Dear Amy: On a recent trip to a nearby airport, I parked my car in the parking garage, and as I was locking it, I noticed a woman sleeping in the car parked next to me. She was zonked out with a newspaper over her face.
I figured she was waiting for someone who was late, but then I saw three small children huddled in the back seat. They were reading a book and were OK as far as I could see. But it concerned me because the kids were young and there were no windows open or air conditioning on during a warm day.
I walked toward the elevator and saw a security guard, and I told her what I had observed.
When I got back to my car, a man confronted me and asked if I had told the security guard that his wife was in their car sleeping. I lied to him and was angry that the security guard had told him it was the person in the car next to him who had made the complaint. This was the day after the London security threat in August, so I was more then a little tense about picking up my loved ones.
I would do it all again because isn’t it our responsibility as citizens to take notice of unusual events in this time of turmoil? My loved ones thought I overreacted and made fun of me the rest of the weekend, but I would like your and your readers’ opinions about this situation.
– Righteous in Chicago
Dear Chicago: Security threat or no, if you see someone motionless and with a newspaper over her face in the front seat of a car with three children “huddled” in the back seat on a hot August day, then of course you should tell someone. The mom in this case could have been ill – you had no way of knowing what was going on with her. The security guard should have taken a look, asked her what flight she was waiting for, verified that she was OK and then moved along.
Your loved ones shouldn’t make fun of you for being concerned about the welfare of three children – they should thank you for being concerned enough to step forward.
…
Dear Amy: All of my life people who don’t even know me have accused me of not smiling.
I can be in a perfectly good mood, and someone will make a “joke” about my NEVER smiling. I usually feel insulted; it’s like being told I am ugly.
I guess I don’t walk around with a big fake smile showing all my teeth. I never know how to respond to these people. I can’t be rude, or I would lose my job.
Do you have any suggestions?
– Smiling in Connecticut
Dear Smiling: How’s this: “I AM smiling … on the inside.”
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