A Series of Fortunate Events

It was Thanksgiving Eve 1981 and after a few too many drinks, I decided to jump on the plane and fly from Alaska to western Washington State and surprise my parents who were at my aunt’s house for the holiday. Having had a few more drinks on the plane to Seattle, I called my aunt and told her my name was Joe from the Salvation Army and that her husband had agreed to have two alcoholic vagrants over for Thanksgiving dinner at their house. I added that I had something to do this evening and I was thinking the bums could just crash on their living room floor that night and be ready for dinner the next day. My aunt yelled, “Leland! Get over here and take this call.” I immediately hung up the pay phone. I thought I would be the hit of the party with such a “got-cha” practical joke entrance.