This is the first blog I have ever written and I'm very excited to do it. I thought it might be nice to start things off by telling you how Air Companions got started. Actually, it was my sister, Molly, who gave me the idea. She has a transportation business named Safe Care and often, in the summer, transports children who have flown in from all over the world to attend a summer camp here in Maine. Molly meets the children at airports throughout the United States and accompanies them to the camp. Because she spends so much time in airports she started to "people watch" and she noted many elderly and disabled adults who clearly needed assistance. Molly told me about this need and Air Companions was born! On the right I have posted a picture of my beautiful baby sister. She is deep in thought. Probably coming up with new ideas of how to make money. :)
Even though Molly gave me the idea I really think the seeds of Air Companions started many years ago when I was in my twenties. I went to Florida to accompany my grandparents home to Maine. Grampa Nate and Grammie Ruth were retired and resided for a few years in Florida. Sadly, my grandfather was diagnosed with terminal cancer and they made the decision to move back to Maine to be near family. When my grandparents flew back to Maine I went to Florida to accompany them as my grandfather was quite ill. Shortly after returning home my sweet Grampa Nate passed away. Several years later when Grammie Ruth was 80 years old she traveled back to Florida to visit old friends for a week or so. Grammie had always been a very independent and capable woman. But, since she was traveling alone she felt somewhat vulnerable and decided to pay the extra expense for an airport escort. For some reason, the escort never materialized and Grammie had to find her way alone. In the Florida airport that she was flying out of she had to take an escalator to the lower level. Somehow Grammie tripped and fell the entire length of the escalator. Miraculously, she did not break any bones or sustain severe injuries. But my dear grandmother was never the same again. That terrible fall really traumatized her and her health failed over the next few years. She passed away at 83 years old. She's been gone about 10 years now and I miss her still. I just know that both of grandparents last experiences with flying were the seeds of my business, Air Companions. Above I have posted a picture of my grandparents, standing by my parents pool, when they were were in their sixties.