The Friendly Skies Just Got A Little Warmer...

It happened at the Denver airport. I had just spent a wonderful week visiting my daughter in Branson, Missouri. My flight was really late leaving the airport in Springfield, which didn't seem to rattle anyone around me which I thought was kind of odd...I mean, it was way past the scheduled boarding time and there was no airline employee in sight, no sign, and no plane. I kind of thought there should be a plane. When I started asking some fellow passengers what they thought was happening, the lady next to me just sighed and said something like "It's Missouri" and looked back down at her magazine. So, needless to say the flight was very late getting into Denver where I had exactly one hour to change planes for the flight home. On the way to Springfield one hour had been more than enough time to spot a deli near gate 65 with a huge piece of cheesecake. I was drooling at the thought of my plastic fork digging in and could hardly wait. Only...lightning was now keeping our cozy jet from touching down and it was getting dangerously close to boarding time for my flight. Finally landing, the flight attendant asked everyone to let us connecting fools off first, and I really didn't mean to step on that man's head on the armrest, but it was the last flight home and I HAD to make it. I sprinted past the glassed in cheesecake, and ran like something out of that outdated OJ commercial where he jumps over suitcases and was panting to the gate, gratefully find it still boarding. Only I HAD to use the restroom first, which I did and then rushed on board...but... where was my black sweater? The one I had on a second ago...the one that was part of my favorite sweater set? I hesitantly asked the question. Could I run out and see if I left it on the chairs? They said "hurry." But no luck. I thanked the nice gate agent, Teresa, who really, honestly looked like she cared. If fact, she even asked me to leave my phone number with her, just in case she found my sweater. So I did. But really, it was gone and I knew it. People don't find lost items in this world anymore. At least that's what I still thought as I heard the mailman deliver something big and bulky into the box on the side of our front door. I didn't recognize the return name and address and quickly tore open the padded envelope to find my beautiful black sweater. Alongside it was just a simple business card that said "Teresa Redman...United Airlines." No fanfare. No glory. Just a simple act of kindness for a weary mom. So thank you United. And thank you Teresa. You've resored my faith in the world and busy airports with lightning storms. Now, if I could just locate some of that cheesecake...!