wants to smite New Guy

IcompletelyON, something to make you smile.

Elsie Clark was having one of the worst days of her life when fate intervened in the form of a Chicago businessman wearing shiny shoes.

On her way home to Winnipeg from Christmas spent with her family in Texas, the 79-year-old was stranded at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport for hours after an airport employee left her at the wrong terminal and she missed her plane...

Dean Germeyer, who runs a computer software consulting company in Chicago, had been scheduled to depart Texas later that evening, but at the last moment caught an earlier flight. Seated across the aisle from Clark, Germeyer said he had immediately noticed that she was having a bad day...

Although Clark didn't ask for his help, Germeyer found himself making arrangements with the stewardess to have a wheel chair ready when the plane landed so that they could rush across the airport to catch her connecting flight.

When they landed, Germeyer hurried Clark to her next terminal, but Clark had already missed her second flight. The airline offered her a night for a discounted rate at a nearby hotel or she could sleep at the airport. That didn't sit well with Germeyer.

"She is somebody's grandmother," Germeyer said. "And to slide this piece of paper across the desk and say, 'Here is your voucher, good luck,' when she hasn't eaten, doesn't have her luggage, and doesn't know Chicago... I just wanted to make sure that she got some sleep that night."

So, Germeyer called his wife, who had dinner waiting at their Streeterville condo, and said to put an extra place setting on the table.

Suddenly, Clark found herself being whisked away to their home some 56 floors above the city looking up Lake Shore Drive and out over Lake Michigan. After dinner, Germeyer took her on a tour of the city before putting her up in a suite at the Affinia Hotel next to his building. He arranged for a car to take her back to the airport the next day.

"I just sat down when I got to the hotel and I cried and cried and cried," said Clark. "Everything he did for me was just so beautiful. How do you say thanks to a man like that?"

Oh, I love him. I hope he gets a ton of nice letters and email from that, not to mention some business.

Damn allergies!

you know he would do that. He's the "do that" asshat.

Okay, I'ma nab this for a future tagline. That okay, Frank?

I was wondering about the "vignettes" the Etsy person offers, as well. They look like the shadowboxes one arranges with mementoes or commemorative items, except without the glass protecting them. Or, you know, the box. I figured the items were permanently glued or sewn in place for display.

I wouldn't buy pre-selected stuff from someone who arranges garage sale finds into "vignettes" for sale. Unless it's one item you're willing to pay that price for. But yes, I think everybody who ever had a ghost of an idea is now an Etsy seller, which somewhat beggars the rest of us with an imagination for parts and supplies.

ita, may I hold your coat? I'd be happy to knock him down and sit on him, but I certainly don't want to spoil your fun.

That's a lovely story, Kathy. Thank you for posting it.

The vignettes lady has really good prices-- I would surely pay $11.00 for the gloves (although real vintage gloves are so much harder to find now, I wince at the thought of cutting off the fingers).

That okay, Frank?

Most definitely - be my guest.

I would surely pay $11.00 for the gloves (although real vintage gloves are so much harder to find now, I wince at the thought of cutting off the fingers).

I know, I know! But is there someplace that I can find good cotton gloves for reasonable prices anymore? Ones that aren't easy-to-fray knit gloves?

Hey, Sue (?) posted the shiny shoes story the other day.

But that article was just posted today. Guess it's making the rounds?