Because humor is funnier when you know it's true.
Failure to communicate(continued)
His volatile breath should have been my tipoff, as I now realized that Dave’s brain was too stewed to think clearly about any of those details. This became even more evident at dinner, when he ordered before-dinner apertifs, with-dinner wine, and after-dinner liqueurs. After paying the check, he asked if we wanted to join him at the bar for even more drinks! I excused myself to go back to my room, where I had to face the fact that I had no toothbrush or toothpaste. And any hope that I would be impressing Allie was now dashed by the fact that she knew I would be wearing the same clothes, socks and underwear the next day. All self-confidence was long gone.
In the morning, I met Dave for breakfast in the hotel café. I was feeling some real disgust toward this guy for so royally screwing up this trip for me. But as he began drinking his first cup of coffee, I noticed his hands shaking so violently that he spilled half his coffee trying to bring the cup to his lips. My attitude toward Dave was now changing from anger to pity. I realized that he wasn’t a jerk who drank too much. He was full blown alcoholic with a real drinking problem. Very sad.
After our plant tour, Dave drove me back to Chicago to my other hotel room, where I changed clothes, repacked, paid my (2nd) bill for the day, and got a ride to the airport. On the flight back home, I had a chance to reflect on what was learned on this trip: 1) Make sure to always communicate clearly, 2) Keep drinking under control, and 3) Always carry spare underwear, socks and a travel toothbrush in my briefcase. You never know where your suitcase will end up, or why.
-Rick M.