Miss Martha

The Universe has a funny way of taking your life plans and just absolutely ripping them apart, soaking them in gasoline, and then feeding them to the fire. You sit there in absolute disbelief and just watch your plans burn to delicate little embers. As you’re sitting there trying to figure whether to scream or cry or throw up, you continue to watch the embers. You watch them grow into this magnificent flame and you feel a calm settle over you. You let your eyes close and you take in the warmth of the fire, and the delicious, smoky scent. When you open your eyes, you are able to appreciate the fire in all of its glory and you realize the fire would not be there without the kindling of your plans.

It is 5:24 in the morning and I am on my way to airport after receiving a call from scheduling two hours ago. This is not an uncommon occurrence when you are a flight attendant with no seniority and you are on your “availability days”, meaning you are on call. Even though it happens very often and I know it is what I signed up for when I accepted the job, it still sucks. Getting woken up at 3:09 am hurts. My eyes hurt, my head hurts, my hair hurts. I’m just so tired, but nevertheless I drive to the airport to fly the friendly skies.

The next hour passes in a blur. I am the “lead flight attendant” or “the A” as we call it. I brief my crew in the lounge and we head to our gate. We are working a Boston turn which I do not mind because it will be a quick trip. It is early enough that the passengers are still docile and there have been no delays yet. We begin boarding with our pre-boards meaning military personnel, families, people who need extra assistance, etc. Our first passenger to board is an elderly woman in a wheel chair. She has fiery red hair, bright green eyes, red lipstick, and white boots on. As she is getting out of her wheelchair, I ask her if she needs any assistance. She looks at me with her green eyes, smiles and says, “Hon, I just request this thing because I have walked enough in my life and I deserve to rest my feet.” She and I laugh together, and I introduce myself as Allie. I help her with her bags as she sits in 1A. I tell her if she needs anything else to just let me know. This is when she requests a glass of champagne and I already know I am going to like this lady.

Boarding goes smoothly and soon enough we are taking off. Once the seat belt sign is off I get up and walk through the first-class cabin. It isn’t full, and most of the passengers are asleep. I check on 1A and I ask her if she needs anything. She asks me for another glass of champagne and a black coffee. I go to the galley and grab her drinks. As I drop them off, she asks me to sit with her because she is bored. I laugh and look at the empty seat next to her, and then look at the rest of the cabin. Everyone is asleep so I take the empty 1B seat.

1A’s full name is Martha Lucille Hamilton Callahan, but she tells me to call her Miss Martha. Miss Martha begins to ask me all about my job, which is fairly normal because passengers are generally very curious about the life of a flight attendant. I tell her about how I wasn’t happy in the 9 to 5 life and that I wanted to see the world. Becoming a flight attendant seemed like the natural step for me to take.

“How long have you been flying for, hon?”

“I’ve been flying for four years now.”

“And what do you plan to do next?”

I look at her and smile. I point to the cockpit door and say “I plan to fly the plane next. I don’t how I am going to make it happen, but that is what I dream of.”

Miss Martha’s eyes light up with absolute joy. She asks me, “Well what is stopping you right now? Why haven’t you started the process?” I explain to her it is very expensive and that I have been applying for scholarships, but nothing has come through. Miss Martha nods her head and pats my hand. “You will make it happen. I see a fire in you that reminds me of myself, and I make things happen.” I smile and stand up to go check on the rest of the passengers.

I come back after walking through and sit with Miss Martha, and she tells me about her life. As it turns out she is very wealthy. Her wealth comes from old family money, but also from two deceased husbands. She tells me of the time she went to Las Vegas and hustled all the men in poker, of the time she convinced a pilot in South America to let her fly the airplane even though she had no prior experience, and of the time she smoked pot with policemen in Amsterdam. Miss Martha tells me these stories and so many more. I know my eyes are glowing with admiration and maybe even a little jealousy. I ask her if she could give any advice to me, what would it be? She pauses and thinks for a moment. When Miss Martha looks to me, she looks as if she may cry tears of joy. She says, “Light your soul on fire and watch what else will catch with it.”

Before she gets off the plane Miss Martha and I exchange contact information because she would like to stay in touch. I oblige and genuinely hope to hear from her. As I fly back to Atlanta, I think about how amazing it is that I was able to meet Miss Martha because someone called out last minute, and they needed me to cover. I don’t feel so upset about getting a wake-up call at 3:09 am anymore.

A few months go by and Miss Martha and I exchange a few emails here, a few texts there. It is nothing earth shattering, I just think likes to have a pay pen. Then one day I notice I haven’t heard from her in a few weeks and I become concerned. I try to call but no answer. I don’t have anyone else’s contact information and I’m at a loss of what to do. The next day I receive a package. It is from a one Miss Martha Lucille Hamilton Callahan. Inside the package is a black Moleskin Notebook and inside the notebook is a check. The check is written for $20,000. I sit there in utter disbelief. This cannot be right; this cannot be real. I go back to look in the notebook to see if there is anything written. There is a note from Miss Martha.

It reads:

Dearest Allie,

If you are receiving this it means I have passed on. Please do not be sad, hon. It was my time. I lived a very full life and I am resting now. Now I want to make sure you live a very full life and chase after your dreams. Please use this money to become a pilot. Nothing would make me happier. Remember, hon, light your soul on fire and watch what else catches with it.

With love,

Martha

I sit with tears in my eyes. I am so sad and so grateful all at once. Again, my plans have been ripped and burned, but I sit and watch the fire glow. I take in the warmth and I let that warmth spread through my body. I let it set my soul on fire. I’m ready to see what catches.