The "What A Way To End A Vacation!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Final day of vacation on St. Martin/Sint Maarten; which is known as "The Friendly Island."  Had a great time basking in the sun, visiting with friends, reading a few novels, eating some of the best food in the world and enjoying doing absolutely nothing!  Our flight was early afternoon so we had a final breakfast of French pastries and fresh mango juice and began packing.  By 11:00 am we were packed and waiting for our realtor, Magali, to visit and collect the key; or, so we thought we were packed.  After good-byes and hugs, we headed to the airport to drop off our car with Lesley who was waiting for us with his usual smile on his face.  Our trip thru the airport in Charlotte went quickly and a few hours later we were landing in Baltimore, MD.  We retrieved our luggage and headed to the exit to call the hotel for a pick-up.  George opened his van door and greeted us with a big smile.  On the way to the Best Western Plus Hotel I reached in my pocket for the car key fob and immediately got the chills.  OMG!  Where is the key fob?  I told Carol I don't have the fob and grabbed my carry-on and searched all the pockets of the piece of luggage.  No fob!  By now it is slightly after 11:30 pm.  I told George I don't have my car key and said we may have to spend the night.  He stopped at the main entrance and walked with me to the front desk.  Joe, the desk clerk told us there were no rooms available!  All filled due to the Preakness being run in the outskirts of Baltimore in a few days.  So, George told us to get back in the van and he would find us a place to stay for the night.  What a way to end a vacation!  He suggested I call AAA about getting the car started, but they could only get me into the car and not start it.  I would have to get a new fob from a Honda dealer; at a cost of a few hundred dollars.  While driving us around the outskirts of Baltimore looking for a place to stay, he had to continue to make stops at the airport to pick up returning visitors and take them back to the hotel.  We must have spent an hour in the van riding the same route over and over again while stopping at hotels.  Not a single place had a room available.  Carol and I talked and we decided to call our son Tad in Lancaster, PA and see if he could pick up our spare key fob at our home and bring it down to us.  He was just finishing a job and had nothing else scheduled for his printing press where he works as a pressman so he asked his boss if he could leave early.  Before long he was on his way to Baltimore with our spare fob.  Joe, the desk clerk told us we could sit in the lobby and nap if we cared to until our son arrived.  Offered us coffee, snacks and a USA Today newspaper.  Hour and a half later Tad called telling us he was lost.  

Best Western Plus - Arundel Mills

The desk clerk stayed on the line with him and helped him find his way to the hotel.  About 3:00 am we were back on the road, heading back to Lancaster.  If it hadn't been for George our driver, Joe the desk clerk and our son Tad, our vacation would have been a total disaster.  We are so appreciative to these three guys for taking the time to help us.  Life is good, but a bit discombobulated!   It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - After I got home I emailed Magali and she was able to locate the key fob which I thought was lost.  It is in the mail she wrote a day or two later!  And, if you are in need of lodging while flying out of BWI Airport in Baltimore, check out the Best Western in Arundel Mills.  They have two of the most considerate and helpful people working for them!