I mentioned how kind people in Oklahoma City are in the last post. But really, the kindness and politeness is to such a ridiculous level, that it must get its own post.
I just can’t even… There are no examples I can write that are going to truly give you an idea of what it feels like to be in that city. Get on a plane and go experience it yourself. Really. Go now. It might just change who you are.
Every single person we met was overly kind and thoughtful. We walked through the convention center to get to/from the game just so we could walk in a warm area. Lots of people did this. So, it was fairly crowded. And some random man starting holding the door open (even though that meant he stood in the cold for longer) just because, you know, it’s Oklahoma City.
When the people next to me at the game got up to grab a snack, the man very kindly asked (re: my awesome (mostly eaten) baked potato that they sell at super cool Chesapeake Arena), “Would you like me to throw that away for you?”
At the airport, leaving, my flight was delayed by hours. My dad and I went to the airport early, ’cause he said if possible I should try and get on another flight to make sure I wasn’t late for work on Monday. As I was talking to the ticketing agent, my dad was returning the rental car. She said a flight left in half an hour. I mentioned, “Oh, I’ll have to run… I wanted to say goodbye to my dad.”
And in true Oklahoma City fashion, she sweetly said, “I’ll print off an extra copy of your itinerary and give it to him when he comes up here so he knows where you are.” It was so cute! Like I was 17 or something and my dad would still worry about me. (Of course, I’m pretty sure my dad still does sometimes worry about me just as much as he did back then (if not more).)
Even on the plane, when I was going home… since I was one of the last to be booked on that flight, I was in the C group to board. All that was left were middle seats. I hate asking people if I can sit in the center seat because you know how people like to have as much room as possible on planes. But when I asked the two guys in that row, the kind older gentleman in the aisle said, “We’d be honored!” He jumped up from his seat and immediately asked if he could help me put anything in the overhead bin.
I looked at him and said, “You’re from here, aren’t you?” He said, “How did you know?” I can tell! He’s got that Oklahoma City feeling!
Backing up to when I was checking out of the hotel, the guy at the desk was all, “Are you a Starwood Rewards member?” I said no. And he was all, “Oh, we’ve gotta change that right now! We can take your wi-fi off the bill.” (I get that that’s just awesome customer service that you may be able to find elsewhere… But still. It seemed in the same OKC kindness vein to me.
Also, at the hotel desk, he asked “Did you enjoy your stay?” I said, “Psh! Enjoy is an understatement! This has been one of the best trips of my life!”
We also ended up talking a bit about the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon they have at the end of every April. (I found out about it with all the marathoning stuff in the gift shop in the museum.) I said I was going to have to do that race. He said, “We’re the host hotel for that race!”
Of course you are. Of course the dopest hotel in the dopest city (well, besides NYC, but that goes without saying) is the host hotel for what’s almost certainly one of the dopest marathons.
Suffice it to say, I will absolutely be back. (I may or may not have snuck a peek at some apartments online.)
When I arrived back at LAX, immediately I saw people shoving each other, not paying any attention to anyone around them, smoking cigarettes in crowds with absolutely no regard for other human beings. Ah, home sweet home.