TWO FOR TWO !

Now we're on a roll. They each got on the van and politely introduced themselves and made friends. By the end of the day they had traded e-mails and posed for group pictures. That's more like it. Lynne and Andrea are vocational rehab specialists for the blind. Lynn is the assistant director of the program for the State of Massachusetts. She currently has four openings and would hire me "in a minute". I got her card and will send a resume. That would be a cool way to get a new job.

Grand Canyon was on Andrea's bucket list (left).

Lynn with Fred and Eleanor at the church in Sedona.

Fred and Eleanor were with me for their 37th wedding anniversary. Rock out, Fred!

Pam and Sylvia are two sisters from Montreal who commented several times through the day that they have never ever seen a perfectly cloudless, azure sky.

Brit kids often take a "gap year" to travel, either before they start university or after they graduate. Jonathan just finished University, a History Major. All the adults adopted Jonathan. Dear Lord, protect that boy, he's going to Las Vegas next.

A HAUNTING!!!!

I knew this was coming. I've been waiting for it.

Several weeks ago, I arrived at the Sheraton to pick up a family of three. Unfortunately the husband was too rotund to board the bus. He yelled at me for arriving in "too small" bus. Understand, it's a standard 15 passenger bus that fits standard sized asses. His was too big. So, he removed his horrified wife and teenage daughter from the bus. (I wonder what the little girl will think of when she someday gets to go to Grand Canyon. )

As I predicted, he expected a "Too-Fat-To-Sit" refund of all three tickets. ($450) Hell, no, you don't get a "Rotundus Refundus." Half of America would be claiming the Portly Discount. And if you could get a Fat Refund, what does that have to do with the other two tickets for the wife and daughter who weren't too fat to fit?

Luckily, he booked his ticket through one of those online travel agents. (Read: he found the cheapest possible price by doing business with someone in Mumbai, India). On the face of their e-ticket are bold letters: No refund under any circumstances. (People always want a refund when it rains or snows.)

I satisfied our part of the contract by arriving (albeit I did not have earth moving equipment with me), so we got our $450. I had to write a memo for the Travel Agent.

They always think they're going be clever and challenge the charge with the credit card company -- and the credit card company always sides with the customer. Fine, then the Travel Agent will send him to the Lap-Band Collection Agency for $450. As tight as credit is right now, no one needs a "ding" on their credit report. I 'm afraid you're going to pay, Mr. Tubbs McTubbville. You're going to pay an obese surcharge because my bus is too small.

Goodbye!