Well here is another little story that I hope you enjoy. " The adventures of Carl "or " On the road again." This past week my travels took me to Newport News Virginia. It actually snowed on Monday. I checked into the Hampton Inn, which is one of my favorite hotels. I like the breakfast buffet and this week we had a pizza buffet on Tuesday night. On with my story!
   I came down to the breakfast buffet this morning about 6AM. There was a large crowd already there enjoying breakfast. I fixed cereal, coffee and juice and looked for a place to sit. There was only one seat open. It was at a table with four men and a lady. I'm a little shy but I walked over and asked if I could join them. One of the gentlemen nodded. So I sat down. As soon as I sat down, I started talking. The whole time that I am talking everyone at the table is nodding. I guess some people just don't talk much in the morning.
   After about twenty minutes I got up to leave and said my good-byes and realized that I had been the only one talking. If no one else is talking, Is it a conversation? As I turned away to return my tray to the counter, two of the men started talking. In Italian! Yes Italian. I guess it was Italian. It sure wasn't English. No wonder they were all nodding. They didn't understand a single word I had been saying. They must have thought, " Who the hell is this crazy American?"
   I just had to know if they understood any English at all so I turned to them and said " My hair is on fire!" All five of them smiled and nodded. I've learned my lesson. Before I start talking to strangers in a hotel again, I will be sure to ask,
  "Where ya'll from?"
                                                                    Carl