six long devastating months, before she could come to terms with her emotions.

It took many months for her metamorphoses to take place but eventually she became her old self once again. The beginning of the new year she went back to work throwing her whole self into her work and taking any and all flights that she was offered. The only thing that gave her a start was the blue uniform of an airline officer coming toward her! Her heart lept in it's cavity and her breath caught in her throat. "Oh, Michael how I miss you!" But as most people do she survived and went on with her work and the charities that she participated in especially children's activities. Ann's social life meant nothing to her she spent most of her free time visiting with her in-laws, they being as desolate as she!

One soft Spring morning on her way to work she picked up her mail on the way out, and stuffed it in her pocketbook, hoping for time to read it later. The day progressed as it usually did, nothing different happening. When she arrived home she opened her bag and took out the forgotten mail. There was one unusual piece of mail that she couldn't identify, she slit open the envelope and took out the large piece of paper, unfolded it and read: "Dear Mrs. O'Callahan, I know I'm the last person you want to hear from. But I must express my sincere sorrow regarding your husband and little boy! I know your thoughts are not in any way resting on me! But please, know I haven't had one moment's piece since the accident. A foolish Christmas party ending your life and happiness forever! I am truly sorry for the event and I would gladly relive that time over again if I could but change the outcome. I swear I will never touch alcohol again!"

This was the beginning of a year of letters back and forth between the two. The next unexpected thing that came about was during the end of Fall, when the doorbell rang and Ann not expecting anyone answered it, to be face to face with a stranger. His hair was salt & pepper grey, a truly handsome man and one she would never forget!

The first night of their meeting they talked and talked far into the night, they cried and cried on each other's shoulders, until there were no more tears left!

The two lonely people found they both had much in common. She, of course losing her husband and child. He, losing his wife and family to divorce!

The following Spring these two kindred souls were married!