Chapter 14

The Journey of Life

5/9/2004

Beginning of the Second (retirement) Life

I couldn't begin to tell the story more concisely. You can simply delete, or if you wish to be taken off this mailing list respond accordingly (not a trick to put you on spam list ). 

It seems a certain president of  H.M. Payson & Co, one of the oldest independent investment firms in the United States [ http://www.hmpayson.com/index3.html ] in Portland, Maine decided to buy his wife a birthday present in the form of a new $50,000 Audi Quattro Cabriolet. Turns out the Aquamarine Blue metallic color desired was not available anywhere in the New England states except at Albany http://www.langanaudieast.com/ . The deal was struck if only a professional driver could be found to deliver in time for the party two days hence. I received the call for the mission as to whether I could deliver on Mother's Day. After a tough choice considering options; should I miss going to my Mother-in-laws or bring home the bacon, I decided abruptly on bacon purely as a business decision. Then I was offered the option of the next day's (Saturday) delivery. That was perfect since my rest day after Hockey night would entail sitting in the comfort of the heated leather seat (prefer heat range level 3 or 4 of 6) with adjustable lumbar inflation pressure and of course the electric motor control of the infinitely variable vertical up and down location of the bulge. 

Forget sticker price, horsepower (gobs from 3L V6), fuel mileage, etc;  Driving this car makes you feel "SPECIAL", in every way. 

Delivered on time. Although I've written many beautiful sewage treatment permits in my career, rarely has the recipient expressed their gratitude and appreciation by giving me a big hug as in this case.  

As the delivery point was to the client's well appointed home in  the Kennebunkport http://www.kennebunkport.org/ neighborhood of George Bush, I proceeded to the village for a fine Scallop lunch. You can get any kind of seafood you want at the Allison's Restaurant,  http://www.alissons.com/ , although their lobster roll has won world class acclaim. See if you can find me on their web cam.  It seems the government wants to pay me to stay home but Audi wants to pay me to have lunch in quaint seaside villages. 

The car I was to drive home was the client's lease turn in, a fine 2001 turbocharged red Volvo C70 Cabriolet reminiscent of Dave's ole bomb. I called Dale from my cell phone since he wanted me to scout sports cars for him thinking I could stop by Massachusetts on the way and maybe he would buy it as a surprise for Barb. That conversation ended rather abruptly. He says I'm fired! 

I've traveled each and every highway, planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway and more than this, I've practiced the art of resting one eye alternately. Amateurs should not try this. 

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