Angel in the Airport: Centenarian Spreads True Spirit of Holidays

How a 105-year-old angel inspires hope and love in the Philadelphia International Airport - during the holiday travel rush.

On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, I rushed out the door, leaving cold Philadelphia for warm and sunny Naples - with a pitstop in purgatory - otherwise known as PHL or Philly International Airport.

For my international friends, Philadelphia, while known as the City of Brotherly Love, is pretty tough.

It’s not nearly as dangerous as the news (or my mother) would have you believe, but if it’s love, it’s tough love.

“Go fuck yourself,” is practically a compliment.

So, as you can imagine and have seen in countless Hollywood films, American airports are stressful, busy and chaotic during the holidays - Philly is no exception.

But that Tuesday was something different.

Waiting in line to drop my luggage, I noticed an adorable elderly woman with a bag heavier than her body. Heck, her Stanley likely weighed more than she did.

Slightly bemused, I eavesdropped as the American Airlines concierge sweetly explained the difference between the two printed ticke…