There is no colder place than the inside of a plane as people are boarding. No one wants to look anyone else in the eye for fear that they are going to take that middle seat next to you or (dare I even speak it?) bring their child into YOUR row. The long process of getting everyone and their “things” (thanks, airlines, by the way, for adding the baggage charge so everyone is determined to carry-on no matter how big or bulky or heavy their bags are) into that tube is arduous and not for the meek.
Yesterday, I was securely fastened into my window seat (Zone 2 — can I get a what, what?) I noticed a woman in maybe her 60s trying to get her suitcase into the overhead bin. What caused me to notice was that at the exact same time, not one, not two, but THREE people all jumped out of their seats to help this woman with her bag.
The first one to reach her assisted and the others sat back down seemingly unfazed. Although I had my air conditioning vent above pointed directly at me, a warmth swept over me, starting at my toes and working its way up. I saw kindness and caring in the unlikeliest of places — a commercial jet airliner. Good job fellow passengers, good job!
