Freedom

This evening by chance we switched on the tv and there was a documentary by dutch television about canadian students who were coming to the Netherlands to commemorate the liberation of the Netherlands by the canadian forces on May 5th, 1945, some 65 years ago.
It was an interesting program and I felt intrigued and I kept watching. I was surprised to learn about the canadian students' plan to visit Holland. They "adopt" an individual soldier who gave his life in the war to fight for freedom and liberty and against the very same people I am a descendant from. It deeply impressed me that those young Canadians were so dedicated to honor these men by visiting their graves in Holland. While watching the program I surely shed a tear 'cause it deeply touched me. I felt very emotional about Holland's national holiday today.

Yesterday, during my shift at the airport, at 20.00 hours there were two minutes of silence to remember those who gave their lives. I always find it extremely touching to experience how a normally busy airport completely falls in silence and no one moves or says something. It always gives me shivers and honestly I have to fight tears 'cause I find it very emotional when they end the two minutes with playing the dutch national anthem. I don't know why it strikes me so deeply, but I know it does.

How lucky I am and thankful I should be for living here and now. I should think about this more often and come to realize how little and insignificant my personal individual daily problems are. I should cherish the freedom I have, in every way.

Tragedy

Yesterday I was touched by the death of the german goalkeeper Robert Enke, aged 32. He took his life by jumping before a train. It was said he was depressed and never overcame the death of his daughter (2.5 years). He leaves his wife and an eight month old adopted daughter behind.

I think it's a tragedy that no one could help this man to overcome his grief for his child. It's a pity the only way out for him was to find the way to his deceased daughter. It was heartbreaking to see his wife on tv giving a press conference - amazing how strong that woman was, how she spoke of their hopes to overcome the loss of their daughter with their love for each other that as she said glued them even more together. Sadly, it was not enough for Robert.

MILK

David, the friend who's living in the U.S. recently pointed my attention to a new movie that will premiere in the U.S. in November. I'm very interested to see it as it's telling an important story:

A tragedy.

Spanair Business class
Originally uploaded by CruisAir

Yesterday, unfortunately a flight of Spanair crashed during take off from Madrid's Barajas airport killing more than 150 people on board.
I would like to extend my deep felt condolences to the families of the victims.

My dearest Dani tried to call me to inform me about it but I was asleep after an early shift at work and did not hear him. But when I heard about the tragic news when Jelle called me from work to inform me it made me very sad. As some of you might know I work for a partner airline of Spanair and I must honestly say that it feels weird, so close suddenly. The older I get the more such tragic events touch me. Aviation is one of my hobbies and I am always interested in airlines and aircraft but this is sadly one of the very dark sides of this hobby, to deal with death and destruction, loss and grief. Even though for me it's only distant as an interested observer. But in this case it comes a little closer, for several reasons: I have flown a Spanair MD aircraft recently (it was a different version of the crashed aircraft) and the airline and the aircraft took me safely to my destiny: Madrid Barajas. I go to Madrid quite often lately to see my very dearest of all friends and naturally I am more alert in any sense of the word of all things that happen in Madrid. It interests me more, it touches me deeper, it affects me more. I am sometimes even frightened something terrible might happen to the ones I love there and I might not know about it, might not be able to do something about it. I pray it never will.
I did feel comfortable and safe though on the Spanair flight and I would fly them again, any time soon. Though I understand that some media are now speculating about possible maintenance issues due to job cuts to reduce costs at Spanair. That's purely speculating at this point and we will have to wait for the final report to see what crashed the plane.

I will think of the victims' souls this night, passengers' as well as those of my colleagues (even though not colleagues directly but like me they were airliners) who lost their lives and the souls of those who are left behind without their loved ones. It is impossible to understand the pain they must feel now but I will think of all of them tonight - I cannot change a bit but I want to express my sorrow. That's why I felt I had to write a few words about this tragedy.