One benefit and disadvantage to traveling is hearing other people’s conversations. After spending more than two hours on the plane this last weekend, one of the passengers behind me decided to share a little gem with her male friend and everyone else within earshot, “I think it is your breath that I can smell.” “Sorry,” he replied and added, “I should have ordered a beer when I had the chance.” “I have some gum if you want it. I mean, I’m not saying you need it,” she replied. She then turned to her other male companion, and said, “Do you want some?” “Do I need some?” he asked. “Oh, no. I would tell you if you did,” she replied. I’m pretty sure she just did.
Once the plane finally landed and it was making it’s way to the terminal, the same passengers began bidding on rental cars. The girl, again, piped up, “Come on William Shapner! That’s his name, right? William?” William, right. Shapner, wrong. Maybe she could negotiate a rental rate and name change with Shapner after she asks him if he’d like some gum.
Once I returned from this adventure, I headed South for a funeral. Being that my flight arrived rather late, and I was driving, I wouldn’t be checking into the hotel until around five in the morning. When I booked the hotel, I opted against relying on William and phoned the hotel directly for a reservation. This proved to be fruitful as they gave me a rate that was half of what was advertised on their website. When I told them I would be a very late arrival, they replied, “No problem.”
When I arrived, I found it was no problem at all. The door to the lobby was locked and there was a sign taped to the door, for all to see. The sign had my name in bold and the following message: “Your room number 202 is located in the one-story building at the back of the parking lot. The key is in the door.” Sure enough, the key was hanging in the door. “It’s a good thing I don’t live around here,” I told MC Static Cling. “I would be entering people’s rooms like nobody’s business.” “Maybe someone has entered your room,” he replied. “Good point. Didn’t even think of that. That could be awkward because he or she will know my name, but I won’t know their name,” I replied. “Names will probably be the least awkward part of that encounter,” he quipped.