This afternoon, using the lock box key, my real estate agent popped into my house to grab the flyers and shoe covers she'd left for our showings a few weeks prior. After all, my wife and I didn't need them anymore since we'd accepted an offer. Our three cats greeted the agent as she entered. Our three cats and the distinct sulfuric odor of a gas leak. After thoughtfully opening windows, the agent called me to inform of the discovery. I immediately called DTE and let them know my wife would be home within a half hour to let the worker in (I was stuck at work).
Fifteen minutes later, my phone rang. "Hello! It's the DTE Guy," a cheerful voice supplied. I greeted him but quickly explained my wife wouldn't be there for another 15 minutes, which is what I explicitly explained to the operator when I called. The DTE Guy, continuing in his cheerful voice, "Well, when it comes to gas leaks, we don't like to schedule these things. We like to take care of them right away. But if you want me to wait while the house explodes, I can-" I cut him off, "I don't appreciate you condescending to me." He continued, like me snapping at him didn't faze him. "Are you the owner of the home?" I confirmed I was. "I see a "for sale" sign on the front lawn. Is there, by chance, a lock box with a key inside?" What a brilliant, condescending man! I gave him the code, he retrieved the key, and I stayed on the line, explaining what may have caused the leak. There had been some work done on the furnace a few days prior, and something may had been knocked loose. He walked me through what he was seeing. When he wanted to mark the location of the leak but didn't have anything to do it with, I led him to a drawer full of rubber bands and pens. Somewhere along the way, the chatter went from stilted to easy, and we ended up laughing with each other. Suddenly, I felt guilty. "I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier. I'm just really frustrated with everything," I told him. And in the most surprising turn of events, the DTE Guy also apologized. "I'm sorry for snapping, too. Gas leaks are serious, and I take them seriously. I didn't mean to gripe at you." When he heard my wife come through the door, we wrapped up the conversation, so he could explain to her where the leak was. But he made sure to tell me not to hesitate to call him if I had any questions. Listen, DTE Guy, I'm sorry I didn't get your name. I really should've asked. Especially since we ended up having a pretty damn good conversation and because you made sure my wife and I were safe. And even though you'll always be "Hello! It's the DTE Guy" to me, just know I appreciated your cheerfulness, your dedication, your humility, and your kindness. I appreciate you.
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March 2019
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