The last thing I expected

Years ago, I worked at The Carousel Dinner Theatre - way back in the days when it was housed in what once was a grocery store in Ravenna, Ohio. For the first few months I worked there, I didn't have a car. That wasn't a huge problem in getting to work, because I could always take a Kent State bus that ran into Ravenna, or catch a ride from any number of my coworkers who lived in Kent.

On this particular day however, I was bugging my sister to give me a ride to work and while she didn't say no immediately, I wasn't able to talk her into driving me to work. For whatever reason, I decided my best option was to hitch my way to work that day. Don't ask me why, because I can't really imagine doing that now. So off I walked to Rt. 59 to face the cars heading east and hope for the best.

After a few minutes of cars passing me by, I started to grow a bit frustrated at the lack of generosity that anyone driving east and passing me by was showing. As if it were their responsibility that I had transportation issues. I pondered giving up and heading back home to call in and say that I couldn't find a way into work - again, not their problem and I knew better than to make it anyone's problem but my own. As I stood there with my thumb out, I saw a large silver limousine coming up on me. When I noticed it, I immediately dropped my arm and started gazing up the hill for cars coming behind the limo.
I thought there was no way in hell I could humor myself with the notion of a limo driver stopping and giving me a lift and I wasn't about to give the limo driver the satisfaction of even a slight smile at my expense. You go on, I wasn't talking to you - I know you aren't about to give me a ride. Too late.

I looked towards the west in the hopes of a car with a driver kind enough to stop. It was entirely possible that they would only get me part of the way to my destination - and it was also possible that I'd get picked up and taken somewhere to be sold into slavery...if I was lucky enough to live. I continued looking west and walking slow steps backwards to the east. That's when I hear a car horn beeping enough times and someone yelling hey enough to make me turn around and look. That's when I looked and saw the limo stopped and the driver motioning me - must have been 50 yards or more away.

I point to myself as if to ask, "who...ME??", and the driver nods and waves his arm motioning me towards his limo. I break into a jog that moves into a slow trot of a run, and then to a full on run with my fists moving back and forth. As I'm picking up speed and getting closer to the limo, I'm thinking things like..."no fucking waaayyyy....this can't be happening, a limo is stopping to pick ME up!" - and I close in on my ride, a limo. Yeah, that's right - I'm about to take a limo to my bartending gig. No one said things like, "that's how I roll." in those days, but it was indeed how I rolled....at least that day.

As I slowed my roll and approached the limo, well...this was when my thought process started to change from the wow factor of what just happened, to things like wondering who the hell was in this limo and why they were stopping to offer me such a luxurious ride and exactly what would this limo ride cost me?

As I slow to a walk and come up on the driver standing beside the open rear passenger door, he's looking at me wondering what the hell is wrong with me hesitating. I look in the back seat of the car and I see one of the guys who waits tables at The Carousel - Ron. I have a lousy poker face - I've said as much many times before. Ron looks like this is just another day in the life, but I look in disbelief and wonder just how Ron managed a limo ride to work - because if the wait staff really does that much better than the bartenders, this would be something I needed to look into. Ron stops my thought process and cuts right to the chase:

Ron: Are you going to work?
Me: uh, yeah...I um....
Ron: You gotta be in at 4:30??
Me: yeah, I mean....
Ron: Well, get in!
Me: ok.....

I get in, the driver shuts the door and walks around to the driver seat and starts to drive. I have no flippin' idea how my luck has put me in a limo and it has got to be showing all over my face. Ron doesn't look the least bit impressed to be so fortunate, I think he should, at least a little bit, because the last time I worked with him he was bitching about not making enough money with rent due soon, tuition and any number of other things. It appeared that the tables had turned for the better for Ron on this day, and for me as well. Before I can think any more with my wondering just how Ron's luck had turned for the better, Ron played a gracious host:

Ron: Make yourself a drink!
Me, thinking: wow - this keeps getting better...how the hell did this happen?? I don't even want a drink, but seriously...I gotta make a drink while I'm sitting here in the back of this limo being driven to my job as a theatrical bartender, I just gotta.
Me, talking: k...sure, I mean, don't mind if I do...you sure it's ok if make myse...
Ron, who by now, cannot contain his laughter:  Just make yourself a drink already!

And so it was that day. I went from hoping for a ride, to being driven in style. Turns out that one of the cast members from the show somehow had access to this limo and he was tight with Ron and had the guy drive into Kent and pick him up for work. Throughout the whole process, I remember thinking that this would be a great story, but very few people would believe me. My own mother didn't believe me - she thought I was kidding! I proved this fact by asking my stepfather if she told him my limo story - he said she hadn't. So I told him and he said, "Well she must not believe you, because she didn't tell me about it." The story is true. I swear. By the way, thanks Ron...and Keith, wherever you are.