The Journey Begins.....

The year was 1974 when I left the mountains of Colorado, boarding a bus that would take me to sunny Florida. I was on my way to Ringling Brothers and  Barnum & Bailey Clown College in Venice. I was finally on my way!

 Three days later with no sleep and no shower I arrive at my destination. AT TWO IN THE MORNING! The bus stopped and kicked me off, but there was no bus station,only a small building with a bench in front of it. It used to be next to Smittys Steakhouse.

 For those who remember, there was a 7-11 nearby. I proceeded to go over there and call Bill Williams,who was the owner of Venice Villas, my home for the next 8 weeks. He told me they were across town and he would leave the key hanging on the door to my room. 

I searched in the phone book for a cab company. There was only one. I called and was informed they closed at midnight. What to do. 

Just then some rednecks in a pickup pulled up I asked if they could give me a ride. They said yes and off we went.

 

Finally I'm here and can now rest and take a shower! As I lay in the room it starts to get warm so I go to this thing called an air conditioner. Something I never saw in my life. I pushed the on button and layed back down. The room got hotter and hotter until I could stand it no more. This thing must not be working! 

 

I decided to go outside and lay on a chaise lounge by the pool to cool off. Apparently I fell asleep, the next thing I know I'm being woke up by Bill Williams and the police shaking me! They thought I was a vagrant. Remember I hadn't had a shower in three days.

 I explained who I was and why I was outside. His air conditioning didn't work. He told me to go with him and he would check it. He walked in, looked at it, pushed a button, and said it worked fine. As I looked at the button it said...........COOL!