Today was a beautiful day in the mountains. The day dawned bright with a cloudless blue sky, the sun shone and it was a bone-warming Spring day. But sadly, there was a black cloud overhead.
Eight years ago today it was a sunny blue sky day; I was sitting on our deck and watched Doug fly over the farm in his 'plane. Doug had always wanted to learn to fly and his dear friend and right hand man at the office Doug Low was an accomplished pilot and encouraged Doug. On the weekends, they would meet at the hangar in Belfast, Maine and go flying together, then savor a coffee together after the flight. On 04.06.08, they chose to fly separately in their own 'planes.
After Doug flew over our farm, he cruised back for coffee with Doug Low at the hangar, calling him to let him know he'd put the coffee pot on. When Doug landed at the Belfast airport he was approached by a truck on the runway. Unusual. The driver told Doug "A little red 'plane just went down in the bay". Doug immediately took off and flew over Penobscot Bay.
There was an oil slick.
And that was all.
Something went horribly wrong and Doug Low's 'plane nose-dived into the Bay.
Doug was devastated. Doug Low's family and friends were devastated. In fact, none of us have ever really recovered. Doug Low was a big man with a huge heart, a giant's laugh, a contagious sense of fun.
On this beautiful crisp Spring day that feels so much like 04.06.08, I am looking up at the azure skies and remembering how much Doug Low loved to soar up there.
He would have loved this day.
No comments:
Post a Comment