JFK Airport, NY
We deplane and I realize the lounge for which I have passes is at the other end of the airport.
Me to Husband: “Sorry, honey. It’s at least forty minutes there and back.” (A bit of a disappointment; we’d just arrived on a long-haul flight and had another coming up.)
Voice: “No, it isn’t. Hop on.”
Enter Rodney, the world’s nicest airport cart driver (and owner of a very cool hairstyle).
Me: “Are you sure? I mean, I don’t want to take a ride away from someone who really needs it.”
Rodney: “I’m on break.” He lifted my suitcase into the cart. “C’mon.”
Away we went, (both our) hair flying, speeding around the corners (I made tire-screeching noises), slaloming between passengers, Rodney steering one-handed while holding onto my bag with the other.
Note: when you’re in a cart, you sure see a lot of people’s bottoms.
As we arrived at the lounge, I told Husband we had about 10 minutes before we had to start the hike back to our gate.
Rodney (who refused my tip): “Take your time. I’ll meet you here in 30 minutes.” A half hour later, there he was outside the lounge entrance.
Another session of Mr-Toad’s-Wild-Ride ensued, with us pulling up to our gate, scattering imaginary gravel, just as boarding for our flight was announced.
I stuffed a tip plus two bottles of adult beverage and a dozen cookies I’d liberated from the lounge in the cart’s dashboard, hugged Rodney good-bye, and wheeled my bag onto the plane. #OneOfTheBestLayoversEver