Let me tell you about Kevin...

Let me tell you about Kevin. Last Friday night I was on my way home from a week in Brunswick, Maine. I stepped up to the bar at the Seadog Brewing Company's Portland Jetport (Airport) Pub and ordered a light bottle of Seadog Brew Ale. I remember we were all watching tennis and I was bored, simply killing the time before my flight home.

A guy sits down next to me and instantly I start to feel anxious and annoyed as I'm feeling there's no chance this guy will let me sit in peace. He orders chili and a draft of a darker lager. The proceeds to make a big stink about whether or not the chili will be served with sugar and cinnamon. I already hate him. Then he turns to me and says, "where you from buddy?" I say Baltimore and his eyes light up. He goes into how much he loves Baltimore and how he and his wife and a couple of friends caught a Jackson Brown concert in Baltimore once and bar hopped around the city absolutely loving the experience.

Turns out he is a traveling programmer/technician for Seimens and he was on a business call. Seems as if he travels a lot more than I do and usually at a moments notice. We immediately had struck a bond because we both travel and have to deal with the calamity that is united states airports. He tells me about his life, says he's been to 80 countries, every continent and served 15 years in the Navy. He also turned out to be one of the more vivacious and friendly people I've ever met. He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and has a wife and 3 kids. Our conversation is seamless and a comedic masterpiece if I may be so bold. He was probably about 50, but acted like he was 25 with the energy of a 19 year old.

I asked him about the "chili thing" and he explains that he once lived in South Carolina and there is a county where they put sugar or cinnamon on everything. "Burgers, Steaks, Sandwiches and Cereal.....It don't matter they put sugar on all that crap." He was probably exaggerating but it was kinda funny to hear him go on about it. We got on the plane (which was tiny) and he struck up a conversation with the woman next to him. Then I looked back at him and jokingly told him to "settle down." He then turned to the woman and said, see that guy, that there's Tommy, he's the nicest guy I've ever met.

I don't think I'll ever receive a more sincere compliment.

I also don't know if I'll ever see him again and odds are I won't but just knowing this guy is out there.....it's a good thing.

His name is Kevin.