Andy was a lead hand ramp agent at Pearson Airport in Toronto during the 1980s. He worked in Zone 5, where the international flights arrived and departed. He had a three-man crew that he managed, Phil, Petey Pipes and Eddie.
Eddie was originally from Trinidad and Tobago, and was a nice and friendly guy to work with. However, he had a bit of a reputation at the airport. You see, Eddie loved to talk and socialize with the flight attendants and ticket agents. He would often spend hours chatting with them, and as a result, he was often nowhere to be found on the flights.
This became such a problem that T-shirts were made and sold at the airport that read “Where’s Eddie?”. Despite the teasing, Eddie was always in good spirits and never took it to heart. He would always apologize to Andy and the rest of the crew for his absences and promised to do better.
One day, a new flight attendant named Sarah started working at the airport. She was young, beautiful, and outgoing. Eddie couldn’t resist the opportunity to strike up a conversation with her. He would always find an excuse to be near her during the flights, and he would always make sure to have a chat with her before and after each flight.
Sarah was initially hesitant to engage with Eddie, but eventually, she warmed up to him. She found him to be charming and funny, and they quickly became friends. As they got to know each other better, Sarah discovered that Eddie was not only a great conversationalist, but he also had a wealth of knowledge about the airport and the airline industry.
From that day on, Eddie’s reputation began to change. He was no longer seen as a nuisance, but rather as a valuable member of the airport community. He had not only made a new friend, but he had also found a new purpose in his work. He became a mentor to the new flight attendants and a liaison between the flight attendants and the ramp agents. He was always there to help and always had a kind word to say.
Andy was happy to see his friend Eddie take on a new role and he was proud of him. He knew that Eddie’s love for conversation was not a hindrance but a valuable asset to the airport community. He would always remember Eddie as the friendly guy with a heart of gold who always put others before himself.
Years went by and Andy retired from the airport. But whenever he visited the airport, he would always look for Eddie and Sarah. He knew that no matter where life takes them, they would always be connected by the memories they shared at Pearson Airport.
And the moral of this story is: “One’s weakness can be turned into strength with the right attitude and mindset”
