>This is the Plane

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Not the greatest pic, it was early and on a phone..but its them.
This is the plane.
This is the plane that took the team to Haiti.
 This is the pilot.
This is the pilot that flew the plane.
This is the pilot that answered the call.
This is the pilot that answered the call, that flew the plane, that took the team to Haiti.
These are (some of) the pallets.
These are the pallets that are part of the supplies.
These are the pallets that are part of the supplies, that were flown by the pilot, that answered the call, to fly the plane, to take the team to Haiti.
This is the team.
(photo h/t: Cindy)
This is the team that went with the pallets, that were flown by the pilot, that answered the call, to fly the plane, to take the team to Haiti.
OK OK
You get the idea.  (Sorry, it’s been that kind of week, getting punchy.)
It’s a team effort and a logistical nightmare to get a team to Haiti!
But I want to throw out a “hooray for you” and special notice to the pilot here.
He answered a call, at the last minute, for help.
Tom and the team arrived in Fort Lauderdale expecting to fly out early yesterday morning (wed the 27th).  The private corporate jet that was scheduled to take them to Jacmel was snagged by, um, corporate stuff of some sort.  So there they were, w/ over a ton of supplies: 3/4 ton medical, food, etc.
All ready to go.
But no plane no plane!
Finally this pilot came through.
ALL the way from DALLAS!
He flew in, and they were racing the sun.
They had to get the plane loaded and refueled in time to land and take off in Jacmel.  No runway lights in Jacmel, of course.  Well, it wasn’t happening.  The sun was setting.  But this morning, they did it.
They took off.  Cheering all around.
And the other part that no one will ever see is that this pilot, Mike Gibson, will also make a second trip today.  That second trip is just as important as the first.  All those supplies couldn’t fit on that plane, and the team, in one trip.  So he is dropping the first load and the team, returning to Ft. Lauderdale, loading the rest up and flying back to Jacmel.  Today.  Before the sun sets again.  Whew. I’m tired just thinking about it.
Good for him!
Good for him for doing this, at huge personal expense – both time AND money.
So I want to say hooray for him!
If you need a small plane and are in the area,  go use his biz.
I’m thinking he’s a good guy, a good egg.
So, Mike, thank you!
That’s Michel Gibson,  of Michels Aviation
Coffeedoc and the team did!
And I just got a text, they are in Jacmel, Haiti, safe and sound.  
Thanks Mike!

>Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas

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Now there are many reasons to be fond of St. Thomas Aquinas, especially here in our little/big family.  First off, of course, there is my dearest Coffeedoc, who, as we all know, is really named Thomas.  Such a great name. 

Other reasons run from loving the Dominicans, in general, and these ones, in particular…..to the fact that he is a patron of scholars and academics, he was underestimated and considered to be slow; dim even. 

 Our wonderful Nashville Dominicans….love them!

Little did his contemporaries know, he was a genius.  A future Doctor of the Church; by which I mean, he is an “authorized teacher” of the Church.   You want to learn good solid doctrine? Go read up on some St. Thomas Aquinas! Anyhow, this silent genius was also made fun of, just like so many of us, he was um, larger than the standard….and between his silence and his bulk he was often called the “Dumb Ox.”  Awwww.  That’s just mean.  And at University!  Sheesh!

Anyhow, the point being: he is a saint for us all.  If you a hyper intellectual, a struggling student, someone struggling with their excess girth, ahem, someone who is underestimated, bullied, someone trying to live a chaste life (Which we all should, but that’s another post.  And get your mind out of the gutter, “chaste” doesn’t have to mean prudish or pathetic.), teachers, Italians, aficionados of Italy….you name it.  In our house we will have a particular devotion to St. Thomas, asking him for prayers for our Buddybug as he ventures forth, all too soon, to study here for a semester. 

But really, almost any way you look at it, or him, St. Thomas Aquinas is a good egg, all around.   

St. Thomas Aquinas is a saint to learn a bit more about, and one much needed in our confused post modern times.

Happy Feast Day!
St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for us!