A broken computer is almost always a problem, except for this morning. On my way to the monthly meeting of the Florida Speakers association it became an opportunity. I left in the middle of the night, and found myself at the East end of Alligator Alley at 3 a.m. with a quarter of a tank of gas. Ahead of me lay 100 miles of nothing but grass, so it was time to fill up.
I thought I had a problem when I learned the computers were down at the first filling station. It became perfectly clear when I pulled up to the pumps at station #2. A man and a woman were standing beside their disabled vehicle. As I prepared to top off my tank the man approached me and respectfully inquired if I was heading to Miami. Yes I replied. He told me his name was Michael. He and his mother Louisa's vehicle was indeed broken down. He offered to pay for the gas if they could ride with me.
All of a sudden I realized that I didn't have a problem, I had an opportunity. I never would have ended up here if the technology at the first station had been working.
The stars are much brighter in the Everglades. It's the only part of Florida where man is the most endangered species. Michael and his mother were born in Cuba. My Spanish is terrible, so our conversation required focus.
I learned a lot on the journey. About the lack of working vehicles in Cuba. That they practically invented ride sharing. They were headed to his uncle's house, to start a new job. Michael had worked in a battery factory, at the airport, anywhere he could find work.
When I told him I learned Spanish while growing up in San Diego, Michael exclaimed, "I knew you were from California!" While working at the airport he learned that Californians are warm, loving people, who are not afraid to touch.
I drove them to the house, said goodbye and headed on to my speakers meeting, where I met old friends and made new ones. Don't get me wrong, it was a great meeting, but as I drove away I was grateful I didn't miss the most important meeting of the day.