If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my time reading news online, it’s that other people suck.
I mean, let me tell you about my day so far.
I was beyond late for my flight this morning, because I couldn’t get a ride to the airport. There are fewer Uber and Lyft drivers out there, I learned later, because so many are quitting. Gas prices are too high for them to make any money.
And so I couldn’t even get a ride confirmed, until somebody finally took the request. Turns out he saw that I was going to the airport, knew that I probably was having a hard time finding a driver, and went a half hour out of his way to pick me up.
He hit about 90 on I-5, ripped into the terminal, threw the Prius in park, and yelled “Go Go Go!”
I was going to make my flight because of that guy.
But you know, other people suck.
I got through security and was about 50 yards away from the screening point when I heard a clatter behind me. I turned to see an elderly woman splayed out across the terminal floor, her belongings scattered everywhere.
I headed toward her to help, knowing no one else would.
Because you know, other people suck.
But after a few steps, there were already 6 or 7 men and women converging on her, random travelers who had seen her fall. By the time I could hear them asking her if she was alright, they’d surrounded her. A younger lady kneeled next to her and asked if she had any medical conditions, and she said no, she didn’t think so. One huge guy gently lifted her up, like a father picking up a sleeping child, and set her on her feet. A few other people steadied her, while the rest collected her stuff, and asked her if she was alright, over and over. She nodded, over and over. And they slowly backed away, making sure she was ok on her feet.
But you know, other people suck.
I walked on the flight with the last boarding group, headed to Idaho to host a fundraiser for an equine therapy ranch. I’ve been involved with the ranch for over a decade… they provide incredible experiences between horses and people with all sorts of different challenges. Their life-changing services are free to the riders, from ages 5 to 95, and the entire community comes together, once a year in the second week of July, to contribute and make sure those services stay free.
But you know, other people…
Well, never mind.