The Kindness of Strangers & the Bizarre Cruelty of Others

While that phrase has a darker meaning to it in "Streetcar . . ." - it has come to mean something strong and better in popular usage.

And that's how I mean it in this post. I have indeed been impressed by the kindness of strangers. And so not impressed by people I've known for 20+ years. Onward with the good, first.

As mentioned earlier, my best friend's mother passed away. They're having a memorial service next weekend, so I'll be flying out there. I have to be there - I must say goodbye with my best friend and her family. She and I need each other. There's a bond of friendship that goes beyond any words, any pain, any thing tangible. And that's the kind of friendship we have. And they just gave me the honor of reading Lauretta's obit. at the service. As my friend wryly put it - they needed "an actor and someone with breath control."

Anyway - because I'm short of funds, I've been searching for airfares and hotels to make it easy on my wallet and still allow me to be out there in MD. Was still trying to make arrangements with folks driving me, etc. That's another paragraph I'll address in a moment. However, someone my friend knows (and I've met once) has offered to pick me up and drive me. Wow.

So, I found an excellent rate through Midwest Airlines (I love flying with them - excellent service, delicious chocolate chip cookies, and they have a non-stop on a plane with 2-across wide leather seats). I put a 24-hr hold on my flight of choice and then went in search of a hotel. The Radisson in Crystal City was offering a spectacular rate of $80 for AAA members (an even lower rate was available, but it required a non-refundable charge on the credit card). So, if you have to travel last minute - check the luxury hotels as well. I wanted to make sure the hotel would allow an early check-in, as I was flying in the day of the service and flying out the next day after.

Well, idiot that I am - I hadn't secured my excellent flight rate within 24 hrs. But to continue on to the kindness of strangers.

I phoned the Radisson and before I even told them I had a funeral to attend and wanted to check in early to change into my suit - they said I could check in early! No questions, no hems or haws, just "no problem" - So props to Radisson in Crystal City.

Then, the dreaded part - I went on-line in hopes my hold would be there - of course it was gone and the flight price had jumped from under $200 to almost $600 and up! I was in a great deal of panic and checked other airlines while blaming myself for being an idiot. Finally, I thought - "why not" and phoned the airline.

After a lot of "pleases" and being at my most polite - Ericka from Midwest Airlines worked her butt off and retrieved my original held reservation! She confirmed my flight and the original low price! I had her transfer me to their customer relations so I could praise Ericka in the highest. Thank you Ericka and Midwest Airlines.

So, I met the kindness of strangers at its highest yesterday. I'll be able to attend Lauretta's service and stay within my strained budget.

Again, and again, thanks to the Radisson and Midwest Airlines for hiring people who actually know what customer service is like.

Of course, this wouldn't be my blog if I didn't add a little advice - what helps in these situations is to be at your polite best. Ma'am, sir, please, thank you - they're good words - use them often, no matter the situation and never, ever, sound frustrated or bossy. As someone who has worked in customer service and still does to a degree - the nicer you are, the more you get away with. ^__^

Now - onto the ugly side of this whole situation - when my friend told me her mom was fading - I contacted Norman to give him a heads up - to see if he'd give me rides to/from the airport. I was willing to fly into either BWI or DCA - whichever he'd prefer since he was doing me a favor.
He said he preferred BWI, and then said I could stay with him and "Mother." I wasn't too keen on this, but I am brokies.

And so it goes down - the offer of staying with them disappeared, then the ride offer started fading, until it finally became statements from him that my friend and her family really didn't want me there, that I'd probably be in the way, that I wasn't needed, that I shouldn't spend my limited cash on going out there, that they wouldn't have time for me. And on and on.

This is what I got from someone I've known for 20+ years - who I've dated, who I've been very close to - who I assumed was an "old friend." It's bad enough "Mother" doesn't approve of me - even after all these years. Norman lives with his "Mother" - he's unemployed - has never really held a job for long - lives in some strange dreamland in which he thinks he's God's gift - and truly thinks "denial" is just a river in Egypt. Yeah, you look at this and wonder what I ever saw in Norman - I was young and very different. Oh, and I drank. ^___^ Norman is one big example and collection of stories and warnings I may someday write about. But at least he's entertaining, in that shell-shocked way of "Good God, you're kidding!"