Driving up to the Hertz lot, I was feeling pretty good about ourselves and how we managed all the handicap needs. I knew the return lots could be hectic...rushing us into lanes, demanding mileage, keys, etc....so I was prepared to do it OUR way. They motioned me into a lane, but I just sat there and motioned THEM to come to ME! The guy came to my window and I said, "I have a special needs situation. I need space on the side to get the wheelchair and Mom out of the car, and I'll need room BEHIND me to get all the stuff out of the back, withOUT being rushed. And I'll need a BIG luggage cart." He said, "No problem, follow me." He put me in a far lane they weren't using, and even fetched me a big luggage cart.
I was very proud of myself and happily removing the wheelchair from the car, when another car rushed up behind me and started honking his horn. I looked and saw this older guy who was in a Hertz uniform and he was motioning me to come to his car. I thought, "Oh boy, here we go!"
When I got to him, he said, "Hey lady...why you doing that?"
I asked, "Doing WHAT?"
He said, "Why you takin' all that stuff out, then you're gonna drag it all to the bus, then put it all on the bus, then drag it off, then drag it into the terminal?"
I said, "Uhhhh....because that's how we're going to get home?" I didn't have a CLUE where he was headed with his thinking.
Then he said, "Don't do that! You juz put all that stuff back in the car and drive it over there to that office and tell them to have someone drive you to the terminal right in tha' car and leave you there. Tha' way...you only take the stuff out ONCE! And the driver will bring the car back here."
I said, "NO KIDDING?????"
He said, "YUP!! I know you don't believe me...but I'm right! And you're crazy to do it any other way!"
I was cracking up at this point. Laughing.
I said, "But, I think we'll do it this way, since I already have the stuff out of the car."
He said, "Do whatcha want, Lady...but you're crazy. I'm right."
I finally said, "Well, you ARE right, but you see, if I put all that stuff back in the car, then there won't be room for another passenger."
He said, "Well hell, you can just crawl in on top of those suitcases, for the short trip."
LOL He was determined that I should do it HIS way.
Finally, I said, "You are SOOOO RIGHT! And soooo nice to tell me this. And next time, I'll do it just like you said, but right now, I really don't want to put all that stuff back in the car. So thank you. Goodbye."
Hey, the guy was right...but he was too late for me. Next time, I'll load the car so there's room for someone else, and I'll have them do like he said....drive us to the terminal so we won't have to load and unload and use the transfer buses.
Next, we wheeled over to the buses. The driver looked at us, a little horrified...and explained that HIS bus wasn't handicap accessible. I just looked at him with this expressions of, "Hmmmm...sounds like a personal problem. You'd better FIX IT!"
He got the point, from my look. I thought he'd say to just wait for the next bus, but he didn't. He got in and moved his empty bus and had the next guy pull up with his handicap bus. Again, everyone thanked us for having the ramp for them to wheel their suitcases up. :)
