We like to do business with the Americans because we can sue the crap out of them when they do something wrong. Thus, our only US port in months is one of myriads of service techs, sales people or wannabe’s. We get donuts, pens and baseball caps. Free advice on all kinds of things. Tune ups, shake downs and clever one-liners that were practiced in a mirror. And we get stores that make us think it’s Christmas. Pallet after pallet, truck after truck. Food, parts, fuel. The works.
And of course, the US border patrol would like to know if we’re all carrying our I-95’s. They march on board, all gunned up with nothing to shoot at. Ludin, apparently, comes from a solid pedigree of potential terrorists and is marched off for in-depth scrutiny. The remaining crew get subjected to the piercing inquiries of officer Snodgrass, a chubby good ol’ boy with a drawl that testifies of a heart for beef jerky and old John Wayne movies.
“Hey,” I say, “Are you related to the famous Snodgrass?”
Snodgrass speaks not but his eyes say, “Famous Snodgrass?”
“The poet,” I say helpfully, smiling fatherly, “Anne Sexton’s buddy…”
Snodgrass speaks not but his eyes say, “You want fries with that?”
A painful yelp rises from the belly of our beast. The store keeper’s trying to mush months worth of goodies into a freezer the size of a beer crate. And a timid ribbon of eerie reeking smoke just ascended from the main refrigeration plant. “Is that supposed to happen?” he asks sincerely curious.
“That depends on your religion,” I reply. “I like to believe that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him. Do you love God, son?”
“Is God going to repair my fridge?”
“Well,” I say, trying to stay on the theological straight and narrow, “God is an engineer, and I was made in His image.”
“I’ll make an extra strong pot of coffee then,” he says.
“You do that,” I say while pull a screw driver from my back pocket, release the stainless steel front and brace for an all-nighter. I can already feel the goodness of all things working together.
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| Fort Lauderdale seen from Port Everglades |
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| A Princess monster docked in Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale |
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| Cruise ships docked in Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale |
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| The charming harbor mouth of Port Everglades |
It is really a splendid view of harbor mouth of Port Everglades. Doing business in US is always lucrative and art.
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