Reflecting on people.

I've met some people on my travels in the last few years.  Over the last couple of days, I've been reflecting on these encounters and thought I'd share some of my favorites and most memorable.

 

 

I shared some wine and tears with an officer of a public company on a flight to Boston after his parents had both died a few days apart.  He may have been one of the most genuine people I'd ever met, sincere in every way.  I learned all about his parents, his wife and kids, their lives, how much he adored them all. 

 

 

I sat next to a man who looked like he might be unstable on a flight to Atlanta from Ft. Lauderdale; I quickly learned he was hearing impaired - self inflicted, he worked directly with The Rolling Stones back in the day and spent a lot of time on their tours.  He had been in Florida to see some old friends and was on his way home to NY where he had some really fun business ideas to pitch.  He made me laugh, his body had been so abused and damaged but his mind was running amok like a 20 year old.  He had told me about his kids and his his mistakes as a spouse and father, the things he wished he could do again but knew he would make the same mistakes again.

 

 

I met a woman who was in the same industry as me, very high ranking in her company who may have been the most positive "girl power" person I'd ever met.  She knew I work in a male dominated industry and had so much advice for me.  I've since met and spend time with her daughter, who runs a great little business in Atlanta.

 

 

I met a "safety guy" from Austin, TX, on a flight to Houston.  His job is very similar to mine, except at the time he was inspecting tunnels and bridges and things.  I learned that just like my job, just because we don't SEE the inspections or preventative measures being taken for public safety - they are there.  Safety guy is one of my closest friends now.

 

I met a military man who was escorting a fallen soldier home to GA on a flight from HI.  I learned what he thought of doing this, the emotion and love that come and go into such a task.  When we landed in Atlanta I hugged him.  I wanted so much to take away the hurt he had from this job and let him know how much some of us honor and appreciate his sacrifice.  Then I was upset at the other passengers who were asked to stay seated so he could get on the tarmac to the body and didn't.  Because you know, they are so much more important than anyone else. 

 

 

I've of course developed friendships with several flight crews.  When I was out on medical leave last spring I had a few pilots and crew members calling me because they hadn't seen me in over a week.  I thought how sweet, but how weird!?  HAHA!

 

 

I've met some crazy people too, most notably a woman at check-in in Orlando; we got in line at the same time so I smiled and nodded to tell her to go ahead.  This woman turned on her heels, asked what I was doing - I said smiling, she said to NEVER do that to her again and stormed away.  I'd say she skipped a dose of meds that day.  I really thought I was being punked on that one.

 

OH!  the biggest jerk ever!!  The guy who was rude to everyone who worked at the airline and other passengers.  I was in business class on a flight home from Boston and was on crutches - this jackwagon was sitting next to me and informed me I had no business being up there just for an injury because he "paid" for his seat.  He felt like a giant ass when he realized I didn't "pay" for my seat because I got the seat with my status.  That I've earned.

 

 

So here I go, into another year of the same ol' stuff but with new faces and new places - I hope I'm not as shocked by people's behavior as I have been recently, but people are super funny like that.