by Thomas Hyde

Created on: February 01, 2009

"PUSH THE PEDAL TO THE METAL", Tom was a student in college and in need of money for tuition and books. As good fortune would be Tom was asked if he would like to become one of the chauffeurs for the Warms Spring Foundation chauffeuring dignitaries from the Atlanta Airport to Worm Springs, Georgia. The Warms Springs Foundation was founded by the late President of the United States Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Twenty one automobiles and drivers were provided to chauffer distinguished passengers such as, Jonas Salk who developed the Salk vaccine which cured polio, the first child to be vaccinated, Dave Garaway of the Today TV program, the former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and many others.

Tom along with 20 other drivers selected reached into a hat and was matched up with driver and celebrity to be chauffeured from Atlanta Airport to Warm Springs Georgia. Tom when his time arrived reached into the hat and with great surprise was matched up to drive the best car of the fleet to chauffer the former first lady Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt.

Tom arrived at the airport early and as he drove up was directed to fall in behind the State of Georgia Trooper who was designated to escort Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt to Warm Springs.

Tom was a good driver however his personal car was a beat up old 52 Chevy with broken windows and dented fenders which was not out of place for a college student's car. With a concern that the trooper would speed off and have his siren going and light flashing, Tom quickly envisioned that he would turn a corner and end up in some corn field.

Tom thought through his concern and took a moment to talk with the trooper.

Just minutes before Mrs. Roosevelt arrived, Tom mentioned to the Georgia State trooper "I am a good driver but I do not want to go too fast." The trooper nodded that he understood.

Finally it came time for the former first lady to arrive. Tom gracefully helped Mrs. Roosevelt and a lady friend into the limousine. And off they proceeded to Warm Springs, Georgia.

Mrs. Roosevelt was busy talking to her friend; she talked about exchange students with China and that garlic was brain food. What an insight into the future, if only Tom would have known at the time. The state trooper did however remembered what Tom expressed at the time and took him literally. As you can imagine he was only driving down the road at a pace of 35 miles per hour.

Every thing appeared to be going well until all of a sudden in a pitch voice, Mrs. Eleanor spoke up, " IF HE DOES'T HURRY UP WE WILL NEVER GET THERE".

All of a sudden Tom had a tumultuous problem, how will I get this show on the road?

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