In For The Long Run!

Thanksgiving, College football, and my 70th birthday filled the last week. I'm grateful and worn out. I sat at my computer fleshing out ideas for this week's blog. Nothing. Well, several starts, but nothing worthy of you, my discerning and loyal readers.

It was time to hop in the car and see if a story loomed from the next several hours sharing rides. First, a golfer loaded his clubs in the back. Nice guy, but no material before dropping him at the links.

Next, a couple of medical rides. The second rider had a story. Family dysfunction. Lots of kinfolk, very little support. One of her sons was murdered in prison. None of her siblings were supportive. She lives alone now, has several medical issues, an operation pending, and no one to help her. A very sad story, unfortunately, too common now.

Then, it happened! A ding for a 200-mile ride from Pensacola to Tallahassee, Florida. I've had great luck with long rides and the stories my passengers share. 

There's the story about Rednecks With Paychecks, a gentleman I took from Mobile to Leaksville, Mississippi. On three separate occasions during this trip, I barely missed a deer. 

Another story came from giving a couple a ride from Mobile to New Orleans. They paid me extra to watch over their newly acquired Tesla. This was well before today's popularity of these vehicles. Wonderful couple, great attitude. That prompted a story called "Tesla Time."

Then, a more recent story titled "Cuba." I picked up a young man from Navarre, Florida, and drove him more than four hours away to McComb, Mississippi. The story of his legal immigration became even more timely when his wife texted that the ICE folks were rounding up illegal friends of theirs as we rode.

Those longer trips gave me time to explore the lives of my riders. So, I was excited about this trip! Surely, my rider would give me some excellent material for this blog!

Florida State's football team had just recruited him as one of the top running backs in the country! Well, maybe!

He had jumped aboard a hot-air balloon, which took off eastward before the pilot could gain access. The balloon eventually made its way to Pensacola, landed on a power line, and burst into flames. My rider had escaped at the last minute by jumping to a nearby palm tree and shimmied to safety. I was his ride back to his home near Florida State University.

His story was neither of the above. He had returned a rental car to Pensacola, and both of his pre-arranged return rides backed out. Even his first Uber driver backed out after arriving to pick him up. "This is just too far for me. I'm sorry," she told him.

After several unsuccessful tries, I finally answered the call. "You're my hero," he said. "I was afraid I would have to find a low-cost motel and stay overnight until I could get someone to come get me."

The truth was, I saw him as more of a 'rescuer' to me than I was to him. Now, I would surely get my story!

I made my usual small talk, hoping to open the conversation. He was very polite, but received a phone call. When he finished his call, he leaned his head against the rear passenger-side window and fell asleep. Oh, well, I thought, he'll wake up ready to talk.

Three hours later, he woke up. We only had about five minutes left of his ride. He thanked me for the ride and got out of the car. No story.

Uber gave me a short ride in Tallahassee, but the app said I was too far from home to get targeted rides back to Gulf Breeze. Nonetheless, I would get to listen to a couple of my podcasts uninterrupted on the trip home.

I noticed an episode from Front Row Seat with Ken Coleman. One of the two guests was Walker Hayes, a country music singer from Mobile who now lived in Franklin, Tennessee, the hometown of one of my twin daughters. Walker's dad was a Realtor in Mobile, with whom I had done some real estate deals. 

Ken Coleman is part of the Dave Ramsey enterprise and usually has a fascinating take on the business leadership lessons he gleans from his guests. I found this episode particularly valuable. The title "How to Build Friendships That Transform Your Life" hit home for me personally.

I highly recommend this podcast. I won't go into detail here, but in this Thanksgiving season (which, because of massive amounts of leftovers, still has a few days left in our household), I recognize the blessing of very good friends. I continue to be blessed by true friends. Thank you for being there!

That's all for this week. Maybe I'll get some material for next week!

God Bless,

Tommy