Remember The Lost
Eye Contact
Every day at the hotel, I meet at least a dozen people (sometimes as many as 30) for the very first time. Sure, I’ll see some familiar faces in the mix, some repeat customers, and am able to call few by name but for the most part, most people I meet are complete and total strangers. Most are driving the corridor from Ontario or Ohio to Florida, or the reverse. This time of year, the snowbirds are migrating south.
For the most part, people are pleasant to meet but there are some who are up to no good. The pot-heads announce their presence by smell before they walk through the door. The gangstas are quick about business, scooping up their key and out the door before the pen hits the countertop. Few will check in then check out a couple hours later. “No refunds, not sorry!”
One recent meeting stands out. A young lady came into the hotel, her face touched up with makeup just enough to be presentable. She seem to be a little rushed and would not make eye contact. As I worked on her registration, I happened to glance up to notice a tear running down her face. The rest of her expression gave no clue as to what she was feeling inside. But that one tear became two tears, then a small stream of tears. Still, neither her face or her body language betrayed what she might’ve been experiencing. I just quietly produced a box of tissues and let her know that if she needed anything to please contact the front desk. I also assured her that someone would be present all night long if she needed anything. She weekly smiled, thanked me, took her key and went to find her room.
Everyone is going through something. Sometimes all it takes is eye contact that tells much more about a person than meets the eye. Whether it be two strangers meeting for the very first time or two friends that haven’t seen each other in years, that one glance can deeply communicate.
Popular posts from this blog
The Smooth-flowing Life
Legend has it that the astronomer Ptolemy (1st century A.D.) suggested that falling stars were caused by the gods moving in the heavens, thus knocking stars out of their places. Somehow people reasoned that that if the gods were moving, they must be getting close to earth so they would lift their "prayers" or "wishes" (literally, "desires") whenever they saw the stars falling in hopes the gods would notice and grant a favorable answer. But how does one wish on falling star? Once you see it, it's gone before the wish or prayer can be made! The answer is simple: meteor shower. That's how to get your wish. Mrs. Ann Hodges had a wish fall right into her lap. Sort of. In 1954 Mrs. Hodges was sleeping on the couch when a 8 1/2 pound meteorite fell through her house and into her living room where it bounced off the radio and struck her left hip leaving her with a bruise. Not sure what she was wishing, but that's not how to do it. Epictetus hel
A Reflection in Plato’s “Republic” Book 2
Early in Book 2 of Plato’s “Republic,” the discussion turns into the story of a man named Gyges who finds a ring that makes him invisible. Using the powers of the ring, he reports to the court of his king, seduces the queen “and with her help conspired against the king and slew him, and took the kingdom.” What would happen if there were two rings, one worn by an unjust man and the other by a just man? The story attempts to make the case that a just man will act unjustly if given the opportunity to think he is doing right, if only by himself. But what if he doesn’t? What if there was no ring, and what if there was a perfectly unjust man and a perfectly just man and both had everything they needed in life? The unjust man must cover his steps in order to be distinguished and succeed. In the eyes of others, he appears to be just. But what about the just man, who appears to be unjust? “They will tell you that the just man who is thought unjust will be scourged, racked, bound-will have hi
Three New Additions To My Desk
Actually, it’s an ad-duck-tion. I missed the perfect opportunity to say, “and they’re in a row, too!” Silly goose.