Page 15 - The Administrator - A Startling True Story of Politics and Deception-
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THE ADMINISTRATOR | 3
About an hour later, the friend (CORTEZ) arrived at the airport. After brief
pleasantries, Cortez drives Alonzo to a storage facility, pays for the first month's
storage. After the transactions at the storage, Cortez drives to a fast food restaurant
and buys Alonzo lunch; then drops him off at a Men's Shelter near Downtown
Lafayette, Louisiana.
February 27, Alonzo meets SAMUEL ‘SAM’ RUEBEN, a 63-year-old gentleman
who inspires him to write what he coins, "experience of a life time." Also, Sam tells
him one day, that Alonzo would look back at everything and be grateful for the
experience; initially, Alonzo bucks at the idea. A Cameroonian by birth, Sam spent
much of his life in the U.S. working in various capacities in the quick-service
restaurant (QSR) industry. He retired two years ago, as a bistro manager; due to ill
health and medical bills, he ended up in the shelter.
Who knows the reason for running into Sam; in less than 24 hours, he made
more impact on me than most people. For several weeks, I fought the idea of sitting
down and writing anything. I didn't think of it when I was at the top of my game --
division head -- at a technical college; neither did it cross my mind when I was the
director of leadership and annual gift at a research university in Monroe, Louisiana.
Again, this experience was the opportunity I needed to sit down and reflect upon
both my failure and successes: Singular failure compared to numerous successes.
Hence, here I am, choosing to listen to a total stranger -- a man who knew nothing of
me -- but for the brief hours at the shelter. Yet, Sam believed I could write and put all
the different events together in a coherent fashion. And he was right!
It took me another month -- exploring and identifying -- the pros and cons, as
well as available resources, if any, and could my then state of mind allow me to
undertake such a project. Is it possible kept running repeatedly in my head? True, I
