I think I've been waiting for you all my life!

Most of the folks working the event who were beyond the finish line (paramedics, officials, photographers) were chipper and full of energy. The medical staff was extremely attentive quite honestly - which i availed myself of for a couple minutes because I needed support walking (which you really aren't supposed to stop doing after you finish).

All of this and I then went on to pick up my finisher medal and it was like I can only imagine serving chocolate cake in prison would be like... GIVE ME THAT! I WANT MY MEDAL NOW!

And the folks there were also doing the best they could to satisfy demand. The one person I came upon when it was my turn didn't get that from me - partly because i was still sucking wind honestly. I stood there patiently and waited my turn.

When i got up to her and it was my turn, I realized that this poor girl (who wasn't the prettiest girl in sight but was quite sweet to be doing what she was doing while also being shorter than all these demanding folks) could use a kind word.

I looked her straight in the eye, managed to find the calories somewhere in my system needed to burn so i could smile and speak and said "I think I've been waiting for you all my life!" - in a good way of course. She was visibly uplifted by it, and it made my experience there so much better to be able (even when I was completely depleted and nearly falling down) to give a little happiness back to someone who was working so hard to take care of the needs of so many others.