Hotel de Paris

I know of a very well respected attorney who was a partner at an elite law firm.  She and a friend were planning on taking a vacation in Monte Carlo.   They wanted to stay at the Hotel de Paris, an elite, fabulous hotel, smack in the center of town.  The attorney had her assistant call to make reservations.  No, the assistant was told, the hotel was absolutely booked.  The attorney decided to call.  No, absolutely booked, no possibility.  

The attorney really wanted to stay at this hotel.  So in her best “European” accent she calls back and pretends to be the Countess de Montague. She gets a room.  A suite, in fact.

So the attorney and her friend drive up to the hotel in a car they rented.  The attorney, in her best Countess de Montague, flings her hand and instructs the valet (as she would to her multitude of servants) to take care of the car. 

The attorney and her friend have a wonderful time.  They drive up and down the Cote d’Azur, dine out lavishly, and enjoy themselves thoroughly.  When it’s time to leave the Countess flings her hand and instructs the valet to take care of the car.  

They return home. 

Six months later the attorney gets a phone call from the Hotel de Paris.  The car is still there in the garage.  Would the Countess like them to keep holding it?  Please enlighten them as to the Countess’ wishes.

Needless to say the attorney, as the attorney, not as the Countess, negotiated with both the hotel and the car rental place.  So the cost of this extravaganza wasn’t too ridiculous.  I’m not sure, however, if she has any plans to return.
 

Seat on the subway

I had a seat in a crowded subway car.  I was tired and was reading a book on my iphone 6 called “Grace and Power” about the Kennedy administration.  I felt the presence of a boy approximately 10 years old slip into the seat next to me.   He had a nice energy and I was deep into the book.  At his stop, he got up and turned to me.  We smiled at each other and he paused for a second, then said, “nice story.”   And he walked out. 

 I realized, he was reading over my shoulder!  I was deep into a complicated section of the book where Kennedy was having a rough time with Khrushchev, and this young boy was reading along with me.  And I thought - alright, the world will be in good hands one day!