Do You Know Who I Am?

It was first published in the Readers Digest in the 1980s. There had been a delay in an airline flight due to a severe storm and many flights had to be delayed, resulting a build up of passengers waiting and not enough seats to cater for them all. So when the flight board panel indicated flights were open, people had to reconfirm in order to get a seat and were asked to queue. All passengers were asked to queue, no matter the status of their original ticket. Something akin to the seats in the wedding feast. The queue had formed and it was long. The Readers’ Digest story tells of an “important” man who somewhat pompously walked past all those queued, to the front of the line, and demanded to be confirmed on the next flight. The attendant said, “Sir, I must ask you to wait in line with everyone else”. To which he replied, “Do you know who I am? I demand to be booked on the next flight out.” She again told him the same thing, to which he responded even more indignantly, “Do you know who I am? . . . ” Without missing a beat, the woman took the microphone in front of her and made a public announcement to the crowded airport concourse. “Could I have some assistance on desk #? There is a man here who doesn’t know who he is and requires assistance.” The crowd erupted in laughter and the man slunk all the way back to the back of the line, totally humbled.