My BIL and his wife were flying home after helping one of their kids move to go to grad school. They drove them down and then flew home. They had asked us to come pick them up.

We decided to park and go in and greet them as they came through security. The way they changed things at SLC is pretty nice. The security gate is on the same level as baggage and there is a huge walkway/hallway there now. They also have these funky artsy oblong benches for sitting. There is one right outside of the security doors, right smack dab in the middle of the hallway. There is also now a "greeting area" right off to the left of the security gate that is quite large, and I imagine is a thing built only in SLC for the missionaries returing, so large groups can gather. We've gone to pick up two peole in the last few months and the first the airport was not busy and I don't think amy missionaries were returning that evening, or at least we did not see anyone.

Yesterday however, as we walked up there were about 40-50 people kindo of crammed into that area, many with welcome home signs. we did not think much of it, and as we approached that big bench, I was about to sit down, because we knew we would be waiting for a bit as we were a little early.

Just as I'm about to sit down some lady starts barking at us. I was quite suprised and did not, at first realize, she was talking to us. She scrams, "You can't sit there." My wife and I are instantly confused, becasue we had sat there on at least one other occasion. So I said, "Excuse me?" And before I could say anything else, this lady in a very harsh and angry tone said, we had to either go into that meeting area or go back to baggage claim and wait there.

At this pint we were more surprised than anything else and we both ask her why we can't sit there, because there are no signs anywhere saying we can't sit ON A BENCH that is made to be sat on and is in a place and is clearly intended to sit on. She barks the same demands that we have to move and I again ask why and try to say that the bench is meant for sitting. Her only response, "Because if I let you, then I'd have to allow 200 others to sit there.

So now I started to get agitated, and first said, "UM 200 people can't fit on that bench, but also why can't you be a bit more polite." She said, "Because I don't have to." Myusually nonconfrontational wife says, "Come on Adrielle, she clearly hates her job."

But wait, there's more...

So we go back to the baggage claim area and walk around a bit. We got texts that the BIL and wife were on the ground, but because no airline is as fast as Southwest, it takes forever to deplane. So, about 25 more minutes go buy and we are thinking that we should probbly go back to greet them as they should be coming out the door.

Hall Airport Nazi is gone but we do not go and sit at the bench but rather stand against a wall about 30 feet from the entrance. The greeting room thing is still somewhat full but we don't think its a good idea to be crowded with people in an enclosed space. Besides, we are only going to be there for a few minutes.

About two mintues later, the hall monitor nazi comes back and starts shwing people away from the bench again, and then she tells us we cannot stand where we are standing. This time I'm a bit more annoyed and I say, "Why do we have to move? There are no signs saying we can't stand here." She snaps back with, "Because I said you can't." So I just say, "If you aren't going to give me an actual reason, I'm not moving." She then says, "If you don't move I am going to call the police." So, I say, "Go ahead."

My wife while starting our retreat asks her "What law are we breaking?" But we decide to walk away because we don't want to have some stupid confrontation.

Now, I actually understand why she was probably there. There were a lot of people waiting for missionaries and If they were all out in that hall area it might get a bit crowded for others. And I bet that when things get crowded they have someone who has to do this thankless job. But, why not do it more kindly fashion, with a brief explanation. It would take about the same amount of time, and I think most everyone would comply without much if any resistance.

I worled at Disneyland before my mission and several times I was tasked with "guest control" during the Main Street Electrical parade. As you know they put up the rope lines along the parade routes and you can sit or stand on the steet side of the rope but are not supposed to stand still on the store side of the ropes. Once the parade starts people will often stop where they aren't supposed to and it is the cast member's job to keep people moving. I would often let the people stand for a minute and then politely ask them to move along or move to the other side of the rope, as we had to keep this area clear. It was easy and I never once had someone get angry with me.