A hundred years ago Mark Twain said, “We picked up one excellent word – a word worth traveling to New Orleans to get… It is the thirteenth roll in a baker’s dozen. It is something thrown in gratis, for good measure.” I also learned the word, ‘lagniappe’, on my first trip to New Orleans. It’s the little something extra that makes all the difference.
Each month I pick one business or individual that exemplifies and make a donation to a charity of their choice.
Thanks to my friend Eric Labrie, President ESM Consulting Engineers, for this personal story:
My mother (in her mid-70’s) was on her way to Hawaii to meet up with some friends. Her plane was unexpectedly rerouted through Seattle so with two days’ notice, she asked if we had some time to meet her at the airport during her layover.
Of course, we agreed but were unsure how well it would go due to her lack of recent flying experience and the typical length of TSA security checkpoint lines. When she boarded the plane in Reno, someone from Alaska Airlines noticed that she wasn’t as mobile as most passengers so they arranged to get her some assistance in Seattle to make sure she made her connection since she had to switch planes.
This assistance came in the form of a young man whose name has unfortunately escaped me. He is a Port of Seattle employee who delivered exceptional service. He met my mother at the gate and escorted her off the plane to a wheelchair, then escorted her out of security to a waiting location while my wife and I made our way through airport traffic. He then proceeded to check in on her multiple times and even found us when we went to grab a cup of coffee.
With about an hour to go, he showed up and after saying our goodbyes, he whisked her off through security in time to make her connecting flight. This young man was the sole reason we were able to enjoy this brief visit, and for that, I am very thankful.
In recognition of the “something extra” service this young man from Port of Seattle provided, this month’s Lagniappe contribution goes to the Puget Sound After School All-Stars.
