Somewhere Over Here?

My family and I recently landed back in Tampa after 18 days away. It was an incredible trip, but after being gone that long, we were ready to be home. Once we gathered our bags from baggage claim, all we had to do is take the tram to economy parking, get our car, and we would finally be on our way.

As the bags were slowly arriving, Jacky casually asked if I remembered where we parked the car. I confidently(ish) responded that I thought I remembered. With that said, the more I thought about it, the more I realized, with 18 days away, it may have been a good idea when I parked the car to grab one of those reminder slips at the elevator, or at very least, take a pic, neither of which I did.

Needless to say, as we approached the vast and multi-leveled economy parking structure - knowing full well it was my job to remember where we parked - I took a deep breath, swallowed my pride, and exclaimed to no one in particular, I think it was… somewhere over here.

Well friends and fellow travelers, time began to pass as we passionately discussed if it was level 4, 3 or 2. And as that time turned into hours, and as our passionate discussion turned into a heated debate, seemingly out of nowhere, but clearly coming from somewhere, a parking attendant named Falah (see also: Angel) came to our rescue.

Falah was patient, kind, and understanding. He had every reason to judge me for my ridiculous oversight, but there was no condemnation or shame in his tone. He was full of consideration and care, and his sole focus was to help this imperfect family navigate this vast economy parking structure, work through all the levels, and find our car.

He took me in his golf cart, and we went aisle to aisle, level to level, SUV to SUV, and the whole time he kept assuring me, “I’m sure it’s somewhere over here!” Hearing that familiar phrase from Falah was reassuring, as was his genuine patience and tempered demeanor. And sure enough, after searching for hours, Falah finally found our car, right there where I parked it 18 days earlier, on Level 3, section 6. (#36 for those Jerome Bettis football fans).

As leaders, teachers, coaches, presenters, and even for us drivers/travelers, let’s do our best to grab that reminder slip at the elevator, or at the very least, take a pic. But in the extreme event we bypass all those safeguards, let’s try to be like my new friend Falah. Let’s be considerate and caring, and as difficult as it may be in those moments of embarrassment, exhaustion, frustration, or despair, let’s do our best to maintain our composure. And like Falah, let’s be patient, kind, and understanding, to ourselves and to others, so we can focus on the task at hand; In this case, to get home safely.

Here’s to all the good Samaritans out there, and over there, and everywhere, who seem to come out of nowhere to help us find that missing object, assist us when we’re in distress, go the extra level to get us safely to our car, when all we have to offer as a landmark is… somewhere over here.