Just when you think everything is going great.....fate dumps on you. That happened to me last week while on a business trip to Baltimore. Everything  was great. I made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare, checked in for the first part of the trip, everything was great.

Upon arriving in Atlanta and with a two hour layover I decided to visit the Sky Club and have some munchies and a drink. At the reception desk they checked my boarding pass and asked for my ID. That was the last time I remember seeing my driver's license (a brand new one less than 24 hours old), credit cards and cash. Yep, I lost my billfold.

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I didn't realize my billfold, and my documented life, was gone until the plane was ready to taxi away from the gate. The Kind people at Delta had upgraded me from coach to first class AFTER I boarded the plane. I thought perhaps I lost everything in the seat so I went back to check. No luck. The flight attendant told me to stay on board when we arrived in Baltimore and we would look some more.

The flight in first class should have been an enjoyable one. Free Drinks, nice munchies and large comfortable seats. I could not relax. The gentleman seated next to me was extremely kind and understanding. He introduced himself and assured me it would all work out.

All I could think of was arriving in Baltimore with no ID, credit cards or money. How was I going to get to the hotel? How could I prove to the hotel who I was? How would I get home with no proof of ID? After one or two drinks I was beginning to worry a bit.

To make a long story short, we never found my billfold. The guy next to me, Dick Tardif, gave me $40. He said not to worry about it but I wrote him a check. The Shuttle Service had my credit card number on file and took my word on who I was so got to the hotel. I tried to tip the driver but he said to hold on to the $40 bucks as I might need it.

The lady at the hotel let me check in with my Priority Club card as ID since the Company was paying for my room but I couldn't charge food, drink or anything else. No phone service either but I had my cell.

In about an hour my Monster Jam co-workers arrived with help. They took me to dinner, offered me some cash and paid my tab at the pub (much needed after the day I had). My wife, Kathy, and Granddaughter Brittani, Fed X's me some money and my passport. As of 10 am Friday morning I had ID once again.

American Express had a new credit card delivered to the hotel by Saturday morning and I was almost whole again.

My billfold with credit cards, Id and $150 cash is still missing. I even checked with Lost and Found at the Atlanta Airport on my way home Sunday but nothing.

All in all most everything has been replaced, new credit cards, drivers license, Starbucks and debit cards. I may have lost $150 cash but I found something worth much more. Some people willing to buy me a good dark beer or two.

Seriously, I discovered there are still some amazingly kind people in this world who are willing to help a total stranger. I met more than one good Samaritan while on my journey. It restored my faith in my fellow man.

I also know I never, never want to be in that situation again so I am always going to carry a spare ID in my carry-on bag.

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