In the 90s my wheelchair-using mom and I took a couple trips out of SeaTac. The glacial pace took some getting used to. In Honolulu they used a forklift to put us on an inter-island plane! At least it wasn’t a sling like when they move elephants!
Leaving Seattle the next time (she was moving) we had plenty of luggage. There was a special wheelchair attendant who was unhelpful, unresponsive and unengaged. Mr Grumpy.
When we arrived in Chicago, a beaming flame-haired apparition bounded up and said in very heavy Irish brogue “aye Mrs S, we’ve been expecting YOU!” and proceeded to spoil us rotten with expert attention to detail, kindness and good humor.
What a contrast. What a great ambassador for the city too. 30 years later he still owns a piece of my heart. When I think of all the travelers this delightful person assisted, reassured, respected and amused over the years, it fills me with wonder and gratitude.
I know the world contains plenty of good people. Since finding the community of substack I am definitely more exposed to them than we ever are with one-way media.
Love to all the posters AND to all the commenters!
So I just re-read this and it was more compelling the second time around, because I focused on little subtleties of dialogue I hadn’t noticed before. It’s a rich essay.
And as a disabled person with chronic illness, I say thank you for stopping and not only seeing this woman, but offering to help. Life is a real challenge for us, especially navigating an airport, and especially with silly devices like you described. I always get the standard wheelchair and of my family is not there to help wheel me, I have one of the workers help me.
Solutionism reminds me of the times we’ve planted invasive species because they were supposed to “solve” a problem and then ended up wiping out whole ecosystems. I studied design thinking in school, and I wonder if we had more time to study our designs/solutions and didn’t have to battle deadlines and the rush of capitalism how it might help us foresee the problems our “solutions” create.
Anton doesn’t talk to me! Great scene! Now for something completely different! Many years ago, probably like 20, I arrived at SeaTac about 7 hours before my overnight flight home. I got my ticket and asked the ticket lady is there a restaurant outside the airport but close by. Airports have been like malls for years now. I wanted a real restaurant. She directed me to a place across the street, its name had something to do with coins, Three Coins maybe. I dragged my luggage across the street, opened the door and instantly fell in love! It was dark, but not dank, all the chairs were nice red leather and each seat at the bar had tall wall that wrapped around you, probably 4 feet past my head once I sat down! In the bar were tables which had floor to ceiling red leather walls on three sides of the table. Ultimate in privacy! I sat there stunned just imagining Frank, Sammy, and the rest of the pack walking in all smiles saying hi to everyone, having a great few hours and leaving nice tips! I think I only ever made it back one more time and well, it was still magical! Remember I did say now for something completely different! 😀
This is why I take my own wheelchair with me on the few occasions I fly. I can usually walk but my disability is unpredictable, as are flight delays and airport distances if gates change. Every commercial flight of 100 or more people is required to transport mobility aids for free. The scary part is that they're not liable for damage.
Was in a couple of airports this past week. I never saw one of these things, but how soulless to plop a physically challenged person into an “automatic” device and have no immediate resource for backup or support if it goes sideways (or not at all). So happy you and another were there to help!
During COVID, when people would call the airport to ask about changing flights, I'd suggest to them that if they were willing/able, coming to the ticket counter to have an agent help them would be the most expedient option. At that point, call times were easily running 8-10 hours. People were stunned that something so obvious was still even an option. Solutionism will be our downfall!
In the 90s my wheelchair-using mom and I took a couple trips out of SeaTac. The glacial pace took some getting used to. In Honolulu they used a forklift to put us on an inter-island plane! At least it wasn’t a sling like when they move elephants!
Leaving Seattle the next time (she was moving) we had plenty of luggage. There was a special wheelchair attendant who was unhelpful, unresponsive and unengaged. Mr Grumpy.
When we arrived in Chicago, a beaming flame-haired apparition bounded up and said in very heavy Irish brogue “aye Mrs S, we’ve been expecting YOU!” and proceeded to spoil us rotten with expert attention to detail, kindness and good humor.
What a contrast. What a great ambassador for the city too. 30 years later he still owns a piece of my heart. When I think of all the travelers this delightful person assisted, reassured, respected and amused over the years, it fills me with wonder and gratitude.
I know the world contains plenty of good people. Since finding the community of substack I am definitely more exposed to them than we ever are with one-way media.
Love to all the posters AND to all the commenters!
Solutionism. Gonna try to remember that word. At least I know where to find it! Thanks!
So I just re-read this and it was more compelling the second time around, because I focused on little subtleties of dialogue I hadn’t noticed before. It’s a rich essay.
And as a disabled person with chronic illness, I say thank you for stopping and not only seeing this woman, but offering to help. Life is a real challenge for us, especially navigating an airport, and especially with silly devices like you described. I always get the standard wheelchair and of my family is not there to help wheel me, I have one of the workers help me.
Such a great read. Thanks. 😀 And the cheese wheel episode is iconic.
Solutionism reminds me of the times we’ve planted invasive species because they were supposed to “solve” a problem and then ended up wiping out whole ecosystems. I studied design thinking in school, and I wonder if we had more time to study our designs/solutions and didn’t have to battle deadlines and the rush of capitalism how it might help us foresee the problems our “solutions” create.
I love the cheese competition!!!
I'd the title purposely misspelled? Or is that spelling racket a replacement for racquet?
I thought it referred to a racket as in a dubious financial scheme or outright criminal enterprise, as in “numbers racket”.
Racquest and racket are interchangeable synonyms. Just look up "tennis racket."
Anton doesn’t talk to me! Great scene! Now for something completely different! Many years ago, probably like 20, I arrived at SeaTac about 7 hours before my overnight flight home. I got my ticket and asked the ticket lady is there a restaurant outside the airport but close by. Airports have been like malls for years now. I wanted a real restaurant. She directed me to a place across the street, its name had something to do with coins, Three Coins maybe. I dragged my luggage across the street, opened the door and instantly fell in love! It was dark, but not dank, all the chairs were nice red leather and each seat at the bar had tall wall that wrapped around you, probably 4 feet past my head once I sat down! In the bar were tables which had floor to ceiling red leather walls on three sides of the table. Ultimate in privacy! I sat there stunned just imagining Frank, Sammy, and the rest of the pack walking in all smiles saying hi to everyone, having a great few hours and leaving nice tips! I think I only ever made it back one more time and well, it was still magical! Remember I did say now for something completely different! 😀
What a beautiful piece. And yes, 'solutionism.' Seems like every other ad on TV is for something we never knew we needed. . . and don't.
Gotta love that visual flair
This is why I take my own wheelchair with me on the few occasions I fly. I can usually walk but my disability is unpredictable, as are flight delays and airport distances if gates change. Every commercial flight of 100 or more people is required to transport mobility aids for free. The scary part is that they're not liable for damage.
Was in a couple of airports this past week. I never saw one of these things, but how soulless to plop a physically challenged person into an “automatic” device and have no immediate resource for backup or support if it goes sideways (or not at all). So happy you and another were there to help!
More people should express their complete thoughts..our talking heads have a lot of insight if we can hear it…I like how you express humanity…
During COVID, when people would call the airport to ask about changing flights, I'd suggest to them that if they were willing/able, coming to the ticket counter to have an agent help them would be the most expedient option. At that point, call times were easily running 8-10 hours. People were stunned that something so obvious was still even an option. Solutionism will be our downfall!
wow - so good and so much to unpack within... thank you, Sherman
Thanks, Betsy.