The rental car company's shuttle driver was entertaining from the moment I stepped aboard his--as he referred to it--chariot. After helping those who needed help with their bags, he cheerfully warned us that the police were out in full force that day so to watch our speed once we received our rental cars. We had all arrived at Dulles from various locations and he ended his warning on speeding by stating in his thick Puerto Rican accent, "Welcome to America, where you're as free as you can afford to be."
That was this past Saturday morning, as I left the airport to rent a car, then drive to a dealership thirty-five minutes away, pick up what I think is the perfect Jeep Rubicon for off-roading and drive it sixteen hours back home. It was lunacy at its finest, but I saw it and fell in love with it... and we all know love can make us do crazy things. 
At any rate, I thought the shuttle driver's comment warranted further contemplation, so I filed it and him away as a potential talking point in some future blog. We arrived at the rental car company. And then my whole plan went to hell.
Due to legalities related to my one-way ticket, I was informed that I would not be permitted to rent a car. Apparently there was some fear that I might drive away with their crappy rental car. Logic fails in these situations, which I always find frustrating. For instance, if I was a person so inclined to that sort of behavior, why would having a return ticket make me any less likely to steal the car?
In all fairness, the "manager" was no older than twelve and even if he had been open to listening to my reasoning, there wasn't much he could do to change the company's policy. In the end, it all amounted to me being stuck. There was no taxi that was going to take me to middle-of-nowhere VA without an awful lot of hassle, but that or walking was quickly shaping up to be my only two options.
It was in the midst of tears of frustration (I hate that, it's totally the chick in me ;\) that the shuttle driver got my attention and said he would take me back to the airport. When I got in the shuttle, he promised me that he would help me, because he believes that people who stay positive have positive things happen to them. After a bit more discussion of my situation, he told me that--if it was okay with me--he would take lunch and drive me where I needed to go.
Life has made most of us a bit cynical, and I admit that I am no exception. I wondered at alternate motives, questioned whether it was safe, and pondered whether it was wise. All the prudent things to do in our world today. Despite that, I ultimately accepted. Although when he dropped me off at an Exxon so he could go get his own car, I did contemplate whether or not I should buy a drink in a glass bottle in the event I might need a weapon (I didn't).
This blog would be too long if I tried to go into the entire story, but for the several hours we spent together, I not only enjoyed myself, but found the time very enlightening. It turned out that his motives were genuine. He shared stories about the 2-3 jobs he works, his two grown daughters, as well as his thoughts on life. When we finally parted ways at the dealership (he even stayed through the test drive and paperwork to make sure I didn't end up stranded), I gave him a hug and a handful of money (which he didn't request or expect). In the end, it cost me more than the rental car or even the taxi probably would have... but I gained so much more for his willingness to detour his plan for that particular afternoon of his life.
I will admit that I have had a rough several weeks. Nothing earth-shattering, just a few difficult decisions that when combined kind of start to wear on the soul. Too much time spent on things that don't really matter, not quite enough time for the things that do; the loss of a potential friend; things like that. I was looking forward to the long drive home as an opportunity to re-focus myself.
It turned out Cesar was an unexpected, but perfect way, to start that journey. Life, I choose to believe, gave me a gift when I ran into what I thought was the dead-end of the rental car company's BS policy. As he and I discussed, it's the experiences in life that come to matter more than anything else. And this was a great encounter that, for me, was also a welcome reprieve.
Has anyone else had an experience like this one? Isn't it amazing how fast we all become "just people" when the situation calls for it?
p.s. Cesar... hand to heart, I will never forget it. Thank you.