Behind the bulkhead

“A BIG THANKS to everyone for letting us get to visit and helping me surprise Terri with a marriage proposal on the L1011...that worked out better than I could have ever imagined! 
 
Terri and I were both TWA flight attendants back in the late 70's and we first noticed each other during a preflight briefing held prior to a L1011 flight from New York to Chicago in June 1978.   That day I recall Terri was standing during the briefing in between the seats at the back row of the first class cabin.  Little did I know that she had noticed me and was as struck with me as I was with her from that very first moment.  We worked the flight, but took every opportunity to enjoy playful moments...like repeatedly re-introducing ourselves with "hello my name is Jon..."  or any excuse we could find to talk to each other! The most memorable moment for me however, and what ignited a spark in my heart, was when she ambushed me behind the Ambassador Class cabin bulkhead - and in a flash grabbed me by my tie, and pulled me close to her.  With her eyes mischievously sparkling she quickly darted away!   We were very young at the time and continued a good friendship without really disclosing the true feelings we had for each other, and as time went on we lost contact with each other.

First Meeting

Later I left TWA to work with the FAA.  BUT during the spring of 2010, almost 32 years after that first L1011 flight, I located Terri on Facebook and contacted her.  Following many hours of typing, texting and phone calls we decided we had to meet each other again and so on June 23rd I paid her a visit in Kansas City...  As she opened the door, it was another "you had me at hello" moment, just like the one 32 years before!    

A special location

So thanks to everyone at the AHM, on Wednesday the 29th, after touring the Museum - I took my very unaware sweetheart to the L-1011.  We revisited the area behind the bulkhead where she had grabbed me by the tie...and then we went up to the first class cabin and she stood about where she did over 32 years before.  I approached her and asked her to sit down, I then knelt down and said "32 years ago, you were the girl that made my heart beat fast, made me weak in the knees and you took my breath away when I looked at you!  Now, 32 years later, you're still the one that makes my heart beat fast, makes me go weak in the knees and takes my breath away and I don't want to live without you - will you marry me!



And....

AND SHE SAID..... YES, YES, YES! “

Jon and Terri will be married here at the AHM in February!  These photos were taken by Don Belmont, a self-proclaimed "Roswell Rowdy" as he was part of the crew in Roswell that helped to get the L-1011 ready for its trip to KC and is now a highly valued volunteer working on it and everything else here!