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New-Found friend fles in to help
WestJet employee arrives at Abbeyfield ready to decorate for holidays
Jamie Jacques, Special to The Delta Optimist
Published: Saturday, December 06, 2008
Diann Thomas, the resident co-ordinator at Abbeyfield House in Tsawwassen, got a pleasant surprise Monday morning.
Shelly Roberts, an employee at the WestJet call centre in Calgary, had come to visit, in town to help Thomas put up Christmas decorations before flying back later in the afternoon.
How she found her way to the local seniors' home is a little unusual.
"This is my first time really taking this kind of an adventure but I wouldn't say it's out of character for me to be able to do something a little different for people," Roberts said. "Not that I try to make it happen, it just seems to come as natural for me.
"I've always believed that how I want to be treated is how I would like others to be treated by me."
The story started when Thomas called the airline looking for her itinerary for her upcoming trip. Apparently there was a problem with the delivery of the details due to a mistake in the e-mail address.
Roberts discovered the problem and called Thomas back on Sunday. With the problem solved, they got to conversing about other things, and eventually ended up talking about Thomas' plans to put up Christmas decorations the next day.
"We got talking and joking and I said where I worked and what I was doing today and she said, 'Oh, I should come and help you decorate,'" Thomas said. "I said, 'Please do.'
"So we talked about it and she said, 'OK, I'll call you between 8:30 and 9:30 tomorrow morning.' So I waited and said, 'Oh, I guess she can't make it...what a shame,' and at 10 she phoned."
Roberts was at Vancouver International Airport and ready to decorate. She even brought some Christmas decorations herself.
With Roberts' help, the decorating became a lot easier, and a lot more fun, said Thomas.
"And it was really good for the residents," added Thomas. "It was something different and they love it."
Roberts told her supervisor as soon as she got off the phone. He thought it was a good idea and told her not to worry about her work schedule. He'd have her covered. "I don't know how to explain it but Diann and I are going to be life-long friends now."