MY GUARDIAN ANGEL

If you arrived at this post instead of the Christmas Trip to England, it's the previous one.  No, this post is about my Guardian Angel.  Now, it's quite possible that my GA is just a combination of coincidence and conscience/intelligence but I prefer to think I'm the recipient of a little higher-power guidance.  Or maybe I'm just lucky.  I know I'm naive (some might say clueless) when apprising my surroundings.  Some instances from my past:

When I was a young or pre-teen, I was into duckpin bowling (small ball, small pins), three shots per frame.  The better bowlers had their own set (two balls).  One day my older brother, Jack, came home and presented my with a pair of balls and a carrier.  The story is slightly fuzzy, but apparently he was walking down the street in downtown DC and some guy came up to him and asked if he wanted to buy these bowling balls.  Jack gave him $5 for them.  OK, we're pretty sure this was a vagrant who had stolen them and needed some money for booze/drugs.  But they were never going to find their way back to their original owner.  The balls were black with mottled green.  I used black shoe polish to polish them every week before league play.  My game improved immensely.  This might be a little shaky in the GA department, but that's where I'm slotting it.

When high school graduation time came, I had no plans for the future.  At least I was aware I needed to do something.  At one serene moment, it came to me to join the Army.  Both my brothers had served, Rich in the Army and Jack in the Air Force.  I can remember assuring my parents that the world was at peace and it didn't look to change before I could get in and out.  At 17, I needed their permission to join.  Five days after graduation I reported to boot camp at Fort Dix.  My recruiter had talked me out of signing up for the Motor Pool (I liked cars) after seeing my test results and discerning my demeanor.  He rightly said that the Motor Pool environment wouldn't be a good fit (as in, those guys are scum).  So that is how I spent time at Fort Devens, Massachusetts (our company was awarded "Best Mess Hall" on post) and two years in Germany (also with an award winning mess hall).  About six months before discharge, we were give the opportunity to train as helicopter pilots and become Warrant Officers.  Again, without plans for what to do after discharge and being quite happy with my Army experiences so far, I inquired what it would take.  I was quickly dismissed, because you needed to be 21 and I was only 20.  So that is how I missed going to war in Viet Nam.  

Next I thought about college.  With the GI Bill, I thought I could swing it.  I applied to Catholic University in DC, St. Louis University, University of Arizona, and the University of Dallas.  Having spent the winter in Germany with -21 degree weather and having the ground snow-covered from November to March, my search narrowed to Arizona and Texas.  I hadn't heard from any of them by the time I was discharged.  I found a clerk job with Pittsburg Paint at home.  This was in late June.  In August I received a letter from U of Dallas accepting me and offering a partial scholarship.  My SAT scores weren't quite to their standard, but being a veteran helped get me in.  Apologetically, I quit my job and headed to Dallas.

How I met your Mother.  Beginning of freshman year, I asked a girl for a date and she turned me down.  Then suggested this other girl.  I didn't make a very good first impression.  She gave me another chance.  We were married after graduation.  

UD didn't have an intern program.  As an education major I had to do student teaching.  That taught me I could never be a teacher.  But I had to do something.  I actually had a job offer in Maryland.  Marilane advised she wasn't moving to Maryland.  A UD grad offered me a job as assistant theatre manager.  $75 a week.  That was an easy job, but I knew I needed something else.  I interviewed at an insurance company in downtown Dallas.  Apparently I wasn't what they were looking for.  From out of the blue, I heard that State Farm Insurance was hiring.  That interview went well, and I was hired.  

Several years later, my old theatre manager, Mike Dettle, had become a district manager and offered me a job in Houston paying slightly more than what I was making at State Farm.  I cannot recall what else induced me to quit State Farm, but I did.  I can't fault the GA on this, I was presented good reasons why  should stay and didn't listen.  That was a disaster.  As I rolled from one headache to another for almost two years, I suddenly remembered that Bill Burke said if I wanted to return, to give him a call.  Bill Burke wasn't my boss, but was in charge of insurance education courses and was also a superintendent.  I had taken the first series, IIA, and he was familiar with my work.  I called and he gave me a job. The following year he was offered a position in the new office in Phoenix and wanted me to go with him.  He intimated I would be promoted to supervisor.  Marilane said she wasn't moving to Phoenix.  Another good call, in that Bill passed away the next year.

When the Austin office opened, both of my former supervisors, Cyle Atwood and Bob Sullivan moved to Austin as superintendents.  Cyle asked if I wanted to come.  This was a good opportunity and Marilane agreed, so we came to Austin.  Several years later, with me as senior underwriter in the Auto Company, the Fire Company was recruiting underwriters.  Cyle advised me to make the move.  Apparently I had become persona non-grata to an auto division manager and would never get promoted in the auto company.  

CHRISTMAS TRIP TO ENGLAND, 2021

  This post was originally designed to describe the rollicking adventures of just getting to England, but I couldn't put the whole trip details in our Christmas letter, so I'm expanding to include them.  Keep in mind, plans were put in place months before December.  Hint: Marilane is very, very good at making adjustments.  Covid put her to the test.

We start on Saturday, December 4th (departure on the 15th).  Marilane and I walked and gawked around the lake at Old Settlers Park.  The light displays were excellent.  There were lots of people having fun and since we were outdoors, unmasked.  It is my opinion that this is where I picked up my infection.  On Sunday I began to have symptoms, on Monday I knew I was getting sick.  On Wednesday I tested for Covid (negative) and started getting an ear ache.  Thursday the ear was oozing stuff and I called the doctor.  On Friday I received medication for the ear and the cough I'd developed.  By the following Monday the ear had cleared but the cough continued.  

By coincidence, our Texas Cares second Covid test was due, so we had scheduled it for Monday at CPL (blood test).  The ever-changing Covid requirements had us doing another test (nose) on Tuesday, and on Wednesday we departed for England. 

Flying to England became quite easy once British Airways instituted a direct flight from Austin to London.  About a week prior to our departure Marilane received notice that that flight had been cancelled.  Further delving revealed they cancelled about two weeks of those flights.  Aside: Marilane is a Lifetime Platinum flyer with American Airlines and our tickets were set up through them.  Because we had tickets for a concert the day we arrived, Marilane and the nice lady at American considered various options before settling on us flying to Phoenix, then going direct to London from there.  That left us only a few hours before the concert.  We didn't have much time to fret over the tightened time frame before she also received word that due to Covid, the musicians would not be allowed to come from Germany and so the concert was postponed.  Postponing a Christmas concert until after Christmas is the same as a cancellation.  

Our friend, Kathy, was kind enough to drive us the airport for our afternoon departure.  We were surprised to find it crawling with people.  Because of her platinum status we use the priority line to get our tickets and drop our luggage.  Because she hassled to have all our documents in order, it didn't take long.  We were about to queue up in the TSA line when the agent saw that we were Business Class (yes, Marilane splurged for this trip, more later) and directed us to the gate that pilots and crew use.  No waiting to get through security.  Cool!  We then went to the Admiral's Club to await departure.  Many folks use this opportunity for free alcohol, but since I'd just come off medication and still had a cough, I abstained.  

Business Class seating is nice!  Once again I declined the alcohol and relaxed and enjoyed the flight to Phoenix.  If you haven't flown into Phoenix, let me warn you the approach is ridiculously long.  Maybe it's just me.  In any case, we had a long layover and after getting our tickets changed from AA to BA, we retired to the Admiral's Club to wait.  I was disappointed in the sparsity of the lounge.  Not much to munch on, and again, abstained from liquor.  Then it was time for our flight.  

Unlike Austin, which flies the Boeing 787, Phoenix was using the A350 Airbus.  Wow!  Those Business Class pods were awesome.  We were greeted by the attendant with a tray of Champagne.  Declined.  Got settled in and acquainted myself with how to adjust the seat, which could go all the way to flat.  The attendant brought our dinner menu, which included a wide array of liquor.  I couldn't resist a Bailey's, but declined having wine with an excellent dinner.  We were about an hour late in taking off but because of the gale-force wind at our back, made it up and arrived on time.  I was able to get in some extended sleep for the first time ever.  Because of my cough I didn't recline all the way, keeping my head above my chest.  During the second meal, I aggravated my cough reflex and had a serious coughing fit.  I'm sure my neighbors were concerned about their health.

The plane stopped on the taxiway and after a few minutes the captain explained we had to wait for the current gate occupant to depart.  After ten or more minutes the captain explained that the current occupant wasn't going to depart and there wasn't another gate open.  After another delay the captain said we were going around to an open gate.  When we got there, the seat belt signs remained on.  It seems as though the gateway was malfunctioning.  Captain and crew scrambled to find a way to get us off the plane.  In the end, after an hour on the tarmac, portable steps were brought up, and the captain and head flight attendant directed us down and into the terminal.

Things have changed in the last couple of years.  Getting through Customs (Border Patrol) now is just present your passport to a machine and go through.  No interaction with people, no getting your passport stamped.  We picked up our luggage and made our way to the express train to Paddington.  Marilane had printed out our tickets but when I went to get through the gate it wouldn't allow me.  The attendant was kind enough, seeing that I had a ticket that wasn't working, to open it for me and we settled on to the train minutes before it departed (it leaves every fifteen minutes so it wasn't like a dire necessity we be on it).  At Paddington once again Marilane got through but it wouldn't open for me.  I was perplexed.  The attendant there, before letting me through, actually looked at my ticket (this is a scan code) and Marilane's.  He laughed and said that they were the same ticket.  Somehow, she had printed the same one out twice.  In any case, he let us through.

We were staying at the Paddington Hilton, so no taxi was needed.  Marilane also has status with Hilton, so when she asked for an upgrade, we received a very nice room in their tower.  Getting there involved two elevators and multiple twists and turns.  The bellman knew the way.  Covid requirements are we must be tested within two days and self-isolate until getting a negative result.  Marilane had scheduled a test that same evening.  Because of the self-isolation rule, we decided we'd chance having dinner at the hotel.  The menu looked good, and it turns out, the food was too.  There were only a few other tables occupied, and were seated at distance from one another.  The atmosphere was nice and relaxed.  Because of this, we opted to eat here rather than tempt Covid exposure at any of the nearby restaurants.

I'll say now that the whole time in England, the weather was cold (some might say just chilly) and damp, but not much rain.  We saw blue skies for only a few hours in Evesham.  Friday we hung out at the hotel, awaiting our test result.  Marilane spent time in the well-provisioned exercise room but I was still nursing my cough.  Our test was negative, as expected, this being my fourth test.  Later in the afternoon Marilane expressed a desire to wander around the neighborhood.  I demurred.  Then she looked out the window and saw that it was dark.  Then she looked at the clock, 4:00.  Dark at 4:00pm!!  On Saturday Marilane had shopping to do.  We decided we would walk there and take a taxi back.  I'm estimating about a two mile walk, which included going down Bond Street past all the expensive stores.  The streets had lots of people.  Due to Covid occupancy restrictions, stores like Gucci, Versace, Givenchy, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton actually had people lined up to get in.  We went to Marks & Spencer, Selfridges, and Fortnum & Mason.  There were lots of people in the first two, but F&M was packed!  No social distancing, more like shoulder to shoulder.  Rather than browse, we just located what we came for and left as soon as we could.  Masked or not, and everyone was, this was a madhouse.

We took the train to Evesham on Monday afternoon.  Kurt met us at the station and we took the short drive to his house and got settled in.  Before continuing, I feel the need to explain our original plans.  Our arrival would have been better a few days later, but the airline prices jumped after the 15th.  We were going to visit friends in western England after Christmas, then return to Evesham in order to babysit with Roo so Kurt and Nic could attend the annual New Year's Eve blowout at the River Avon (Tina's restaurant) which is quite the event for invited guests and they have done so for the many years they've been in Evesham.  There was also a day trip before Christmas to Bletchley Park.  And I think there was a play in Stratford on the agenda.  Covid cancelled all that.

Weather notwithstanding, Kurt and Nic try to get Roo outside for an hour or more every day.  We went to a farm where there were animals to pet, and an interesting trip to visit with Santa.  Santa was a bit creepy.  We drove over to Worcester to a park that Roo usually likes.  It also has woods for one to explore.  Also in Worcester, on a different day, we took in a Panto (play), Jack & the Beanstalk.  More or less the fable, but with jokes for kids, jokes for teens, and jokes for adults.  That was a lot of fun.

All the while, I still haven't lost my cough, taking Marilane's left over cough suppression medicine until empty, Benadryl, cough drops.  But since Marilane was the only one in the house not coughing, it went unnoticed.  Christmas morning was a bit funny early on.  I was up early and had already settled in the living room when Kurt and Roo came in.  Roo was excited to show me his remote control car and even wanted me to try it out, which I did.  He almost tripped over the bicycle, but thinking it was a gift FOR Granddad, paid it no attention.  Kurt had to tell him it was for him, not me.  He was dramatically appreciative.  Then it was on to opening gifts, one at a time.  He received lots of Legos.  We broke for breakfast, then back to presents.

Roo is familiar with hand brakes but gears were a new thing.  His bike has seven, grip shift.  On his first try, he didn't use the gears and was barreling towards us and forgot to apply the brakes until we shouted at him.  He stopped just before hitting a hedge.  Nic got on her bike and shepherded him around the block, reporting he had no trouble adjusting to using the gears.  A few days later he accompanied Nic on her five mile run and was quite comfortable.  So, unless he has a large growth spurt, this should last him a few years.  On Sunday morning, prior to our leaving, we went to the local park to watch Roo do the Sunday Park Run.  This is a 2k run for kids under 12 (or 14).  At six, Roo still wasn't the youngest.  After lunch Kurt and Roo accompanied us to the train back to London and helped with the luggage.

Covid tests are free for British citizens.  However, to return home, a new rule was instituted requiring a test one day prior to returning.  Additionally, it had to be monitored and reported.  We scheduled our test for 8 am and were ushered in precisely at 8:01.  When we presented our paperwork, they advised that with our flight the next morning, we booked the wrong test.  The person in charge helped us get sorted out, cancelled the scheduled test and got us started to the proper one.  Within an hour we were scheduled for later in the evening, and the results would be ready in 45 minutes. We paid over $400 for the entry and return tests.  With negative results, we could complete the VeriFLY paperwork.    If you are doing international travel, you need to be doing this.  By traveling Business Class and with VeriFLY completed, we skipped the hoards at Heathrow and only had two people in line in front of us.  Getting tickets was a breeze, just show the VeriFLY on our cell phones.  Lord knows how long the one guy with a sheaf of papers took to get his ticket. 

The British Airline's club at Heathrow is lavish.  Still with a cough, I restricted myself to water.  At the appropriate time we took the tram to our gate and waited to board.  I was contemplating why opening boarding was taking so long.  Once boarded, I understood.  The plane was about a third full.  I was disappointed that we were on a Boing 787 instead of the A350.  The pods were quite a comedown.  But the service was excellent.  The flight was uneventful, although when reaching Canada we had to go up to 43,000 feet to get above the clouds.  We had heavy cloud cover almost the whole way until south of Dallas.

Because we are a Global Traveler, we had no trouble getting through Customs.  Marilane went to get the Avis rental while I waited, and waited, for the luggage.  I'll spare you the details, but Marilane had a devil of a time finding the rental car, then finding an exit.  It appears all but one exit lane was blocked with excess rental cars.  I waited patiently at pick up point K and she eventually got there.  Then it was home and the usual laundry and other catch-up chores that attend a three-week vacation.  And, we finished the Christmas Letter and will try to get those in the mail ASAP.