Page 74 - EAMMV9covers

EARTH ANGELS & MAGIC MOMENTS
September 2011.
It was bucketing down as the shiny black Escalade
slid out of terminal three at McCarran Airport. The
driver leaned back.
“Straight to the hotel Mr. Boothman?”
"The Venetian. Yes." I texted my client. Landed. On
my way.
The driver? Young. Maybe early twenties. Brown
eyes. Symmetrical smile like out of a magazine. Super
enthusiastic. Southern accent. Fit. Smart. Good posture.
Waiting at baggage claim with my name on a tablet.
I was wiped. Oslo to Paris to Vegas. Long day.
Head against the soft leather, I watched people grab
their bags and disappear into the terminal.
“We had some crazy flooding over the weekend,”
the driver said, polite as could be.
Five-something in the evening. Sticky September
air. Cruising down Paradise Road. Wife on speed dial.
Landed okay. Motivational speaker rule number one?
Get paid upfront. Good news. Rule number two?
Missing a gig because of travel hell? Speaker
nightmare. Bad news. That’s why I always arrive early
if I can.
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