Christine the fabulous restroom attendant–Atlanta Airport.
If I look a little rough in the photo, there’s a good reason. It was a couple days after all the wild but weary Christmas festivities and we had just driven over thirteen hours through the night from OKC to Atlanta.
We had a much anticipated anniversary trip planned to the Dominican Republic. But as The Preacher watched the Sunday afternoon reports on the approaching ice storm, he realized there was no way our flight could get out the next morning.
The best the airline could do for us was offer us a flight if we could be in Atlanta by 8:30am. If we didn’t take their offer they couldn’t promise any flight out for two to three days. So we threw our bags together and within an hour we were off! (I should have listened to my Mother—Christmas is a bad time for a wedding/anniversary…But I was nineteen years old and knew everything).
The Preacher hates to just ride, so was determined to drive the whole way. But as nine hours passed and the wee morning hours wore him down, he relented. My driving shift was 2am to 6am. I have no problem sleeping in the car so I had enjoyed a nice four hour nap.
Arriving bleary-eyed and hungry, we waited in a line of hundreds before we could get through security. Our order of priorities when finally through was a bathroom and then food.
And that’s where I met Christine.
Tired and a little grumpy, I bee-lined it to the restroom only to find another line—which I should have expected—after all it was a women’s restroom.
As I somewhat impatiently waited, I began to be conscious of a cheery, singsongy voice with a lovely southern drawl.
“Hello darlin’.”
“This one’s open honey.”
She welcomed each one of us with a smile and a greeting, as she directed “traffic”.
As if we were important clients,
As if we were dear friends,
As if we were somewhere other than a bathroom.
When I left she said, “Have a good day honey.”
I felt a huge grin coming on as I retreated and realized my spirits had been lifted, and my steps lightened. I knew what I had to do.
So I turned around and walked back to Christine.
I told her my condensed story and how much I needed her smile and appreciated her joyful spirit.
And she hugged me.
**************** Proverbs 17:22 A Cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
-Think of a time someone’s words and smile lifted your spirits.
-Determine to spread joy this week by sharing a smile and kind words to strangers
