The Unforgettable Bond Formed by Two Strangers on a Fateful Christmas Eve Flight, Nurturing Lifelong Friendship
When their flight got delayed on Christmas Eve 1975, Cathy Poyser and Debbie Abbott, in their twenties, forged an extraordinary bond at the airport bar Little did they know that this chance encounter would shape their lives forever, leading to a lifelong friendship
Upon hearing the announcement of her delayed flight, Cathy Poyser's heart sank. It was Christmas Eve in 1975 at LAX Airport. Cathy, who had relocated to Los Angeles earlier that year, was eager to return to her hometown of Yakima, Washington.
Filled with hope and excitement, 23-year-old Cathy left Washington for California. To her, Yakima seemed confining and she longed to experience big city living.
"I grew up in a small town and wanted to be somewhere with more to do," Cathy shared with CNN Travel today.
She had discovered a cozy apartment in the San Fernando Valley that she had personalized to her liking. Her job was fulfilling and her co-workers were much older than her, but they were all friendly and welcoming. Despite this, Cathy lacked friends her own age and felt isolated and lonely in the bustling city. She couldn't shake the feeling that moving to Los Angeles on her own was a mistake.
"I was really starting to feel like maybe this wasnt where I was supposed to be," says Cathy.
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As she prepared to return home to her parents house for the holidays, Cathy decided that when she got there, shed tell them she was moving back for good.
As Cathy joined the check-in line and found out the flight was delayed, it felt like the last straw - nothing was going right. Trying to shake off her feelings of dejection, she was surprised when the woman in line in front of her turned around, smiled, and started chatting.
In her late forties, she exuded a friendly, warm demeanor that immediately won Cathy over. Next to her stood a woman who appeared to be around Cathy's age, and she also smiled, albeit more shyly. "I'm Millie," the older woman introduced herself. "This is my daughter, Debbie. Where are you heading?"
"Im Cathy," said Cathy. "Im going to Yakima, Washington."
"Well, were trying to go to Eugene, Oregon," said Millie. "But were not going anywhere right now. So why dont we all go get a drink?"
It was 11 a.m. But Cathy only hesitated for a moment. Millie and Debbies friendly presence was an immediate comfort. The three women headed to the airport bar.
Airport friendship
Here's Debbie and Cathy photographed in 1976, the year after they met in the airport.
During their order, Millie, Debbie, and Cathy chatted. Debbie shared that she was 24 years old and originally from California. She explained that she lived in a town called Norwalk, located about 15 miles east of Los Angeles. She mentioned that she and her mother were traveling to Oregon to visit family for the holidays.
Cathy found Debbie to be a delightful conversationalist - funny, friendly, and easy to chat with. When Millie returned to the table with a round of drinks, her vivacious and chatty personality kept the conversation flowing. It almost seemed as if Millie recognized Cathy's loneliness and was acting as a "friend matchmaker" by introducing her to Debbie.
Cathy recalls, "Millie had managed to get our seats changed before we boarded the flight so that we could sit together and keep chatting." Despite having different destinations, Cathy, Millie, and Debbie were all on the same flight with Hughes Airwest, a regional airline once associated with billionaire Howard Hughes. The plane was scheduled to fly along the west coast with several stops along the way.
Despite the delay and the frustrations of many of the passengers, there was a jolly atmosphere on board.
"We got on the plane and all the flight attendants had Santa hats," recalls Cathy.
On each occasion the plane touched down, let off passengers, and took off again, the passengers still on board were treated to complimentary drinks as a gesture of apology for the delay.
Cathy recalls, "Every time we took off again, there was another drink waiting for me on my tray. It really lifted our spirits."
Upon arriving in Eugene, Millie and Debbie got off the aircraft and made sure to exchange contact information with Cathy before parting ways. "I asked her if she had any plans for New Year's Eve and she said no. So, I gave her my phone number and told her she was welcome to stay at my house," Debbie reminisces.
"Suddenly I had a friend who was my age," says Cathy.
She was crying alone at an airport. Then she met her future best friend
Christmas and New Year
At Yakima, Cathys family picked her up from the airport. She was thrilled to see them, but the day drinking had also taken its toll.
"I don't even remember disembarking from the plane," she chuckled. "I was still feeling the effects by the time I reached home."
Upon her return to her parents' house, Cathy found her brother and sister-in-law, along with their young children, waiting for her. The family had eagerly anticipated Cathy's arrival and were eager to exchange gifts.
Cathy quickly dozed off on the couch. "I can recall one of the boys - they were about four and six back then. One of them came over and sat next to me, trying to wake me up," Cathy reminisces.
On Christmas Day, Cathy sat at the kitchen table with her mother, feeling more like herself after sleeping off any potential hangover from the night before.
"Tell me about your flight, aside from the drinking," Cathys mom asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I met these really nice people," Cathy explained. "They gave me their numbers. I think Ill call them when I get back."
She mentioned that Debbie had invited her round for New Years Eve.
"Thats great," said Cathys mother encouragingly. "You should take her up on that."
"Yeah, I think I will," said Cathy. "I really liked her."
Cathy's festive break in Washington flew by in a joyful haze of family, delicious food, and holiday festivities. As she prepared to return to California, Cathy felt more excited than nervous.
Cathy expressed, "Just a few days ago, I was considering talking to my parents about moving back home. And now, I'm thinking about making a new friend and getting to know someone down there." Upon reuniting with Cathy, Debbie was thrilled and had never doubted that Cathy would reach out.
"I just had this warm feeling about our meeting. And just somehow I knew Cathy was going to call," she says.
Two strangers shared a hotel room. They became best friends for life
Becoming friends
Here's Debbie and Cathy photographed in 1984.
Debbie Abbott and Cathy Poyser
Cathy called and attended Debbie's New Year's Eve party. Afterward, Cathy stayed over and experienced her first earthquake the next day. Earthquakes are more common in California than in Washington, so Cathy was puzzled that Debbie was so calm about the whole thing.
Debbie recalls, "She asked, 'What do I do? Where do I go?' I told her, 'Cathy, honey, that was nothing. It's over. Just sit down and relax.' We've been close ever since."
"The rest, as they say, is history," says Cathy. "We just kept hanging out.
After she met Debbie, Cathys Californian world opened up. Debbie introduced her to her gang of friends, for one.
"After a short time, a few people my age joined the same workplace in the spring, and I ended up befriending them," Cathy remembers.
"Honestly, Debbie and her mom played a major role in my decision to stay in Southern California, as Millie really took me under her wing. I used to joke that she was my California mother."
Millie called Cathy and asked her to come over for dinner, insisting that Cathy take home containers filled with food before leaving. I had a feeling of warmth and knew that Cathy would reach out to me.
Debbie Abbott
Meanwhile, Cathy and Debbie met up regularly as a pair, and talked regularly on the phone in between hang-outs.
Debbie mentioned that there was always a reason to go shopping, regardless of the destination. Even a visit to Rodeo Drive was not necessarily about making purchases. "We couldn't afford anything, but it was enjoyable to browse," Cathy added.
Debbie recalls that Dodger Stadium, the LA Dodgers' home, was one of their go-to spots. They would buy $4 bleacher seats and splurge the rest of their money on the famous 10-inch hot dogs named after the baseball team.
"We had a blast at those Dodger games - but honestly, it was all about those Dodger dogs," Debbie says with a laugh.
Debbie and Cathy loved going to Dodger Stadium to watch the LA Dodgers play.
Debbie Abbott and Cathy Poyser
In late 1976, Cathy planned another trip back to her hometown. She decided not to fly this time - partly to avoid more flight delays, partly to save money.
Debbie recalled asking her friend Deb to go on a road trip to Washington and meet her family. They planned to drive through the night, but the heavy rain made it difficult to see the road ahead. To make matters worse, they ended up getting a flat tire.
Cathy vividly remembers pulling off to the side of the road in the pouring rain, with no cell phones or any means of help. As darkness fell, a kind stranger came to their aid, refusing any payment but accepting some sandwiches and cookies Millie had packed for their trip.
Debbie and Cathy saw travel mishaps as part of the adventure, embracing them instead of despairing over them. After all, that's what had initially brought them together.
Upon finally reaching Washington, Debbie received a warm welcome from Cathy's parents.
Debbie's father passed away when she was a teenager, and Cathy's father quickly became a surrogate father figure to her.
"I adored her parents. The first time I met her dad, he said, 'Come here, kid. Give me a hug.' They were such a wonderful family," recalls Debbie.
Millie, Debbie's mother, later became acquainted with Cathy's parents. Whenever Cathy's family visited town, they would meet up with Millie. "Her mom formed a strong connection with my parents, and they formed one with her," Cathy says.
"It was meant to be," says Debbie.
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Connected for life
Here's Debbie and Cathy photographed in the 1990s. They stayed in touch even with Cathy moved away from California.
Debbie Abbott and Cathy Poyser
For the next 17 years, Cathy made her home in California and remained close friends with Debbie. In the early 1990s, she relocated to Washington when her company opened a new division in Seattle. This provided Cathy with a great job opportunity and also allowed her to be closer to her aging parents. "My parents were getting older at that point," Cathy explains.
After relocating, Cathy and Debbie stayed close friends. Cathy frequently traveled to California for work and maintained regular phone conversations with Debbie. The two friends also enjoyed taking trips together, including visits to Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, and a memorable excursion to Las Vegas to see Paul Anka, fondly remembered by Cathy.
Today, Debbie and Cathy, both in their 70s, have not lived close to each other for more than 30 years. However, they have remained close and provided support to each other over the years.
Cathy believes that maintaining friendship requires effort and cannot be taken for granted. She feels that the people who have remained in her life are the ones who are meant to be there, including Debbie. This belief has made it easy for them to sustain their friendship.
Debbie shares, "It's not necessarily every week, but we make sure to stay in touch. We never forget each other's birthdays - I'll even call and serenade her terribly over the phone. It takes effort, but staying connected doesn't have to be complicated. Send a birthday card to your friend - or give them a terrible singing performance over the phone."
Here's a recent photo of Cathy (left) and Debbie (right). The two friends hope to reunite soon.
Debbie Abbott and Cathy Poyser
Both women have recently experienced the loss of close friends, leading them to cherish their loved ones even more and appreciate the impact of those who have passed away. They fondly remember Millie, Debbie's mother, who played a significant role in their airport meeting.
Cathy, who visited Debbie to uplift her spirits after a hip replacement, shared, "We've experienced the loss of Deb's mom, both my parents, and other close family members. On top of that, we've both encountered health challenges over the years. Despite all of this, I can always rely on Deb for a good chat. Our conversations never fail to bring a smile to my face and lift my spirits, which is exactly what you need in a friend during tough times."
I always know I can call Deb and talk to her. And well probably be laughing by the time were done with our conversation, which is always a good thing to have in a friend.
Cathy Poyser
Because of health concerns and the pandemic, the two friends haven't been able to see each other in person for several years. However, Cathy has made plans to visit California in the spring of next year.
"I can promise that when we do reunite, it will feel as though we were together just last month, and we'll effortlessly resume our conversations and laughter," she says.
During the meantime, the two friends will definitely catch up on Christmas Eve. It's become a tradition for them to have a phone conversation on that day - partly to exchange holiday greetings, and partly to reflect on old memories.
"Cathy will definitely call and say, Merry Christmas. Happy anniversary of the night we first met on Christmas Eve," Debbie explains.
This year itll be the 48th anniversary of that meeting.
"Clearly it was the best delayed flight of my flight," says Cathy.
"Its been a wonderful friendship," agrees Debbie.
