While the softly falling snow outside on the day before
Christmas might signal "Peace on Earth", the inside of the
Fulton County/Brown Filed airport with its harried
passengers fuming as flights get delayed or cancelled and
staff stressed by the complaints seemed to have lost all
the reason for the season.
After a short bittersweet visit with her father who was
living in a Catholic assisted care facility as his
Alzheimer's now necessitated care, the attractive 30ish
year old Lisa Barone stopped by the nearby church to lit
candles for her parents and prayed for peace in her heart
for all the guilt she was carrying. Then, she got in her
van to make the long trip to Asheville, North Carolina to
spend Christmas and to help care for her Aunt Linda who had
broken her hip.
Listening to the radio as she gets on her way, she hears
about the situation at the airport and decides to see if
any of the passengers need a lift. There, she meets up
with passengers Reggie Howard, a proud person now bitter
from the loss of his job; John Sullivan, a busy executive,
Anselmo Casiano, a former Viet Nam veteran; Specialist
Ilena Burton, on a short break from her tour in Iraq; 74
year old Amelia McIntosh, a retired teacher and a very
brittle Marta Hood. Still angry and upset, Marta had just
tossed out her husband and his Christmas presents and had
taken her two children, eight year old Ronny and his 11
year old sister, Nancy to the airport to go to her parents
for a fresh start in life.
After a short debate, the stranded passengers opt to travel
with Lisa in order to get to their friends and relatives in
time for Christmas. They all had urgent reasons to get to
Asheville. Would they get there on time? Was this the
right thing to do?
As they journey together, an avalanche on the road forces
them back and further challenges and traumas occur. With
the intuitive insights of her Cherokee heritage and her
training in observation as a soldier, Ilena finds shelter.
Could this unlikely gathering of people now find the means
to help them get through the night? And why did the old
settler and owner of the small weathered cabin seem to know
just what icicle was stabbing in their hearts?
While Blue Ridge Flight #6224 never gets off the ground,
authors David Saperstein and George Samerjan have created
an uplifting and intriguing Christmas story with just
enough magic to brighten the sparkle on the special tree
and the snow. The characters are strongly sketched and the
personal issues and struggles in their hearts are real and
bring poignant meaning to the importance of relationships
and how they are viewed. This heartwarming story is sure to
bring joy...but gently read it first before you give it as
a
gift! Enjoy!
It's the most wonderful time of the year for some-and the
worst for others. But within the heart of every Christmas,
lies a special surprise for everyone.
Christmas Eve
morning at a crowded airport threatens to become Christmas
Day when a heavy snowfall waylays five strangers on their
way to Asheville, North Carolina. Marta's traveling with two
children and the weight of a bitter divorce on her
shoulders...Andy, a widower and Vietnam vet, reminisces at
the airport bar when he notices the presence of a female
soldier...Specialist Ilena is on leave from Iraq, fraught
with guilt about leaving her comrades. Reggie, a laid-off
assembly worker, contemplates his uncertain future … and
wealthy businessman John is troubled by the untimely death
of his high-powered, workaholic father.
As the
travelers reflect on their lives, a new challenge soon
arises: their plane is grounded. But in the spirit of the
season, a good Samaritan offers to drive them to Asheville.
Then her van gets stuck on a snowy road-and the real journey
begins for an unlikely group who have more in common than
meets the eye as they embark on a magical passage that will
show them the true meaning of Christmas.
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