So, the cab pull up to the San Diego International Airport, I am going home.  It has been a long eight days on a major project.  By all measures the program went well.  While it had its moments, it was a hit.  I get to the United counter, putting my one, large suitcase on the scale.  I check in, start to walk away and the counter person, just doing their job, calls me back.  It seems my bag is 2 pounds overweight.  A neat feat since it has nothing new in it since it was checked in DC, where it weighed 48 pounds.  The counter person explains that it will be an extra $50, on top of the full fare first class ticket.  I politely explain that I didn’t add anything and the scale in DC had a different reading.  He said he was sure of that, for it happened all of the time, but it would still be $50.  I didn’t argue.  I was too tired.

I gave him my credit card, payed signed the slip and walked away without saying a word.  That is the rub.  I didn’t wish him a good evening, a nice day, I didn’t say thank you, nothing, I just walked away.  I didn’t argue, I was too tired for that and in a kind of disbelief.  I did wonder why we take such treatment from the airlines, from over booked flights to too many flights at one time.  But I left it at that.

So, now I am sitting in the terminal, wishing I had been kinder to a man who had probably had a rough day, from rude customers to whatever.  Now I added to that.  I could go out through security, get in line and apologize, but I think not.  I didn’t do anything which warrants that trip.  I had already said good bye when he called me back.

Yet, I still feel bad, that is not the person I want to be.  It isn’t who I like to be, how I like to act, the person of whom I am proud.  So, I will sit, meditate on it, forgive myself, chalk it up to being truly tired, but also work to be a better person in similar situations.  They will happen again and this shame that I feel is a reminder that I am better than that behavior indicates.  Time to forgive myself, but not forget.  Now for the all night flight home, oh how I wait to get home.  I always love going home no matter how well the show has gone, how much fun I have had, no matter what, home wins out.  Traveling mercies.