Maybe some of your have read on the SB mania thread that IceBlue (Brian) has visited me when I lived in Phoenix some six years ago. So here is the story on that.
IB contacted me , I think, via this forum. He and his wife were going to go to California to visit their daughter and her kids. Their trip however was to begin in Phoenix and they would drive a nice big American car to California. That was the plan, but..
IB asked if I could help him out getting through the airport, picking up his big American rental car and lead them to their hotel.
Hey, no problem! Happy to help! Thanks for asking! So the plan was to meet them at the airport. I made a nice sign, got to their gate early and waited. And waited. Everyone had left the plane but nobody came to me as i held up my nice sign with Brian's name. Hmmmm.
So I went to the airline counter and asked if she had any info on some missing passengers. She told me she was not allowed to discuss passenger lists and stuff but I should come back in two hours and meet the plane arriving from Denver, wink-wink, nod-nod.
So I went home, came back an hour and a half later and parked my truck at the car rental place. I hopped onto the shuttle bus and went back to the appropriate gate. Had my little sign, too!
Sure enough, IB and his wife, along with a few other woeful souls came walking into the gate. To say that they were glad I was there to meet them would be quite the understatement. They missed their flight from D.C and had to change planes twice to reach Phoenix.
Their luggage arrived on the previous plane so we went to retrieve that first. Then onto the shuttle bus to the rent a car center where they could pick up their big American car to drive to California .
Oops, no big American cars left to lease. They had to drive, very much to their dissatisfaction , a Jap bomber. 😕
So now it's near midnight. I tell them to just follow me to my house. I have a private room they can use. This offer was happily accepted.
They got to unwind, and take their time getting ready the next morning. I showed them some sites around Phoenix then we went to a grocery store so they could buy some things for the road.
We got back to the house and they loaded up their NOT big American car to drive to California . I gave him a map to use for the trip and hopped on my Guzzi to get them started in the right direction.
It was a really great experience to help out others who dwell in our little Guzzi world. I have also been the recipient of such kindness, for which I am greatful.
This forum is more than just a discussion board. It's a gateway to the world. I'm glad it's available to us all and to a part of it 😀
Tom
