When I volunteered to accompany the Amistad display materials and merchandise on the drive to Charleston, SC for Harbor Fest 2008 and the Spoleto Festival USA, I did not know that I would continue driving beyond my arrival. I got to the residence at 2000 [8:00 PM], and was asked about my intentions. I said, “I’m in Charleston to help; what’s needed?”

“Will you drive?”

“Sure!”

So, I drove, and I drove, and I drove....

The organization rented a 15-passenger van; four rows of seats behind the driver. I needed to transfer the crew from the vessel, remotely located at Cooper River Marina, to their George Street Residence at the College of Charleston, a twenty-minute, eight-mile drive. I needed to pick up VIPs, crew, and board members from the airport. I needed to take them back. I needed to transfer staff, crew, and VIPs from one activity venue to another. At the end of the day, I needed to park the van in the garage. Right: I needed to get the van out of the garage each morning. I spent a lot of time in that van....

I got up at least a half-hour before my first pickup. I washed my face to wake up. Then there was the ten-minute walk to the garage; get the van out; then get to the location. Naturally, the automatic gate-opening card did not work, so I had to wait in the cashier line; then explain, once again, that the card didn’t work, which was why I had the ticket; and, yes, I will check with Parking Services to get it fixed; and thank you.

I did check with Parking Services; they dis-activated the card, then re-activated it. "It should be all right now," I was told. It wasn’t. The second day I returned to that office (and explained the situation to a second clerk [“Oh, but this card is active!” “Right, but it doesn’t work!”]) and they gave me a different card. This one worked.

After three, nineteen-hour days, plus a ten-hour shift the fourth day (including one 3:30 AM awakening to take three to the airport for an 0600 [6 AM] flight), I took an evening off. I gave the van key to a colleague, told him where the van was parked, and said, “I have a six-thirty pickup in the morning; leave me a note with the van’s parking spot. See ya!” I had a wonderful evening: dining fancy and chatting with some friends.

I returned the van to the Charleston airport rental agency when I departed on Monday, 19 May. I was given cash to pay the bill: ten, one hundred dollar bills. The agent asked if I wanted to keep the charge on the card that was used when the van was picked up.

“No, I’m paying cash.”

“Do you want to put it on a different card?” I was asked, as though I hadn’t replied.

“No, I’m paying cash!”

Rental car companies will tell you they do not accept cash; they do not like to accept cash is more like it. I was able to complete the transaction, but only by paying with exact change. Try changing a twenty at the airport, without making a purchase!

I found a sympathetic vendor, who not only changed a twenty, but changed one of the fives she had given me, then changed a one to quarters, then a quarter to two dimes and a nickel. The rental cost: $1,064.86; fortunately, I already had the penny!

A flight to LaGuardia, a van ride to New Haven, then I had to "taxi" myself from New Haven to Mystic (I had left my ride at a colleague's house). Lots of driving, lots of exploring, lots of hours awake, but I would do it again. It helped the crew, it helped the organization, I toured Charleston, and I enjoyed meeting new crew and others assisting our effort. 

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