E D I T O R ’ S N O T E
AMERICANWAY
NOVEMBER 1 2008
12
PHOTOGRAPHBYTERRIGLANGER
day for “me” time, or “family”
time, as itwere. (Trustme, these
are
very
generous estimates.)
Here’s my point: Many of us
spend more time with our ca-
reers thanwithanythingelsewe
do.And that’sfine. In fact, that’s
more than fine. That’s capital-
ism.Butsincewespendasmuch
timewith coworkers aswithour
own families, it stands to reason
that we should get asmuch out
of our jobs as we possibly can.
We should make life as pleas-
ant as possible for those around
us while we’re on the clock. We
should think not only of our-
selves but also about the task
at hand, the end result, and the
person who pays us that check
sowe can spend our nine hours
of “me” or “family” time enjoy-
ing services provided by others
while they’reon the clock. It’s as
Bob Dylan said: “You’re gonna
have to serve somebody.” All of
usdo. Sodo it right.
Let me illustrate this point
with a true story: A couple of
months ago,Michelle andTodd
Grizzlewereonflight1008 from
Portland toDallas/FortWorth.
Sitting one row in front of
them was a seven-year-old girl
traveling alone. Watching the
way she powerfully gripped her
teddybearand the rapiditywith
whichshedug intoherbackpack
and started coloring theminute
she was in her seat, Michelle
and Todd noted to each other
that thegirl looked scared.
The flight attendant, whom
we’ll call Frank, had a full flight
and a tough day ahead at the
proverbial office.Hewas tasked
with keeping an eye on the girl,
but even still,hewasalso tasked
withaddressing theneedsof the
other 120peopleonboard.
He started off the flight by
helping thegirl intoherseatand
informingher that if sheneeded
anything, she should ring the
call button. She respondedwith
a timidnod. Frank left herwith
a smile, which made the girl
smile, which made Michelle
andTodd smile.
After takeoff, Frank popped
by with a pint of milk and a
giant chocolate-chip cookie.
“Here you go, dear,” he said,
and thegirl eagerlyaccepted the
gift.No soonerdidFrank return
to thegalley than thegirl spilled
the milk all over herself and
dropped the cookieon thefloor.
As thiswashappening,Frank
on awhimdecided to bring the
girl some chips.Whenhe got to
her seat, she sat there, soaked in
milk, lip quivering, with a look
thatsaid, “I’msorry,”and, “Don’t
bemadatme,” all at once.
Frank took over. “Oh, you
poor thing,” he said. “Let’s get
you cleanedup. Followme.”He
escorted her to the lavatory in
first class andhandedher some
towels. “Go ahead, dear. Take
your time. I’ll be right outside if
youneedme.” The girl returned
to a new carton of milk and a
new cookie. After that, Frank
checked on her every 10 min-
utes of that nearly four-hour
flight. Each time he did, the
girl smiled, which made Frank
smile, which made Michelle
andTodd smile.
Frank escorted the girl off
theplane toherwaitingmother
and chattedwith her for a long
while. He wasn’t anxious to
part, and he wasn’t watching
the clock. Frank took pride in
his work. His pridemade those
around him proud. And this
storymademe smile.
Let’s take amoment anddo a littlemath: The average person
with a full-time jobworks eight hours aday. Factor in the av-
erage commute of 30minutes each way, and there’s another
hour.We’resupposed togeteighthoursof sleepeachnight,but
most of us don’t, so let’s saywe get sixhours anight, for argu-
ment’s sake.That leavesusamereninehoursoutof a24-hour
ServicewithaSmile
AdamPitluk
Editor
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