I was attending a trade show for work about fifty miles from Colorado Springs at a ski lodge. My colleague James and I arrived a day before the event was scheduled to start, and we discovered that the event company contracted to provide the sign for our booth canceled at the last minute. We decided to drive into town to see if we could find some materials to make a rudimentary sign. The closest store was about eight miles away and was nothing more than a convenience store. We found some markers and paint but no poster board. The only tape they had was for radiator hose repair, so I picked up two rolls. As we started to leave, I spotted some large white cardboard boxes by the dumpster that the store clerk said we could have, so I bought a box cutter to cut up the boxes, packed up the rental car, and headed back to the lodge.
We had made it about halfway back to the lodge when we spotted a black Chevy Suburban on the side of the road with the hood raised. We pulled over to offer them a ride, and the driver showed me that the upper radiator hose had a pinhole leak, allowing the coolant to escape. James and I laughed as I pulled out a roll of the radiator repair tape we had just purchased. We waited a few minutes for the Suburban to cool down and then wrapped the hose several times with tape. It sealed the leak perfectly, and we drove back to the lodge.
That evening, James and I had just sat down in the lodge restaurant and hadn’t yet ordered when a platter of shrimp, crab, cheese, and other appetizers and two beers were delivered by a waiter. The waiter explained that the food and beer were sent by a lodge guest in appreciation for rescuing him earlier that day. Further, the waiter explained that our beverages for the rest of our stay were also to be covered by that guest. We thought this was pretty cool. While our company was paying for our meals, they did not pay for alcoholic drinks, and it was hard to argue with three days of free beer. That evening, baskets filled with nuts, chocolate, fruit, and other delights were delivered to our rooms, along with three gift certificates for massages. It was the most pleasant business trip I recall ever taking, and it was all thanks to that vendor not showing up with our sign and those little rolls of radiator repair tape we bought at the convenience store.
