It’s easy to forget a few things when you are frantically packing your bags for yet another trip that involves many stops, five types of transportation, and meals that may likely come from a snack stand on the corner. One item that you should be sure to remember to include for every trip is compassion.

This past week, after seven days on the road in six different cities, I was heading back into San Francisco on a jam packed flight out of Chicago. As the drink cart came through, I decided a Bloody Mary was warranted. Freshly made and ready for consumption, I watched my drink slide off my tray and right onto the man sitting to my left. All over the armrest, and on both of us, I was half shocked by what had just happened, and half mortified at what I had just witnessed. I had waitressed in high school and never had a misstep with a customer. Here I am glued to a seat in an airplane and I pour thick tomato juice all over a stranger.

I quickly rang the flight attendant call button and began my apologies to the very gracious man whom I now soaked. As the flight attendant sprinted to the bathroom and first class to round up towels and linens, I continued my apologies. The gentleman next to me kindly just kept saying it was ok and soon was off to the bathroom to begin his cleanup. I started wiping everything (the drink had run everywhere…) and soon had his seat in clean enough shape to put blankets down so he could return. I was also soaked, but decided my “punishment” would be to have to just deal with it for the next 4 hours until we landed.

I apologized when he returned again and hung my head low. We had caused a commotion in the plane and I had received many interesting looks from the other passengers, all likely grateful that they weren’t sitting next to me. I was trying to get my mind off my soaked pants and my soggy neighbor when across the aisle another drink went flying thanks in part to a gentleman whose overhead luggage fell when he was trying to get out his laptop. This time, the response from the soaked party wasn’t so compassionate. The man with the drink all over him nearly exploded in anger before storming to the front of the plane for towels. Upon his return, he was furious, causing a bit of a scene. The man responsible for the spill tried to apologize but the soaked man wanted nothing of it. He was just mad as hell.

“Wow” I thought. 2 spilled drinks in under an hour – and 2 very different outcomes. My spirits were lifted thinking my neighbor could have erupted in anger but instead accepted my apology and went back to watching Toy Story 3 on the TV. I know next time I get my suitcase out from under the bed I’ll be sure not forget a little compassion for the road. It goes a long way among fellow travelers.