Since when do I feel the freedom to “lump” more kinfolks into the bin already spilling over with “we-should-have-known-better” contents? Regrettably, we must make room for one more–my wife’s cousin.
Paula Ward–wedded to Jason Ward of Christchurch, New Zealand, 13 years ago–is a native Texan. The couple resides in his homeland, almost halfway around the globe where he’s an independent paint contractor. With dual citizenship, she arranges trips periodically to visit relatives in Texas.
Arrangements aren’t so difficult. Timing for the 9,000-mile journey is. Paula isn’t–and never claimed to be–an international travel expert. Such would have helped this time….
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Having experienced Texas’ 100-plus temperatures in August, 2022, the pair agreed: “Never again.” November, she suggested, should be great.
Paula failed to realize that the selected travel dates–November 21 and November 30–are the two busiest this year for USA air travel. (On the Friday prior to Thanksgiving, the 3,000,000 figure is reached, and on the Sunday following, exceeded.) She booked travel on those very days.
They experienced delays, other annoyances and even less-than-courteous treatment. They were ensnared at a rental car counter, where it appeared that three agents were in place to serve a long line of customers. One “worker,” however, was endlessly attached to his iPhone, perhaps chatting with a friend–as if poolside on a cruise ship deck–instead of serving customers. Earlier, it had taken two hours to clear customs, and afterwards, two more to escape Houston traffic…..
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Their next visit to Texas will NOT be during Thanksgiving, a holiday unobserved in New Zealand.
If Jason decides to accompany her, he’ll urge her to look further than calendar dates, perhaps checking out holidays, whether federal funding is keeping air traffic controllers at work, and assorted other other miscellaneous mitigations that might lead to travel trauma.
Luckily, kinfolks have been understanding. This includes her Kerrville cousins–Steve and Alma Rice–who had hoped the Wards would arrive in time for 6 p.m. dinner, one that was cold at their midnight arrival. But, since more than 31 hours had elapsed since leaving their home, Jason and Paula likely would have eagerly welcomed food in any condition……
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Sometimes, the “fickle finger of fate” wiggles wildly. I’m talkin’ about “whatever-can-go-wrong-will-go-wrong” eventualities, the kind we remember from Rowan and Martin’s TV Show, “Laugh In,” an American favorite from 1968-1973.
That’s when their “sock-it-to-me” phrase seemed to “fit” the vignettes.
Seriously, the Wards are wonderful Christians–blessings by all measures. And, we enjoy Jason’s accent, seemingly blended from those of England and Australia…..
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One unexpected rental car experience is worth relating. I arrived a the Amarillo Airport, the nearest one to Pampa, my speaking destination. At the counter, I wondered how I’d pass time in Pampa, a mere hour’s drive away.
I was next in line, and the frantic woman in front of me was crying, pleading between sobs that she needed to drive to Lubbock. The agent was patient, but repeatedly said that there were no cars available. He was near tears, too, “caught up” in her emergency.
I interrupted to say, “Give her my car,” only to hear his response: “If I do, there’ll be none for you.” I was determined to help, figuring I could ride a bus or even hitch-hike, if necessary. Numerous possibilities flooded my mind…..
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Her “smile-light” shined broadly, and the agent grinned, too. I left the building, then immediately returned, requesting a vehicle rental.
“You know we don’t have any,” the agent whimpered. I reminded him that he’d said “cars,” not necessarily all types of vehicles.
He chuckled, remembering an old truck out back; he didn’t know why the company had it, or if it would even start. It did. He drew up the papers, charging me the cheapest sub-compact rate. If I’d come across a funeral procession headed toward Pampa, I could have helped them to deliver graveside flowers….
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Dr. Newbury, a speaker in the Metroplex, may be reached at 817-447-3872; email: [email protected]. Column audio version at www.speakerdoc.com.