Part two

Where the h did I leave the car? I knew it wasn't at the hotel, and my last memory was of a 7-11, but not one I could locate on Google.  I set out at 6 am on foot to retrace my steps, but 2 blocks away I realized I had forgotten the keys, so back to the hotel I went.

If you are ever stranded may it be in Baltimore.  Positively, the nicest, friendliest, folk on the east coast of the US reside in Baltimore.  The hotel valet took pity, and drove me around after his shift ended to all the nearby 7-11's until I found my ride, waited as I promised the manager to rid his lot of my beast quickly, and returned me to my lodgings. I felt half the weight of the world lifted from my shoulders.

And now for part two of the story.

I found our new wagon on EBAY.  95% of station wagons in the US are mom cars.  They see daily duty doing mom stuff. Hauling kids to school, going to the grocery, running errands.  Rarely are they abused, do they see horrendous weather or sustain any damage beyond a parking lot ding.  Generally they are well maintained as well. They make for great used cars.  Ours did duty in suburban Washington DC then Boston. I went to Beantown to claim it.

Mrs. T does not usually allow me to make travel arrangements.  A lifetime of life as road warrior tossed aside for one or two travel mishaps. But she was sick, so I booked my flight for early AM.  Convinced my flight was at 7AM, I was surprised to find when I arrived at the airport that it had left at 6.  The gods and United took pity (I was wearing a tie), I arrived in Boston a mere 2 hours late.

The wagon was love at first sight.  Everything was better than expected.   Within two hours I was on my way home, the car drove like a dream I was happy, traffic was light, all was well with my world.  The car broke down in Baltimore and rolled to a stop at a 7-11.  Remember that as you watch the weather headlines.

Toad