I probably have a hundred stories about traveling, as I’m sure anyone who travels does. There are so many that I don’t remember them until something reminds me. For example, this week I was traveling visiting customers all week by car. I did not have a chance to go running due to rain and a busy schedule, but finally I caught a little time before I had a dinner appointment. So I trudged down to the hotel treadmill only to find it making sounds and shaking like a washing machine on spin. That’s OK, I’ll just run around the area…there is a small college campus near buy so it should be runner friendly. So off I went I had my tunes and no destination or distance in mind. I watched all the college students walking home from class and checked out the campus feeling pretty good about myself…until I tripped on a crack and nearly did a cartwheel into oncoming traffic. I regained my balance and continued to run in an ‘I meant to do that’ kind of way, but I was red from embarrassment. It reminded me of a similar trip to Raleigh, NC.
Once I had to drive to Raleigh to meet customers, I usually fly with such long distances, but often (like this recent trip) it just made sense to drive. I made it there while it was still pretty light out so I thought I would take advantage and work off the long car ride with a jog around my hotel. I thought it would be a great way to scout out a restaurant for dinner and also get my bearings for my meeting the next day. So off I went, much like this recent jog however I did not have an MP3 player to listen to (I don’t think anyone did at the time), so I just listened to the sounds of the town. Well I didn’t go very far when I realized it was getting dark quicker than I thought it would due to the recent time change. So I started heading back when it happened. I actually got hit by a car!
Well not completely, but I did have to do a movie stunt dive out of the way from some idiot who did not even look as he turned onto the street I was crossing. My foot actually hit the car as I dove out of the way. I don’t even think he saw me because he just kept driving away. Tons of others did see it; I mean it wasn’t dark yet, not even dusk really. Many cars stopped and people asked if I was alright, do I need an ambulance or something. No, I was fine really. Just a lot of adrenaline and some scraped palms and knees from breaking my dive. I would have loved to see the replay, I probably looked like a belly flop, but in my mind it played like a James Bond movie…I could have rolled and come up firing if I had a gun.
But like most bad days this one did not end there. I sort of jogged/limped back to the hotel and decided that going out was out of the question…room service with a few beers is what the doctor ordered. I had to sneak thought the hotel because the place was packed with very well dressed people; there was an election going on and I think I was at campaign headquarters of the Governor or something. So I ordered my food and got ready to take a shower, but the food arrived before I could…that was quick, maybe the day wouldn’t end so badly after all. I sat in front of the TV eating and drinking beer feeling pretty good. I even forgot about my skinned palms and knees. I finished eating and went to put the tray outside when I noticed the room service guy a few rooms away; so I stretched towards him one hand on the door to other on the tray when…clunk. You guessed it. The door shut, with the key inside. I thought no problem, he can let me in. “Nope,” he said, “I work in the restaurant.”
What a day. Now I’m in the elevator on my way to the front desk as I take a look at myself.
• Sweat matted hair.
• T-shirt with bloody handprints from where I wiped off my palms.
• Skinned knee with dried blood all the way down to the socks that were stained with blood.
• Not to mention that smell of recent exercise with a little fear of my life mixed in.
I thought things couldn’t get much worse when all of a sudden the elevator door opens and I walk right through the Governor of North Carolina’s acceptance speech on my way to the front desk. No kidding, I could even see myself in the background on the 11 o’clock news that night, as the crowds heads turned towards me. When I finally made it to my room I think I took the longest shower of my life.
