We All Need To Be Kinder

This is the upstairs atrium where I work, in the world's busiest airport. This past year over 100,000,000 passengers passed through this airport in under a twelve month period, once again a record.

I've been a server for well over thirty six years but is the first time I've ever served in an airport much less the world's busiest. It's like traveling every day just to get to and from the job. I rode MARTA fro almost a year. It was cheaper but added almost four hours to every work day and very inconvenient for me considering we don't live near a line and parked at the absolute busiest station, next to the airport. You had to fight for a parking spot, run for the train station and if missed the train  had to wait on another. On weekends they only run one line and only every twenty minutes instead of every five so if you miss the train you're screwed from the jump. Granted it's a one minute ride to the airport but they let you off on the domestic side and I work on the international side, another shuttle bus ride away unless I go through the nightmare known as "Domestic Security" go down two floors and ride the underground train out to concourse F where I work, where TSA security goes twice as fast.

I completely understand the reasoning and need for security screening and for the most part all of TSA employees are very nice. There are maybe one or two though, who after almost two years of working there have found to be complete power mongers and  horrible representations of the city Atlanta. Case in point; almost every day I stop at the gas station before getting on the highway and get an coke Icee. I usually have some left before going through security but have always thrown it away because you can't bring water bottles or drinks through. A very nice TSA employee told me just the other day after slurping down a gulp and tossing it, remarking how much I hated not being able to take it with me,  "You can bring that through, it's frozen!"

That was a happy day!

The very next day  stopped for an Icee before work and bought a larger size, excited about being able to take it to work with me. Of course one of the two TSA peeps I don't like very much was working. I stuck my lunch bag and purse in a tub and propped the Icce up in my bag.

I went through the line, showing my badge and waited for my tub to come through. My buddy(not) held up my Icee and said loudly "Who's this belong to?" I raised my hand and he barked "Are you through with it?" I told him I had been told I could bring it through because it was frozen when he barked back "I asked if you were through with it?" Not wanting to cause a huge fuss said he could toss it if he needed to.

"That's NOT what I asked you."

I did a mental (maybe not) eye roll and said whatever he needed to do was just fine. Well he huffed and puffed but thirty seconds later my Icee came through the scanner with all my other belongings.

So why did he have to be such a Richard Noggin if it was okay for me to bring it through?

The next day I had my daughter in tow with me, we both worked that day. The same rude dude was working. There was a KLM flight crew in front of us. They all took off jackets and began to take off their shoes to put on the belt going through the scanner when my rude buddy told them they were doing way too much, were in a pre check line and didn't need to take off coats or shoes. They all started to gather back up their jackets and shoes when he barked "It's done now...I mean how many times a day do you do this?" One flight attendant with balls said "Once". Then he starts talking into the air to the other TSA guy on the other side like these people weren't even standing there.

"I mean how many times do these people do this and how long does it take them to get it right?"

Rude dude, please!

These people are coming through our airport, your airport in your city and obviously all security approved but you want to humiliate  people who's first language isn't English and try to  make them feel stupid?

Welcome to the  south and so much for southern hospitality.

I so wanted to say something to him and Massey stopped me (good thing) but seriously want to find out who HIS manager is and tell him this dude needs some serious customer service training. I realize it's a security checkpoint and for a good reason but to harass and humiliate is ridiculous, especially a flight crew.

People need to be kinder.

This world needs to be kinder.

My effort every day in every way is to be a good person. Think what a wonderful world it could be if we all did.

Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.

There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say, but you can learn
How to play the game
It's easy.
Nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do, but you can learn
How to be you in time
It's easy.

All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love. Love is all you need.
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love. Love is all you need.

There's nothing you can know that isn't known.
Nothing you can see that isn't shown.
There's nowhere you can be that isn't where
You're meant to be
It's easy.

Hate seems to be abundant and winning in this world of ours today which makes me sad, but also makes me more determined.

Til next time...COTTON