Shgreenbug@aol.com

It happened again!

I need encouragement.

Am I a loudmouthed curmudgeon or a justified consumer venting my anger at inefficiency and gross indifference?

The Incident (from my point of view - naturally).

We were flying to Charleston, SC for a speech therapy convention to be attended by my wife, Lorraine. I was a drag-along.

As usual, we got to the airport much too early. Today, one has doubts. They say, "Be there 90 minutes before flight time." I usually like to take no chances and got there even earlier.

The day started with a bang. When I pressed the automatic garage door opener button, a loud cracking sound was emitted, but the door did not go up. Our car was in the garage with no way to get it out. The door was frozen from the snow and freezing temperature.

I called for help and Nick Graziose, our savior arrived. In 45 seconds the door was fixed and a calamity averted. We arrived at LaGuardia, showed our driver's licenses, checked the suitcases and were told our flight gate was number 7.

We took off our shoes, coats and scarves and deposited the cellphones, keys, watches and metal paraphernalia into a plastic tub. We marched through the metal detector causing no bells and whistles.

We now had 2-1/2 hours to wait.

We ate lunch and sat down across from Gate 7. Our flight number was not listed on the wall at Gate 7. Maybe it was too early. We sat and sat contentedly. Lorraine slept. When it was 5 minutes to our departure time I was truly concerned.

I approached an attendant and asked about our flight number.

"Oh, the gate has been changed to Gate 3," she said blithely and matter-of-factly.

I lost it!

No announcement had been made over the P.A. system. I woke Lorraine and we rushed over to Gate 3 just at the time they were boarding. It was a close call.

I then loudly excoriated the attendants for not making it known that the gate had been changed. Again I was faced with indifference and nonchalance. I got louder and caused a scene.

Then and only then did the attendant go on the loudspeaker and inform the public of a change of departure gates. We glared at each other as I handed her my boarding pass. I doubt that we will ever become fast friends. She asked me again for my I.D. which she never did to other passengers.

Was I wrong?

Should I have been calm, cool and collected?

Was it not my duty to point out an error?

Should I have gone sheepishly onto the plane and not made a fuss?

I am waiting for an answer! Thank you in advance.