Love also, is in the air.

I spent this morning at an ATT retail store downgrading my iPhone from a 5 to a 4S -- switching SIM cards and all that good stuff. Despite having entered the store in the middle of the morning when people with phones presumably have somewhere else to be, I was placed third on a wait list.

Person #1 on the list was being helped at the time, so really there was only one other person ahead of me. Perfect. I can charge my phone. I removed one of the display iPhones from its charging station and replaced it with mine. I ate an apple while I waited; it was time for my mid-morning snack anyway. Then I browsed Facebook for a bit. Finally, I did a couple up-downs on my toes. Nothing like some mid-morning calf-sculpting.

Somewhere between my second and third up-down rep, the ATT salesperson walked Person #1 from the counter out the door. "Have a wonderful rest of your day," he said. The customer smiled as she waved behind her. Wow, that's really nice of him. I didn't realize they walk you out. During this time, Person #2, who had been maliciously smiling at the floor the entire time, exploded.

"WTF? I see five salespeople milling around. WTF are they doing? Why am I waiting in this line?" The salespeople were alarmed and the rest of us customers suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable. "Sir I am so sorry. I am free to help you now." "I don't care if you walk me out the door. I don't care about your stupid service. I just want to get in and get out. I want to talk to a manager." "Sir, you want to talk to a manager now? I can help you now," there was panic in his voice. "No. I want to talk to your manager."

I felt unsafe. On the one hand he was just a person being foolish, but on the other hand, he was a villain capable of so much harm. Whenever tragedy like that in Boston strikes, I feel rather on-edge about strangers like this man. It's harder to trust people's sanity and goodwill. Tragedy also makes me feel sad. Sad that two bombs make me fear the world and one person makes me fear people.

While the salesman ran into the office to bring his manager onto the floor, another lady came running to me. "I am so sorry about this. Can I get you some water? You've been waiting for a while." I hadn't even noticed. I wasn't even finished with my up-downs. "It's totally not a big deal. I'm okay." "Are you sure? Okay, well I can help you now." This well-intentioned, good-hearted woman was cloaked by fear. She made the iPhone switch rather quickly, continually apologizing, while Person #2 continued to spew obscenities and insults.

The entire time the ATT representative worked on my phone, all I could do was stare at this man. I was embarrassed for him because he was only making a fool of himself. I was embarrassed for myself because he was Indian. I hated the visual association. I wanted to say something but I knew it wouldn't help my case. How could he be making such a big deal of this right now? He had to wait at most ten minutes. Especially given what happened in Boston yesterday. Seriously? A phone? Who are these people? 

"All done! Let me know if you have any issues." The sales representative broke my stream of consciousness. I thanked her and left on my way to a team lunch. I had driven halfway there when I realized that my data plan had been canceled. The saleslady, distracted by her environment, had forgotten to transfer my data plan. While at first this felt like the end of the world, it was nothing a quick call to ATT couldn't solve. Person #2 who deserves no other description had infected my experience and all the people around him.

During my team lunch, the conversation predictably centered around the Boston Marathon. One of my coworkers was describing the "ingredients" of the bomb. "Mostly everyday things," he said, "thrown into a pressure cooker." Someone else responded with an incredulous stare and comment about the danger of these "things" that are so accessible to us.

In some alternate universe, those "things" also went to a lunch today, likely hosted by the pressure cooker. They too discussed the Marathon, but came to a different conclusion. One mentioned that these "humans" are so dangerous. "They misuse us and mistreat themselves."

I'm sure you've guessed where I am going with this.

Bombs explode. They wouldn't. People explode. They shouldn't. I think it's up to us (semi-) sane ones. We need to introduce just a little perspective into the world. Especially to those living amidst the mayhem of tragedy or mayhem in their minds. It's only then that we and our children and their children will witness more beautiful explosions: of love, of gratitude, of faith in humanity.