The Kindness of Strangers

As you may know, I was in Daytona for the past three days. It was alright, but I was ready to come home. I had been gone already a week before that, and the weather there was rainy.

My ticket was to return at 7:00 pm today, but really this morning we were close to being done with the portion of the project we could do, so I called Delta to see if I could switch to the 1:00 or 4:00 flight instead, but they said that both flights were not only full, but overbooked. Since we didn't have much to do, I didn't go to Mike's to work until I'd taken a bit of time to pack and work out, and since we didn't have too much to do, at 3:00 we were done. I figured I might as well try to get to the airport for the 4:00 and try my luck. I checked in at the counter and the lady said that indeed the flight was overbooked, but that she'd let the gate attendant know I was coming just incase there was an empty seat. On my way to the gate, I went through security and totally forgot that I had nail scissors in my suitcase. I hadn't thought about it because we'd driven to Florida originally, but that was obviously something they weren't going to allow on the plane. After removing them from my bag, the security agent handed me an envelope and told me that it is a Daytona Airport service that they'll mail you what they remove from your bag! I thought that was pretty cool.

So I arrive at the gate, and ask the attendant about the chances of me getting on the flight, and she said "honey, I just paid 5 people to switch to the later flight, sorry, this flight is overbooked". Oh well. I sat down and started to figure out what I'd do with this time, when I heard my name over the loudspeaker. "would Passenger Bela Jacobson please step to the gate desk...thank you". So I go over there, and she tells me that two people have not yet arrived, and if they don't come, that I'd get a ticket! that was fabulous. "All you need is to pay the $25 change fee and we'll take care of it." I pulled out $25 and handed it to her, and she says "maam, you need to pay with a credit card please", which in any other day, I wouldn't have even thought to hand her cash to begin with, but keep in mind that I don't have my purse, so all I have is cash! she tells me that if I don't have a credit card, I can't switch flights. Disappointed, I sit down, and the lady that had been behind me in line walks over and says "excuse me, but I couldn't help but overhear your situation. I wonder if they'd let me pay for it with my credit card, and then you could get on the flight!" So, we went to the desk, and they allowed us to do it. I gave her the money in cash, and was very excited to come back three hours earlier.

I guess this is a lesson for us all that we should consider doing some more good in our lives. Especially if it is no skin off our back. Pass it on. Thanks Mira from LA!