A Heart Felt Thank-you

I can be guilty of failing to tell someone thank you when a thank you is definately due.

The other day, on Thursday March 11th, I was flying into Atlanta. It had been a very bad day from the get-go. We had seen delay after delay after delay. I was not well. But finally, thank goodness, we were back in Atlanta, and in my case, I was only about 15 minutes from where I live. Well, 15 minutes that is after I get to baggage return, ground transportation, and then back to my truck which was parked 'off-site'.

So I finally get off the plane, and since I had checked my luggage, I didn't need to wait on the baggage guys to dig out the plane-side checked luggage. I could go on to regular baggage pick up. I suddenly realize that I am in an unfamiliar gate. I mean..............I work there at the airport. I work on Concourses C and D. Now I know my gates very well. But I wasn't at one of my gates. as a matter of fact, I was on the opposite side of the gates from my gates, even though I was on one of my concourses. I work odd numbers, these were even numbers.

As I said, I was not well, the day had been very difficult, and suddenly I was somewhat beginning to suffer the onset of a real panic attack. WHAT did I say??? Panic Attack? Yeah, I think so. And I have no idea why. But I was suddenly having difficult breathing, for a moment I was not sure where I was at, and for a brief moment, I felt nothing but sheer terror. I had just stepped out into the terminal common area, and I stopped basically to compose myself.

A man, I would say about my age, was looking my way. He and I made eye contact. He was on the phone, but I heard him say, "I'll call you back, I think this guys in trouble.". He ended his call, stood, took a couple steps towards me, and asked "Are you okay?".. I answered honestly, "No, I'm not." He walked on over, took my by the arm, and guided me over to a chair. I told him was was going on, even showed him my airport ID, and told him that I was not sure what was going on, but i also very much felt better.

You know, the man never suggested anything. He never tried to get me to tell him anything. He just reacted to another human being that he saw was in trouble. I told him where I needed to go, what I needed to do, and he told me to sit and he would be right back. After only a few moments, he returned told me exactly where to go, asked me again if I was okay now, and then wished me good luck.

I can't say for certain, but I believe that I stood up from that moment, walked away, and never said a word of thanks. Upon relaizing this the next day I did feel very badly. I mean, a total stranger put themself out for me, and I failed thank him for it. I wish it was not so, but I'm almost certain it is.

So sir, for whatever it's worth to you, even though I know that chances are that you are not reading this, from the bottom of my heart, I offer to you my sincerest of thanks. You truly are a gentleman. My deepest apologies that I failed to say thank you then. But know that I do thank you now, and even then even moreso. I was just in a state.....................a state of "I don't know".

Please don't make the mistake that I made................say thank you. It is a so easy to do. But sadly, so easy to fail to do also.

So to you............thank you for reading my blog. I hope to hear from you too.

Gary