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Everyone has a story The woman on her cell phone at Gate 6, screaming in tears to her sister that she’s broke and has nowhere to go after she lands in Chicago. The man in uniform being deployed to fight a seemingly never-ending war in Iraq. The businessman stuffed in an obviously uncomfortable suit, trying to keep his company afloat in a failing economy. The inconsolable baby crying in the arms of her parents. The man sprinting in desperation to catch a flight home, because his pregnant wife was just rushed to the emergency room with complications. The unhappy married couple making efforts to save their failing marriage. The overweight man downing a double cheeseburger and large fries, even though he has struggled with his weight his entire life. The woman who is shaking because she knows she is about to board a flight where she won’t be able to light a cigarette for at least three hours. The deathly skinny girl wearing baggy clothes to cover up her closet life as an anorexic. The teenage boy with the uncontrollable addiction to dipping, oblivious to the possible future repercussions. The deeply depressed woman, adorned from head to toe with only the finest Italian couture. The man on his way to get chemotherapy and radiation, fighting every day for his life. The girl who finds herself, once again, on the dating scene after a break-up with her boyfriend of four years. The boy with bruises all over his body from his abusive father, whom he somehow finds the will to love anyway. The girl fighting an uphill battle with drug addiction. The man flying home to live with his parents because he has just filed bankruptcy. The woman whose credit cards are all maxed out due to her addiction to spending. The man who looks normal but lives the secret life of a pedophile. The cleaning lady with aspirations of something much more fulfilling for her life than cleaning up other people’s messes. And then there’s me… The girl with the amazing family and fortunate life. She observes the stories of an infinite number of travelers filing in and out of the LAX airport and suddenly reflects on all the times she has lamented over the fact that she didn’t win a gold medal in the Olympics or make an Olympic Team in two sports. Was it really that important? She is truly blessed! Erin |