The Best-Laid Plans...

"I'm sorry, Daniel, but we won't get to go to the Christmas party at the armory this year."

You would have thought I had told him that Christmas itself was cancelled!  He was so sad and said, "But I've seen Santa there every Christmas of my life!"  Barry had to go to a conference in Orlando, and had to leave the same morning as the party.  We lined up a rental car and packed his clothes.  If we could find out what time Santa was due to arrive, we might stop back by - but no promises.  Off to the airport we went to pick up the rental car!

"Why isn't the card working???  It's a brand-new government travel card, and it's supposed to be on already!"  Since we couldn't rent the car, we sat and made some calls to see what could be done.  It was decided that we should go to the armory to see if orders could be ammended and get the card situation sorted out.  Well, guess what?  The boys got to go see Santa at the armory after all!  Daniel was thrilled!!!  Finally, the orders were amended, the card was on, and we got the rental car.  Barry arrived at his destination in Orlando around midnight.

Things worked out for the best, though.  Barry's card info was stolen and someone tried to charge several large transactions on it between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM that day in another state.  When the colonel called Barry in and yelled at him about trying to make unauthorized purchases like that,  Barry calmly replied that at the time in question he and his wife and sons were sitting in the armory talking to the very same colonel.  It was a very good thing that we had trouble with the card that morning!