On an extremely hot, humid, muggy July evening in 2006, I attended The Roasterie’s 2nd Annual Sweet Bean Cook-off, a competition of regional chefs to create the tastiest dessert using Roasterie Coffee (no, coffee drinks don’t count!). I was a woman on a mission—to recruit attendees to join owner Danny O’Neill on a custom designed Kenyan safari including visits to Kenyan coffee plantations. It was showtime, folks! I dressed professionally, carted in tons of collateral material (by myself–whine, whine!) into the Roasterie’s soon to be new digs and proceeded to set up a display table about Africa and the Roasterie Kenyan Safari.

There was one teensy, eensy, little problem—the new facility had no air conditioning! Chefs were watching their frozen coffee desserts melt into high caloric, delicious puddles; guests, already attired in shorts and tees, fanned themselves with their hands, paper, and many of my fliers (at least they were good for something since I had no takers for the safari!). I stood next to the display table doing my imitation of the melting frozen desserts; I was not glistening; I was not perspiring; I was sweating like a hog (do hogs sweat?) and I was sure there was about to be a puddle of sweat gathering at my feet!

At the conclusion of the event, I threw the remaining brochures into a box and darted for the exit and into my car. I cranked up the A/C in the car, turned on NPR, and headed home. I don’t know my way around the part of KC where the Roasterie is and after a couple of wrong turns ended up on a street called Southwest Boulevard. I knew that street would lead to an entrance to the highway. I took a deep breath, wiped the remaining sweat off my face, and moved into the lane that would take me to the highway.

That’s when I noticed a flashing light in my rear-view mirror—a police car!

“Yes sir,” I said, rolling down the window, “is there a problem?”

“Ma’am (I love this part of the Midwest where Ma’am sounds so Southern!), you were going 45 in a 25 zone.”

“Oh my gosh, I had no idea! I’m so sorry! Here’s my license. I know I deserve a ticket. I wasn’t paying attention. You see I just left the Roasterie where I was presenting a safari to Kenya to the guests at Sweet Bean 2. Have you ever been to Africa?”

“No ma’am, (there, he said it again!), I’ll just check your license, write the ticket and be right back.”

Quickly rolling up the window (did I mention it was ungodly hot?), I wasn’t even upset I got a ticket.  I was just grateful to be out of the tropics and in front of A/C!

“Ma’am (three’s a charm!),” the officer knocked on my window.” If you show up in court on September 18th, Kansas City, Kansas will allow you to plead to a non-moving violation.”

“Really? That’s great! So, where’s your favorite place to vacation? Can Great Getaways help you plan your next vacation?”

A girl’s gotta ask, you know!