As we were deplaning in Frankfurt, I noticed an elderly lady struggling to get her suitcase down from the bin. A gentleman – probably in his fifties, quickly stepped up to help, pulled the suitcase with one hand and swung it down.

It is then I realized that he did not have a second arm!!!

I further realized that he is the same guy that I helped put his own suitcase up in Munich when we were boarding. I did it very mechanically when I saw him trying to put his suitcase up with one hand. I did not give a second thought to ask myself why would he possibly be Using one hand only. I don’t think I even made eye contact when I acknowledged his thanks.

At that moment, among the flurry of emotions I was going thru – seeing a man extending a helping hand – in fact, his only hand – to an elderly lady and that I was too casual in acknowledging his gratitude previously, all I could blurt out to him was “Hey, I was coming to help”. He put me at ease by smiling and saying with a heavy German accent “It’s ok. Gravity helps!”

I wish I had the guts to take a picture with him. It would have been too weird.

But, what spirit!! In the lounge, I tried for a few minutes to see what life would be with one arm by using only my right arm. Miserably failed. Could not even type out this message!!!

The world still has great guys – regardless of what the TV channels and newspapers focus on…