I’m running along the side of Route 283 in my suit, approaching the toll booth entrance to the PA Turnpike.  It’s dark and dreary, a little drizzly.  I need to use the pay phone.  You see, my left rear tire decided to go its own way, bounding along the highway, landing in the median.  And I need to get Ted Gaebler to the airport for his flight to LA.  He’s the co-author of the groundbreaking book, “Reinventing Government.”  We just met.

It’s March 1993.  I’m in the process of moving from New Jersey to Harrisburg.  I’ve volunteered to open the Andersen Consulting office, focusing on state government consulting.  Fortuitously, or maybe not, Andersen has engaged Ted to help us on a national basis.

I need to find a tow shop, thumbing through the Yellow Pages.  I call one and tell them where we are, run back to the car and find Ted fumbling with a rather large cell phone.  He says he just got it and doesn’t know how to use it.

The tow truck arrives, the driver sitting beside his girlfriend.  We all get in the front cabin, whisk Ted to the airport just in time for his flight, then circle back to have the car towed.  I find a hotel room for the night.

Honey, I won’t be home tonight.