Been there, but from the opposite direction. I rented a Prius during a trip to my home town a few years ago. Not only had I just gotten a "smart" phone that was a puzzle of magic tech, I was driving this thing with a big red button to start it. The "key" fob only worked the door locks. I was so befuddled after driving through a town that had changed so drastically, I barely knew where I was, I tossed the fob in the cup holder and went into the hotel. DUH! I looked down at my car there in the lot and realized, "O crap, I need to lock the doors because anybody can push that friggin' red button and steal the car. Do people steal Priuses? IDK There were many other little "senior moments" that probably made my nephews roll their eyes, but there we are ... Rip Van Winkle indeed!
Imagine all this but not exactly - with the steering wheel on the right, a real gear shift (which is manipulated with the left arm, but you still use your left leg on the clutch), and driving on the left side of the road. I spent about 8 months pet and house sitting in England in 2022 and rented cars a few times. It went surprisingly well - my only 'pause' was when Enterprise gave me a really classy electric BMW with an automatic transmission. Which would have been nice, but it was only half charged and I wasn't sure that the places (some small places) I was sitting over the next 3 weeks would have charging stations. So they found me a 'normal' car. And I've since done several sits in the US with electric cars, but with charging stations at home.
Oy, many will relate to your painful learning curve. But now you are empowered by knowing how more things work. Small victories feel just as good as big ones!
Don, We are all glad you’re back on line. I couldn’t resist my Class of 1969 EndGame story about the Baton Rouge Airport, so here goes.
It was all because of Katrina. Any other hurricane would not have “smelled as sweet”. My husband, our 8 month- old pug, Pete, and I were huddled on the heliport of Tulane Med School in the gray squalor of late August for 5 days.
FEMA finally showed up and loaded everybody into a whirling maelstrom of helicopters. Hubby and Pete went first. They were let out in Lafayette, west of the city. The shelter there gave them food, scrubs(for hubby), and a cot outside. Tiny Pete stood guard all night.
I went with a group of residents from Tulane to work eventually , as best we could, in Baton Rouge. We were unloaded at the New Orleans airport and hauled off to Lafayette as well. The hospital opened their tiled showers and fitted us with scrubs.
The boyfriend of one of the residents picked us up and drove us to the resident’s home in Baton Rouge. We ate mom-cooked spaghetti.
Our phones miraculously worked and I was able to get hold of hubby. I could not picture him outside on a cot with a pug, but I told him I’d try and find a car and pick them up. Here comes the Baton Rouge Airport part of the story.
The resident took me in my baggy scrubs to the rental car building. There was no assurance that any cars would be available. To assume success was pure luck or blind faith or hunger or maybe just magical thinking. I don’t know to this day.
The car man said he had ONE CAR in the entire lot: a blue Chevy Cobalt. Of course I jumped right in! Back in that remote epoch of gas burning engines all that was needed was a KEY! Imagine that-a key!
So off I went in my little blue Cobalt to retrieve my brilliant scrub-wearing hubby and Sweet Pete the Wonder Pug. We rented a motel room and camped out for a month until Orleans Parish opened up.
Finally we had to say goodbye to the rental car, and now I must say good night to you. Thus endeth the tale of The Cobalt, the Hubby, and the Pug as told from memories of the Baton Rouge Airport.
I can sympathize. I had to change the clock in my car to comply with daylight savings. Had to take the car to Nissan Service.
We still haven't reset our clock. My wife figured out how once by reading the manual very carefully.
Oh boy! A Ford Behemoth.
It's difficult to compete with Taylor Swift and her Swifties these days, I guess.
She alters economies around the world!
That she does!!!!!
My goodness! Good thing you didn't need to make a phone call from a booth with a rotary dial.
Ha! How did you know?
Been there, but from the opposite direction. I rented a Prius during a trip to my home town a few years ago. Not only had I just gotten a "smart" phone that was a puzzle of magic tech, I was driving this thing with a big red button to start it. The "key" fob only worked the door locks. I was so befuddled after driving through a town that had changed so drastically, I barely knew where I was, I tossed the fob in the cup holder and went into the hotel. DUH! I looked down at my car there in the lot and realized, "O crap, I need to lock the doors because anybody can push that friggin' red button and steal the car. Do people steal Priuses? IDK There were many other little "senior moments" that probably made my nephews roll their eyes, but there we are ... Rip Van Winkle indeed!
Sue, it's certainly getting harder to keep up with all the innovations tech throws in our path.
It's future shock. Alvin Tolfer wrote about it in the 70s. (Future Shock)
Imagine all this but not exactly - with the steering wheel on the right, a real gear shift (which is manipulated with the left arm, but you still use your left leg on the clutch), and driving on the left side of the road. I spent about 8 months pet and house sitting in England in 2022 and rented cars a few times. It went surprisingly well - my only 'pause' was when Enterprise gave me a really classy electric BMW with an automatic transmission. Which would have been nice, but it was only half charged and I wasn't sure that the places (some small places) I was sitting over the next 3 weeks would have charging stations. So they found me a 'normal' car. And I've since done several sits in the US with electric cars, but with charging stations at home.
Well, that does keep my experience in perspective. Thanks!
This is probably no consolation, but the EXACT SAME THNG happened to one of my best friends!
Small World.
What an amazing coincidence!
This could have been titled: Laissez les bon temps roulette. Or not.
Funny one, Don.
Thanks, Brian. That's actually the marketing slogan for a La. casino.
I admire your energy to keep going back and forth to the desk--I was exhausted just reading about it!
Yes, well, they say necessity is a mother.
Urgh, nightmare. 😬
Reason No. 37, why I am not a good traveler.
Oy, many will relate to your painful learning curve. But now you are empowered by knowing how more things work. Small victories feel just as good as big ones!
Wendl, I love how you always find the positive outlook! Thanks!
🤣😂 All I can say is “OMG”
In truth, I had a few other things to say that were unsuitable for a family publication.
Oh Don, I can so picture this! Thanks for the great read
Thank you, Hope. Delightful to hear from you!
Hysterical. I actually said “Poor Don!” out loud as I read it!
Thanks, Susan. Looking forward to future chronicles.
Great story, Patty! I hadn't realized you were in New Orleans during Katrina. What a disaster in all ways!
Don, We are all glad you’re back on line. I couldn’t resist my Class of 1969 EndGame story about the Baton Rouge Airport, so here goes.
It was all because of Katrina. Any other hurricane would not have “smelled as sweet”. My husband, our 8 month- old pug, Pete, and I were huddled on the heliport of Tulane Med School in the gray squalor of late August for 5 days.
FEMA finally showed up and loaded everybody into a whirling maelstrom of helicopters. Hubby and Pete went first. They were let out in Lafayette, west of the city. The shelter there gave them food, scrubs(for hubby), and a cot outside. Tiny Pete stood guard all night.
I went with a group of residents from Tulane to work eventually , as best we could, in Baton Rouge. We were unloaded at the New Orleans airport and hauled off to Lafayette as well. The hospital opened their tiled showers and fitted us with scrubs.
The boyfriend of one of the residents picked us up and drove us to the resident’s home in Baton Rouge. We ate mom-cooked spaghetti.
Our phones miraculously worked and I was able to get hold of hubby. I could not picture him outside on a cot with a pug, but I told him I’d try and find a car and pick them up. Here comes the Baton Rouge Airport part of the story.
The resident took me in my baggy scrubs to the rental car building. There was no assurance that any cars would be available. To assume success was pure luck or blind faith or hunger or maybe just magical thinking. I don’t know to this day.
The car man said he had ONE CAR in the entire lot: a blue Chevy Cobalt. Of course I jumped right in! Back in that remote epoch of gas burning engines all that was needed was a KEY! Imagine that-a key!
So off I went in my little blue Cobalt to retrieve my brilliant scrub-wearing hubby and Sweet Pete the Wonder Pug. We rented a motel room and camped out for a month until Orleans Parish opened up.
Finally we had to say goodbye to the rental car, and now I must say good night to you. Thus endeth the tale of The Cobalt, the Hubby, and the Pug as told from memories of the Baton Rouge Airport.
Finis.
*rouler