Thunderbolts and Lightning - Very, Very Frightening Me!

30 minutes into our flight from Copenhagen to Dusseldorf, just as I was starting to doze in my comfy exit row seat right over the left wing, I heard a big boom, felt the plane jolt and saw a burst of red and silver on the wing.

Lightening struck the plane!

For a second, I thought we could be going down.  From the expressions on the neighboring passenger's faces, I'm guessing it crossed their minds, too.

It was a strange, numbing, smaller than the universe feeling. 

The pilot came on immediately to announce that we'd be turning around to land back in Copenhagen to try and score a new plane.

This was our 2nd flight of the day.  All with the hope of delivering us safely, or at least alive, to the Hookrock Festival in Belgium!

I was bleary-eyed on the first flight after playing a late slot at the Nibe Festival in Denmark, followed by a later hang with band & friends from Germany, DK and Norway, when I heard the pilot nonchalantly announce that en route to pick us up in Copenhagen his plane hit a flock of birds and that "blood and feathers were now being cleaned from the engine."

BIRD STRIKE

Pretty straight shootin' Captain, I'd say.

Let's just say, I'm delighted to be safe and sound on the ground gingerly racing across the Autobahn on four wheels at 210kph to reach our show in Belgium.

It's been a strange last few weeks.

Last week in DK, I came upon a beautiful old Cathedral.  Everything else in the entire town was shut down except for the church, so I went in for some quiet time.

I found myself talking to Don and Donna and had a vision of them playing as kids together in the sunshine, basked in a yellow glow.

An hour later, my Mom wrote to tell me that a perennial they had both pitched in and planted for her on Mother's Day in the mid 70's had just bloomed two flowers...after two decades without blooming.

It's hard to call that a coincidence with Don just passing and the anniversary of Donna's death approaching on July 7th.  Even for you cynics!

Speaking of July 7th...

I really, truly hope to see many of you that evening for our benefit show in Tarrytown, NY.

Please come help me celebrate both Don and Donna's short, precious lives and the gift of music they bestowed upon me.

I should remind you all that Tarrytown is only 25 short minutes from NYC!

The night will be filled with so many special guests who's company I am honored to share.

The price of your ticket will go directly to the Roy White Foundation and the Don Fuchs Fund.

Thank you all in advance for your love and support.

I'm flying back home from Brussels tomorrow, so let's hope lightening really doesn't strike twice.

Love,
Dana