"It's hard to remember who you are when you're a gypsy."
"My brothers have pretty unique names-Ford, Coleman, Alister and Roswell."
"Are you due for a colonoscopy?"
"I don't like buffets, because people's arm hair can get in the food."
"The doctor said my brain was scrambled in the accident."
"The military has a way of making fun things, not fun."
"You won't wear any sunglasses, but you prefer the arm in front of your face?"(yes I do)
"Did they make pot legal in New York yet?"
"On our European vacation, the four of us drank 67 bottles of wine in ten days, we counted them."
"You should never move to a tourist town."
Green Bay Packer Fan who wasn't drinking: "Can I puke in your New York Giant hat and pretend I don't know what happened?"
"I like New Jersey, it's very much like Myrtle Beach."(really?)
"I hate Monday's. I remember the smell of Monday from my childhood."
"We got on the golf course early and were almost done by the time it rained. I talked to God about it before we got here. We made a Trump deal."
"I don't like going on a cruise, it's like going to Golden Corral with a bar."
"You changed my mind about Giant fans."
"Thanks for getting me to work on time. I'm just glad you weren't an 85 year-old man taking his time.
"Names don't faze me anymore. When I worked in a prison there was an inmate whose real name was, "Stay At Home."
"I'm the only one at work who's doing what they're are supposed to do."
"I've perfected putting on lipstick in the car."
"You ask a lot of questions." Me: I'm sorry, I won't ask anymore. Would you like to ask me any? "No, I'm good."($5 tip)
"You're my favorite Lyft driver"($10 tip)
"Tell your wife she has a lovely husband"
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
"Kind" Ellen DeGeneres Hits a Home Run
Every once in a while someone in Hollywood says something and they really deserve an award or a standing ovation. In case you missed this story earlier in the month, it is worth repeating. Comedian and television talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres, was with her wife at a Dallas Cowboy football game and she was sitting in the owner's box.(Jerry Jones) Sitting with them all was former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura.
Several times the cameras showed Ellen and the former President laughing together and some people got upset about it. Since Ellen is a liberal and George W. Bush is a conservative, there were a number of people who were angry about it. One of the celebrities who scolded Ellen was actor, Mark Ruffalo, best known for playing The Hulk. This is what he said:
"Sorry, until George W. Bush is brought to justice for the crimes of the Iraq War, (including American-lead torture, Iraqi deaths & displacement, and the deep scars—emotional & otherwise—inflicted on our military that served his folly), we can’t even begin to talk about kindness."
In response to some of the negative feedback she got, Ellen's reply was this:
"Here’s the thing. I’m friends with George Bush,” who has appeared on her talk show. “In fact, I’m friends with a lot of people who don’t share the same beliefs that I have. We’re all different, and I think we’ve forgotten that that’s OK that we’re all different.” “But just because I don’t agree with someone on everything doesn’t mean that I’m not going to be friends with them. When I say, ‘Be kind to one another,’ I don’t only mean the people that think the same way that you do. I mean be kind to everyone. Doesn’t matter [who].”
She could not have said it any better. She did have some people who supported her, but comments like Mark Ruffalo's unfortunately show how out of touch some people in Hollywood are. When a Conservative hears comments like those, they immediately think that's how most people in Hollywood and liberals think. These are the comments that make the news and turn a lot of people off.
Ellen's comments did make the news, but when someone criticizes and condemns today, it's unfortunately a lot more newsworthy.
Several times the cameras showed Ellen and the former President laughing together and some people got upset about it. Since Ellen is a liberal and George W. Bush is a conservative, there were a number of people who were angry about it. One of the celebrities who scolded Ellen was actor, Mark Ruffalo, best known for playing The Hulk. This is what he said:
"Sorry, until George W. Bush is brought to justice for the crimes of the Iraq War, (including American-lead torture, Iraqi deaths & displacement, and the deep scars—emotional & otherwise—inflicted on our military that served his folly), we can’t even begin to talk about kindness."
In response to some of the negative feedback she got, Ellen's reply was this:
"Here’s the thing. I’m friends with George Bush,” who has appeared on her talk show. “In fact, I’m friends with a lot of people who don’t share the same beliefs that I have. We’re all different, and I think we’ve forgotten that that’s OK that we’re all different.” “But just because I don’t agree with someone on everything doesn’t mean that I’m not going to be friends with them. When I say, ‘Be kind to one another,’ I don’t only mean the people that think the same way that you do. I mean be kind to everyone. Doesn’t matter [who].”
She could not have said it any better. She did have some people who supported her, but comments like Mark Ruffalo's unfortunately show how out of touch some people in Hollywood are. When a Conservative hears comments like those, they immediately think that's how most people in Hollywood and liberals think. These are the comments that make the news and turn a lot of people off.
Ellen's comments did make the news, but when someone criticizes and condemns today, it's unfortunately a lot more newsworthy.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
The Horse Carriage Ride
What could be more southern than taking a horse carriage ride through the streets of Charleston, South Carolina, which is 349 years old? My wife and I have driven many Uber/Lyft passengers in the Charleston area, but Sunday was the first time we visited as tourists. We went with our youngest daughter and had a great time.
One of the best ways to see the city is to take an hour long horse carriage ride which costs between $25-$28 a person. There are five carriage companies in downtown Charleston and they all have to check in with the city government which has a representative sitting in a little white shack on a street corner. Each carriage has to give the name of the horse(ours was Gary) and how many passengers are in the carriage. The government official uses a Bingo ball to randomly select which route each carriage will take so there aren't a bunch of them on one particular route. None of us can remember how many routes there are, but it's at least five.
Our tour guide has been doing this for 18 years and he was really good. It was amazing to watch from the first row seat how he steered the horse and stopped it just by moving his hand slightly. He was distracted too, since he was speaking to us non-stop as we rode through the town. At one point there was a few musicians playing music on the steps of a building. The horse clearly did not like the music and he had to be calmed down since we had a red light in front of us.
Charleston is known for two things, the food and the architecture. The houses and churches were not just old, but they really did have that "southern charm" about them. The design of the houses were very unique. Some places had been modernized and some clearly were not. Our guide pointed out a number of older and smaller houses that were used for slaves at the time. These small houses are today called carriage houses.
The weather was perfect that afternoon, sunny and breezy. It was a relaxing ride through the streets of Charleston and I would highly recommend seeing some of the city the old fashioned way-in a carriage.
One of the best ways to see the city is to take an hour long horse carriage ride which costs between $25-$28 a person. There are five carriage companies in downtown Charleston and they all have to check in with the city government which has a representative sitting in a little white shack on a street corner. Each carriage has to give the name of the horse(ours was Gary) and how many passengers are in the carriage. The government official uses a Bingo ball to randomly select which route each carriage will take so there aren't a bunch of them on one particular route. None of us can remember how many routes there are, but it's at least five.
Our tour guide has been doing this for 18 years and he was really good. It was amazing to watch from the first row seat how he steered the horse and stopped it just by moving his hand slightly. He was distracted too, since he was speaking to us non-stop as we rode through the town. At one point there was a few musicians playing music on the steps of a building. The horse clearly did not like the music and he had to be calmed down since we had a red light in front of us.
Charleston is known for two things, the food and the architecture. The houses and churches were not just old, but they really did have that "southern charm" about them. The design of the houses were very unique. Some places had been modernized and some clearly were not. Our guide pointed out a number of older and smaller houses that were used for slaves at the time. These small houses are today called carriage houses.
The weather was perfect that afternoon, sunny and breezy. It was a relaxing ride through the streets of Charleston and I would highly recommend seeing some of the city the old fashioned way-in a carriage.
The Night I Defended Three Democrats
Maybe there was a full moon, but I not only defended three Democrats in one night, I did it to a Democrat who was knocking them. A friend of mine down here is a Democrat from New York and although we differ on many issues, we do enjoy discussing them. I was talking on the phone with him when this all began.
I told him that I just finished reading former Democrat Senator Al Franken's book and it was very good. I said that I thought he was pushed out too quickly and he was not given a chance to defend himself against improper advances to several women.(although it looked bad) My friend said he was guilty and he needed to resign. I think he was sacrificed to go after the President, who has been accused of things by a number of women. I'm pretty sure I did not change his mind.
The second Democrat I defended was former Vice-President Joe Biden. I said that he was very well liked and I felt he was pretty honest. My friend would have none of that and said in so many words that he's a politician for a long time and certainly has done many things over that time that were dishonest. He didn't convince me.
The third Democrat I defended was the big one-Franklin Delano Roosevelt! I couldn't believe it! Although he did have some critics in his own party at the time, he is widely considered the greatest President we've ever had or right behind Abraham Lincoln. My friend was upset that he apparently had an affair as President. I reminded him that Eleanor supposedly had a relationship with another woman at the same time when they were in the White House. I suggested that it was possible that they had discussed it and they had some kind of arrangement. Of course, this is just speculation, but it is possible. I didn't score any points with my friend on this one either.
It's not too often that a Republican defends a Democrat and three in one night for different reasons, was probably a record. When it comes to politics these days, we do live in interesting times and you never know what will happen.
I told him that I just finished reading former Democrat Senator Al Franken's book and it was very good. I said that I thought he was pushed out too quickly and he was not given a chance to defend himself against improper advances to several women.(although it looked bad) My friend said he was guilty and he needed to resign. I think he was sacrificed to go after the President, who has been accused of things by a number of women. I'm pretty sure I did not change his mind.
The second Democrat I defended was former Vice-President Joe Biden. I said that he was very well liked and I felt he was pretty honest. My friend would have none of that and said in so many words that he's a politician for a long time and certainly has done many things over that time that were dishonest. He didn't convince me.
The third Democrat I defended was the big one-Franklin Delano Roosevelt! I couldn't believe it! Although he did have some critics in his own party at the time, he is widely considered the greatest President we've ever had or right behind Abraham Lincoln. My friend was upset that he apparently had an affair as President. I reminded him that Eleanor supposedly had a relationship with another woman at the same time when they were in the White House. I suggested that it was possible that they had discussed it and they had some kind of arrangement. Of course, this is just speculation, but it is possible. I didn't score any points with my friend on this one either.
It's not too often that a Republican defends a Democrat and three in one night for different reasons, was probably a record. When it comes to politics these days, we do live in interesting times and you never know what will happen.
Monday, October 14, 2019
October 14, 1976
I blogged recently that there are a number of special dates in Yankee baseball history and today is one of those dates. It was 43 years ago today that the Yankees played the fifth and deciding game of the 1976 American League Championship Series. This week, The Yankees may have another chance to go to The World Series, but it won't compare to the unforgettable moment in 1976.
The Yankees were playing the Kansas City Royals in Yankee Stadium and were winning the game 6-3 in the 8th inning. The crowd could sense that we were going to win. The Yankees had not been in the World Series since 1964 and they were only six outs away in the eighth inning. The Royals future Hall of Famer, George Brett, stunned the crowd with a three run homer and the game was tied 6-6 in the ninth inning.
The Yankees barely escaped the top of the ninth without giving up a run and they started the bottom of the ninth with the chance of scoring one run and heading to The World Series. The crowd was on it's feet and the start of the inning was delayed due to security trying to get things under control in case the Yankees suddenly won the game.
I was 16 years old and supposed to be in bed. My door was shut, my lights were off, the television volume was off and technically I was in bed. I sat on the edge of the bed and the clock struck 11:43 pm. The pitcher, Mark Littell, threw the first pitch to the Yankee's first baseman, Chris Chambliss, and that was the moment.
The ball was hit just over the right field wall and the Yankees were in the World Series. The crowd went absolutely crazy. They mobbed the field, almost knocking Chambliss down and they prevented him from touching home plate. It took only a minute or two for the entire field to be mobbed by the delirious fans.
I stood up in my room, but could not jump. I waved my arms, pumped them in the air, but I could not make a sound. It was the moment I had been waiting for, we were in The World Series! A few minutes later I shut the television off and really got into bed and I know I went to sleep with a smile on my face.
I just watched the replay of that home run and I'm going to go to sleep tonight with a smile on my face as I remember one of the great moments in Yankee history, 43 years ago today.
The Yankees were playing the Kansas City Royals in Yankee Stadium and were winning the game 6-3 in the 8th inning. The crowd could sense that we were going to win. The Yankees had not been in the World Series since 1964 and they were only six outs away in the eighth inning. The Royals future Hall of Famer, George Brett, stunned the crowd with a three run homer and the game was tied 6-6 in the ninth inning.
The Yankees barely escaped the top of the ninth without giving up a run and they started the bottom of the ninth with the chance of scoring one run and heading to The World Series. The crowd was on it's feet and the start of the inning was delayed due to security trying to get things under control in case the Yankees suddenly won the game.
I was 16 years old and supposed to be in bed. My door was shut, my lights were off, the television volume was off and technically I was in bed. I sat on the edge of the bed and the clock struck 11:43 pm. The pitcher, Mark Littell, threw the first pitch to the Yankee's first baseman, Chris Chambliss, and that was the moment.
The ball was hit just over the right field wall and the Yankees were in the World Series. The crowd went absolutely crazy. They mobbed the field, almost knocking Chambliss down and they prevented him from touching home plate. It took only a minute or two for the entire field to be mobbed by the delirious fans.
I stood up in my room, but could not jump. I waved my arms, pumped them in the air, but I could not make a sound. It was the moment I had been waiting for, we were in The World Series! A few minutes later I shut the television off and really got into bed and I know I went to sleep with a smile on my face.
I just watched the replay of that home run and I'm going to go to sleep tonight with a smile on my face as I remember one of the great moments in Yankee history, 43 years ago today.
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Loss/Gain and "This Is Us"
Loss is part of life. We sometimes lose a paper or a piece of clothing, or our team loses, or something that is not that significant. But sometimes losses are much more important. We can lose a wallet, a job, a relationship, ability to do something, or even a loved one. Frequently, people are constantly trying to overcome something they have lost. How do we deal with these losses?
In sports terms I've told people in my car that I've seen The New York Yankees win 7 championships. That is a lot for modern times, however, I started rooting for them in 1966. I've seen them lose, or fail to win a championship, more than forty times. It's the years they lost that make the years they won so special.
How does that relate to the real world of losses that we deal with. One of my riders that I wrote about earlier in the year had a very successful law practice with several offices. His son lived in the Myrtle Beach area and became very ill. It was obvious that his illness was terminal. My rider closed his offices in Virginia and moved in to take care of his son. He took care of his bills and made his son's last couple years much better. After his son passed, he mourned and eventually decided to go to work and is doing something less stressful and something he enjoys-cooking chicken at KFC.
It's a sad story, but an admirable one. He did the right thing and he feels good about it. He spent time with someone he loved and did whatever he could. The truth is he gained a lot from this experience and you can tell that when you talk to him.
What have you gained from the things you've lost? Ask yourself that question as you work through your loss. I'm not saying it was good that you lost something, but I'm saying what did you gain from your loss? I bet you can come up with some things if you want to.
The television show, "This Is Us", is easily one of the best shows on television. The writing and acting is top notch and it really shows very real situations that many of us go through. Last week the story was partly about how the main characters dealt with their kids growing up. They wanted to still cuddle with their kids like they used to, but it just wasn't the same. The kids now had more friends and different interests and their relationships with their parents have changed.
Down here in Myrtle Beach my wife and I often talk about how much we miss our kids. It's easy to remember all the fun times and some difficult ones that we had as they were growing up. Although they do have their own lives in different cities, we are still an important part of their lives and they are important in our lives. It's just different today than it used to be. We have gained from those times in the past and we can clearly see how they have gained from us. Sure, at times it feels like we've lost something, but it's important to remember how much we've gained and they have too.
And, when we all get together over Thanksgiving, it will be the times that we've been apart that will make Thanksgiving a great time for all of us.
In sports terms I've told people in my car that I've seen The New York Yankees win 7 championships. That is a lot for modern times, however, I started rooting for them in 1966. I've seen them lose, or fail to win a championship, more than forty times. It's the years they lost that make the years they won so special.
How does that relate to the real world of losses that we deal with. One of my riders that I wrote about earlier in the year had a very successful law practice with several offices. His son lived in the Myrtle Beach area and became very ill. It was obvious that his illness was terminal. My rider closed his offices in Virginia and moved in to take care of his son. He took care of his bills and made his son's last couple years much better. After his son passed, he mourned and eventually decided to go to work and is doing something less stressful and something he enjoys-cooking chicken at KFC.
It's a sad story, but an admirable one. He did the right thing and he feels good about it. He spent time with someone he loved and did whatever he could. The truth is he gained a lot from this experience and you can tell that when you talk to him.
What have you gained from the things you've lost? Ask yourself that question as you work through your loss. I'm not saying it was good that you lost something, but I'm saying what did you gain from your loss? I bet you can come up with some things if you want to.
The television show, "This Is Us", is easily one of the best shows on television. The writing and acting is top notch and it really shows very real situations that many of us go through. Last week the story was partly about how the main characters dealt with their kids growing up. They wanted to still cuddle with their kids like they used to, but it just wasn't the same. The kids now had more friends and different interests and their relationships with their parents have changed.
Down here in Myrtle Beach my wife and I often talk about how much we miss our kids. It's easy to remember all the fun times and some difficult ones that we had as they were growing up. Although they do have their own lives in different cities, we are still an important part of their lives and they are important in our lives. It's just different today than it used to be. We have gained from those times in the past and we can clearly see how they have gained from us. Sure, at times it feels like we've lost something, but it's important to remember how much we've gained and they have too.
And, when we all get together over Thanksgiving, it will be the times that we've been apart that will make Thanksgiving a great time for all of us.
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
October 2, 1978
As a number's guy there are a few dates that are easy to remember-December 7, 1944(D-Day), November 22, 1963(JFK Assassination), and September 11, 2001(Terrorist Attack on New York City and Washington D.C.) As a Yankee fan, there are a few very memorable dates and today is one of them.
On this day, forty-one years ago, The New York Yankees played their bitter rivals, The Boston Red Sox, in Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. It was one of the greatest baseball games ever played since it decided one of the greatest pennant races of all-time. Both teams finished the season 99-63 and the winner of this game would send that team into the playoffs.
The game was very much like the season. The Red Sox were winning 2-0 late in the game and during the season they were ahead of the Yankees by 14 1/2 games, which appeared to be an impossible deficit to overcome. In the bottom of the seventh inning, light hitting short stop, Bucky Dent of the Yankees, hit a three-run homer to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead when they were down to their last seven outs of the season.
But, the Red Sox fought back as they did during the season. In September, The Yankees beat The Red Sox four straight games in Fenway Park to tie The Red Sox for first place. During the month, they went ahead by a couple games, but the Red Sox won their last seven games to tie The Yankees.
The game came down to the bottom of the ninth inning with The Yankees hanging on to a 5-4 lead. (courtesy of Reggie Jackson's home run) With two outs and the tying run on third, future Hall of Famer, Carl Yastrzemski, came up to face future Hall of Famer, Goose Gossage of The Yankees.
I was kneeling on the floor in front of the television with my hands in a praying position and I watched the final pitch of the game. It was a pop-up in foul territory just to the side of third base and Graig Nettles caught the ball and The Yankees had finally finished off The Red Sox to go to the playoffs. I still remember how that moment felt, it was thrilling.
The Yankees went through the playoffs and won The World Series for the second year in a row, but today, forty one years ago, was the day that is most remembered in the 1978 baseball season.
To celebrate that day, I got a young Yankee fan excited. I was delivering to an office building, wearing my Yankee hat. The receptionist was a Yankee fan and she told me that her uncle was coming into town tonight and he's a big Boston Red Sox fan. I told her to ask him what happened forty-one years ago today and if he didn't remember, just say... Bucky Dent.
No matter how many championships The Boston Red Sox win, their fans will always remember Bucky Dent and the day his home run silenced their crowd and destroyed their season. It was forty-one years ago today.
On this day, forty-one years ago, The New York Yankees played their bitter rivals, The Boston Red Sox, in Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. It was one of the greatest baseball games ever played since it decided one of the greatest pennant races of all-time. Both teams finished the season 99-63 and the winner of this game would send that team into the playoffs.
The game was very much like the season. The Red Sox were winning 2-0 late in the game and during the season they were ahead of the Yankees by 14 1/2 games, which appeared to be an impossible deficit to overcome. In the bottom of the seventh inning, light hitting short stop, Bucky Dent of the Yankees, hit a three-run homer to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead when they were down to their last seven outs of the season.
But, the Red Sox fought back as they did during the season. In September, The Yankees beat The Red Sox four straight games in Fenway Park to tie The Red Sox for first place. During the month, they went ahead by a couple games, but the Red Sox won their last seven games to tie The Yankees.
The game came down to the bottom of the ninth inning with The Yankees hanging on to a 5-4 lead. (courtesy of Reggie Jackson's home run) With two outs and the tying run on third, future Hall of Famer, Carl Yastrzemski, came up to face future Hall of Famer, Goose Gossage of The Yankees.
I was kneeling on the floor in front of the television with my hands in a praying position and I watched the final pitch of the game. It was a pop-up in foul territory just to the side of third base and Graig Nettles caught the ball and The Yankees had finally finished off The Red Sox to go to the playoffs. I still remember how that moment felt, it was thrilling.
The Yankees went through the playoffs and won The World Series for the second year in a row, but today, forty one years ago, was the day that is most remembered in the 1978 baseball season.
To celebrate that day, I got a young Yankee fan excited. I was delivering to an office building, wearing my Yankee hat. The receptionist was a Yankee fan and she told me that her uncle was coming into town tonight and he's a big Boston Red Sox fan. I told her to ask him what happened forty-one years ago today and if he didn't remember, just say... Bucky Dent.
No matter how many championships The Boston Red Sox win, their fans will always remember Bucky Dent and the day his home run silenced their crowd and destroyed their season. It was forty-one years ago today.
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
Rider stories
THE THANKSGIVING INVITE: It's not unusual to be invited to Thanksgiving, but when your invite is for Labor Day and the person just met you, that is unusual. My rider was going to Wal-Mart the day before Labor Day to buy some things to make for their Thanksgiving Feast on Labor Day in North Carolina. It's a tradition her family has and she invited me to join them. I told her I wouldn't be able to since I was spending the day with my wife and my brother who was visiting. She invited them to, but she never gave me an address so we missed out on the fun.
MEMORABLE MORGAN: As soon as I started driving her and her two friends she said, "I think you drove us in January." She then remembered me, my van, that I was from the northeast, we talked about the football Giants and her team the Eagles, and she knew the bar I brought them to. When she pointed out the bar I did remember dropping someone there, but I did not remember her. She said she remembers all kinds of insignificant things. Then, she called herself "Memorable Morgan," after I forgot her. She was memorable this time. She told me that the three of them were hit on by married guys from West Virginia last night and the guy talking to her had a pet raccoon. The guy sent her a video of him and his raccoon on his shoulder and she showed it to me. She was enthusiastic and a lot of fun to talk to and the next time she comes back I promise, I will remember "Memorable Morgan."
PROFESSIONAL SAILING TRAINERS: After working for 35 years in an unrelated field, the man started his own business with his wife. They train people on how to sail and they have clients who come from all over the world for the three days of training. They take off four months every year to sail and they were on their return trip to Key West, Florida when I gave them a ride to a Wal-Mart. The cost of their three day training for a couple is $6,000 and they train about 120 people a year. They do not own a house, only two boats which they live on. What an unusual life!
THE NEW GOLFER: His boss was concerned about him physically since he played softball five times a week. He suggested that he start playing golf which would be less strain on him. My rider wasn't interested until the boss said, "if you hit under 100 in the first year, I'll give you a $5,000 bonus." He started playing golf and without lessons scored a 99 in seven months and collected his bonus.
DR. DOOLITTLE'S SON: About a hundred years ago there was a series of children's books about a fictional character, Dr. Doolittle. He loved animals and was able to communicate with them. My rider did not tell me that he talked to his animals, but he did tell me that he's had about 200 pets. He is in his early 20's and he's from New York. About 140 of them were fish and the other 60 were pets of all kinds. I did ask if he had a zebra and he said, "unfortunately no." His Australian German Shephard is a big dog and sometimes wakes him up by punching him in the face. He said, "my life would be so much better without the dog, but I love it." His advice on getting a pet, "you're better off with a cat than a dog."
THE ARMY GUY: I picked up two successful guys in a very nice neighborhood. One guy served three years in the Army and was stationed in Baghdad. He enlisted immediately after 9-11 and decided not to re-enlist when there was too much politics involved in what they were doing. We had an interesting discussion on gun control issues. He has about ten guns in his house and has trained his son and wife on how to use them in an emergency. The attitudes towards guns are very different in the South than in the north. He carries a gun with him almost all the time and said, "I'd rather have a gun and not need it, than not have a gun and need it.
THE MARRIAGE RIDE: Sometimes people are surprised to hear that someone is married for a long time, but this ride was very unique. I was driving four women from Wisconsin who were all married between 18-25 years. Of course, I told them I was married for 36 years and I added up all the numbers: the five of us had been married for 125 years combined. I'm sure that's a record for one vehicle.
THE FLIER: I drove my rider to the airport so he could head north in his plane. For the past fifteen years he's been a Crisis Management Consultant, helping companies overcome significant problems. I could tell he was very knowledgeable about his field and I would have enjoyed talking with him another ten minutes. I also knew that his real passion was flying. He said, "every day is a great day to fly, it's a great way to see the country."
THE GOLF PRO: He spent a number of years in Myrtle Beach and then moved to Ohio since the pay was a lot better. He works in an exclusive club giving golf lessons to members. He had me laughing when he told me that the club set up a special group for him to work with. He had 22 children who were three years old! He had to hire two other people for those sessions. They used plastic golf clubs, although some of the parents had already bought their three year old a real golf club. I would have loved to see him training that group!
THE PORTLAND SALESMAN: The very outgoing guy caught me off guard when I asked him, "what's it like living in Portland?" He told me it's been very difficult, because of all the protesters which I've read about for the past couple of years. He told me that the city government is very weak. He said that they don't want to offend anyone and they won't let the local police do their job and keep groups like Antifa(very liberal protesters who dress in black with masks and believe in violence to disrupt peaceful rallies) from causing problems in Portland. After his short rant he stopped and said, "you're not going to drop me off in the middle of nowhere, because of what I said, are you?" I told him I agreed with what he said and I knew what was going on. I would have enjoyed a longer ride with him since he was so passionate about the topic.
MEMORABLE MORGAN: As soon as I started driving her and her two friends she said, "I think you drove us in January." She then remembered me, my van, that I was from the northeast, we talked about the football Giants and her team the Eagles, and she knew the bar I brought them to. When she pointed out the bar I did remember dropping someone there, but I did not remember her. She said she remembers all kinds of insignificant things. Then, she called herself "Memorable Morgan," after I forgot her. She was memorable this time. She told me that the three of them were hit on by married guys from West Virginia last night and the guy talking to her had a pet raccoon. The guy sent her a video of him and his raccoon on his shoulder and she showed it to me. She was enthusiastic and a lot of fun to talk to and the next time she comes back I promise, I will remember "Memorable Morgan."
PROFESSIONAL SAILING TRAINERS: After working for 35 years in an unrelated field, the man started his own business with his wife. They train people on how to sail and they have clients who come from all over the world for the three days of training. They take off four months every year to sail and they were on their return trip to Key West, Florida when I gave them a ride to a Wal-Mart. The cost of their three day training for a couple is $6,000 and they train about 120 people a year. They do not own a house, only two boats which they live on. What an unusual life!
THE NEW GOLFER: His boss was concerned about him physically since he played softball five times a week. He suggested that he start playing golf which would be less strain on him. My rider wasn't interested until the boss said, "if you hit under 100 in the first year, I'll give you a $5,000 bonus." He started playing golf and without lessons scored a 99 in seven months and collected his bonus.
DR. DOOLITTLE'S SON: About a hundred years ago there was a series of children's books about a fictional character, Dr. Doolittle. He loved animals and was able to communicate with them. My rider did not tell me that he talked to his animals, but he did tell me that he's had about 200 pets. He is in his early 20's and he's from New York. About 140 of them were fish and the other 60 were pets of all kinds. I did ask if he had a zebra and he said, "unfortunately no." His Australian German Shephard is a big dog and sometimes wakes him up by punching him in the face. He said, "my life would be so much better without the dog, but I love it." His advice on getting a pet, "you're better off with a cat than a dog."
THE ARMY GUY: I picked up two successful guys in a very nice neighborhood. One guy served three years in the Army and was stationed in Baghdad. He enlisted immediately after 9-11 and decided not to re-enlist when there was too much politics involved in what they were doing. We had an interesting discussion on gun control issues. He has about ten guns in his house and has trained his son and wife on how to use them in an emergency. The attitudes towards guns are very different in the South than in the north. He carries a gun with him almost all the time and said, "I'd rather have a gun and not need it, than not have a gun and need it.
THE MARRIAGE RIDE: Sometimes people are surprised to hear that someone is married for a long time, but this ride was very unique. I was driving four women from Wisconsin who were all married between 18-25 years. Of course, I told them I was married for 36 years and I added up all the numbers: the five of us had been married for 125 years combined. I'm sure that's a record for one vehicle.
THE FLIER: I drove my rider to the airport so he could head north in his plane. For the past fifteen years he's been a Crisis Management Consultant, helping companies overcome significant problems. I could tell he was very knowledgeable about his field and I would have enjoyed talking with him another ten minutes. I also knew that his real passion was flying. He said, "every day is a great day to fly, it's a great way to see the country."
THE GOLF PRO: He spent a number of years in Myrtle Beach and then moved to Ohio since the pay was a lot better. He works in an exclusive club giving golf lessons to members. He had me laughing when he told me that the club set up a special group for him to work with. He had 22 children who were three years old! He had to hire two other people for those sessions. They used plastic golf clubs, although some of the parents had already bought their three year old a real golf club. I would have loved to see him training that group!
THE PORTLAND SALESMAN: The very outgoing guy caught me off guard when I asked him, "what's it like living in Portland?" He told me it's been very difficult, because of all the protesters which I've read about for the past couple of years. He told me that the city government is very weak. He said that they don't want to offend anyone and they won't let the local police do their job and keep groups like Antifa(very liberal protesters who dress in black with masks and believe in violence to disrupt peaceful rallies) from causing problems in Portland. After his short rant he stopped and said, "you're not going to drop me off in the middle of nowhere, because of what I said, are you?" I told him I agreed with what he said and I knew what was going on. I would have enjoyed a longer ride with him since he was so passionate about the topic.
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