As yall probably know, Paula and I had to fly up to New England last week because of her sister being seriously ill. We made it in time to see her before she
passed away, peacefully, on Sunday. We flew back to Texas on Monday, and the final leg was from Detroit to Austin. The flight was delayed a couple of times and
it was well after dark when we finally took off. That night it was very clear, at least the route that we flew, and we were able to see the ground from
whatever altitude we were. I was awestruck by the beauty of our country at night. Clear to the horizon, we could see the glow of big cities, small cities,
towns and villages scattered over the countryside. In the cities closest to us we could see the lines of the major thoroughfares and the lay out of the city
itself, from the more distant ones, just a golden glow in the sky.
However, after we arrived in Austin, things went from the sublime to the ridiculous. There were 5 flights arriving at the same time, using the same baggage carousel....very large cluster...We finally got our one, very large, bag and headed to the shuttle bus for transsport to our parking lot. The proper bus pulled up and a very small lady jumped out and started man(woman?)handling the luggage onto the bus. She even made an unscheduled stop close to where we parked. I had put a few dollars in my pocket for a tip. When we got off the bus, I reached into my pocket and gave her the tip, she stuffed it into her pocket and we went our separate ways (this was around one AM). The next day Paula was doing the laundry and asked me if I had tipped the bus driver. I said that of course, I had tipped her. Paula then handed me some folded up bills, and wanted to know why they were in the pocket of the shirt I was wearing the night before. It then dawned on me that what I had given this helpful driver was NOT the tip, but some wadded up boarding passes trhat I had stuck in that pocket also. Talk about feeling foolish....I'll bet that lady was wondering just what the hell I was thinking, and I guess I hope never to get on her shuttle bus again. I am sure that none of you has ever done anything like that...ever.
However, after we arrived in Austin, things went from the sublime to the ridiculous. There were 5 flights arriving at the same time, using the same baggage carousel....very large cluster...We finally got our one, very large, bag and headed to the shuttle bus for transsport to our parking lot. The proper bus pulled up and a very small lady jumped out and started man(woman?)handling the luggage onto the bus. She even made an unscheduled stop close to where we parked. I had put a few dollars in my pocket for a tip. When we got off the bus, I reached into my pocket and gave her the tip, she stuffed it into her pocket and we went our separate ways (this was around one AM). The next day Paula was doing the laundry and asked me if I had tipped the bus driver. I said that of course, I had tipped her. Paula then handed me some folded up bills, and wanted to know why they were in the pocket of the shirt I was wearing the night before. It then dawned on me that what I had given this helpful driver was NOT the tip, but some wadded up boarding passes trhat I had stuck in that pocket also. Talk about feeling foolish....I'll bet that lady was wondering just what the hell I was thinking, and I guess I hope never to get on her shuttle bus again. I am sure that none of you has ever done anything like that...ever.
