Sand of a Sailor

Ruby has been a sailor in the U.S. Navy for the past two years. She is about to get on a flight home to go visit her daughter and her fiancé, who she met in the navy. She couldn’t be more excited. She was honored to have served her country and is now going to be married soon. While leaving her Naval base in Virginia she was headed to the airport to board her flight home to Hercules, California. While at the airport she crossed paths with some of her fellow sailors who were also on their way home. She ran into one of them just as she was getting ready to board her flight. “Hey Spencer!” one of her sailor friends called out. “Before you head home I just wanna tell you that you’re one heck of a sailor. I can tell the military really does run in your blood. Your parents and grandparents should be very proud of you for serving your country with honor.”

Ruby felt so elated to hear this. Those words were affirming to her that she was living with a purpose. As she got on her flight to head home she was seated next to a little boy who had a toy boat is his hand. She looked at the little boy and smiled as he smiled back. “Are you a hero?” the little boy asked. “A hero?” Ruby replied. “My dad said that people in the military are heroes.” the little boy continued. “I wouldn’t say I’m a hero. I was just doing my part in serving my country.” Ruby responded. “Well you look like a hero to me.” The little boy continued.

Ruby’s heart was full from the young child’s words. Though she felt like she was just doing her duty to the nation, the little boys words of encouragement made her feel like she had also honored her family. Ruby came from a bloodline of military veterans. Her mother and father were veterans of the army and her grandfather was also a veteran of the military. As the plane departed from Virginia Ruby looked out of the window by her seat with a sense of longing. She was a California girl who really enjoyed this southern landscape during her time in service, but now she was headed home.

Nearly four hours into her flight, Ruby was flying over the skies of Nevada when the pilot made an announcement over the intercom. “Ladies and gentlemen this is the captain speaking. Return to your seats and make sure your seats and tray tables are in the upright position. We’re having engine trouble and we’re going to attempt an emergency landing.” Ruby along with the rest of the passengers were alarmed. “Is the plane gonna crash?” the little boy asked aloud. “No honey, the plane’s not gonna crash.” Ruby replied while comforting him. She then got up to go investigate as commotion grew among the passengers.

As Ruby hastily made her way to the cockpit the flight attendants along the way allowed her to pass through noticing her military uniform, subconsciously believing that she was able to take control of the situation. When Ruby made it to the cockpit she found that both pilots were visibly concerned, but were doing their best to stabilize the plane and remained in control of themselves. “What’s the situation here?” Ruby asked the pilot and first officer. “It’s gonna be very rocky but thank God we’re low enough for a chance to make a safe landing.” the pilot answered. “Is there anything I can do to help?” Ruby asked. “Yes.” the first officer replied. “You’re a soldier, a veteran of our military who’s trained to handle dangerous situations. Can you go back and help keep everyone calm while we attempt this safe landing?” “Absolutely.” Ruby replied.

Ruby made her way back to the rest of the passengers who were even more shaken than before. “Are we gonna be ok?” one woman asked fearfully. “Yes.” Ruby answered assertively. “One of the engines is failing but the pilots are gonna attempt an emergency landing, so everyone keep your heads down, fasten your seat belts and brace for impact, because it’s gonna be rough landing.” Listening to Ruby as she stood in front of them, everyone made sure their seatbelts were fastened and proceeded to put their heads down. “Grab the hand of the person sitting next to you.” Ruby commanded. As every passenger grabbed a hand, Ruby went and grabbed the hand of the little boy who was sitting next to her. The little boy felt comforted by her as if she was his mother.

As the plane turned downward it began a rocky descent. While holding the little boy’s hand Ruby also used her other hand to grab the hand of a female passenger on her opposite side. Ruby then began saying a prayer for safety. “Heavenly father Lord God please bless us to land safely. In your son Jesus Christ name I pray that we will make it through this ordeal, Heavenly Father.” As the descent continued the oxygen mask were deployed and the screams continued. When everyone screamed their loudest the wheels of the plane suddenly collided with the ground in a forceful manner. While moving at high speed the plane began to gradually slow down while rocking back and forth.

As the screams began to quiet the plane suddenly came to an abrupt stop. Everyone then started cheering in applause. The little boy who was sitting next to Ruby got up to give her a big hug and so did the woman who was holding her hand. As everyone came to, the pilots addressed the passengers over the intercom. “Ladies and gentlemen we have completed our emergency landing and have radioed for rescue, help is on the way. Everyone cheered as the doors were open for everyone to evacuate the plane. Ruby made sure she was the last one out while letting everyone else go ahead of her.

When Ruby finally slid down and made it outside she looked around and realized that she was on the humid desert surface of Las Vegas, Nevada. Ruby laughed at the situation realizing that this was a subtle, yet funny departure from her time in the navy. She also thought it was funny that her time in the navy prepared her for her biggest mission which so happened to find her when she returned to civilian life. “How ironic is this?” she asked herself. “I was buried deep in the ocean during my time as a sailor but now I am engulfed in the desert's parched silence, I was nothing but another grain of sand in the wind.”

~~This story is dedicated to my mother Ruby Lee Spencer who was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. Happy heavenly Veterans Day, mom. Thank you for your service.