Lora Mae Lent, our hostess for the Narramore Christian Foundation (NCF), was driving a group of Elderhostel conferees to the Huntington Library Gardens for lunch and a tour. They each had their own box lunch that was prepared by our chef. While en route; just as the van was making a left-hand turn on a six-lane busy street, the van died and wouldn’t start. Lora Mae called on her cell phone to the maintenance department to report the dilemma. She was told to sit tight, they were on their way.

Turning the emergency lights on, she suggested to the group that,”In order to stay on schedule, we need to redeem the time; we will eat our lunches while we wait.” A police car happened by and stopped to offer assistance. Looking into the van he exclaimed,”Lady, please don’t tell me you are having a picnic in the middle of this busy street at noontime!”

— Gloria Bendell