It’s interesting how we go through life meeting people, connecting and at times not realizing how one can make an impact on our lives. I have met tons of people so far in my life. Some people are single serving friends and others make an impact whether it is small or large. Sometimes the smallest impact is the one that sticks with you most.

Years ago I met someone who, at the time, made an impact on me with her kindness. It was something small but it stuck with me. I met this person at a local restaurant when I started my dispatch career in Florida. I would go to breakfast with my mom and cousin Linda almost every morning and this person was our waitress.

For this story I will refer to the waitress as Jackie. She had the brightest smile and an attitude that made you want to have a good day no matter what. We would walk in and she would greet us by name and treat us like family. She became the highlight of the day. If I was having a bad morning I knew that once I went with my family to breakfast the rest of the day would be great because Jackie would hook us up with a bowl of sunshine.

Now I’m sure many of you reading this have met someone like this in your lives at least once. When you see someone who is always there you become comfortable and sometimes when you become comfortable, things change.

“911 where is your emergency?”

– Heavy breathing from the caller –

“Hello? Are you there?”

“YES! Please help me!”

“What’s your address?”

“145 Mason st, please hurry!”

“Sir what is going on?”

“I just woke up and found my girlfriend laying on the couch. I went to wake her up and when I turned her over she was cold and blue in the face…she’s not breathing.”

I told him that we needed to start CPR and as he fumbled through his response I got the first responders and EMS enroute.

“There is nothing I can do…she’s dead,” he mumbled.

“Are you sure you don’t want to try?”

“I’m sure…”

“Ok. Well, I’m going to stay on the line with you sir.”

All I could do was sit there and listen to him cry. It was hard to hear this but it was my job to be there for this person. He lost someone important to him and I put myself in his shoes for a moment. It would kill me to lose someone close to me whether it was someone who made a small or large impact in my life. I hung up when everyone arrived and sat in dispatch thinking about my caller. I felt bad for him but I kept going like I always do.

The officers returned from the scene and they had pictures. I felt compelled to look and in a weird way I felt that I would get closure from it. I asked for the pictures and my jaw dropped.

“I know her…”

It’s interesting how we go through life meeting people, connecting and at times not realizing how one can make an impact on our lives. I have met tons of people so far in my life. Some people are single serving friends and others make an impact whether it is small or large. Sometimes the smallest impact is the one that sticks with you most.