THAT"S MY PURSE!!!! I DON"T KNOW YOU!!!!

On Thursday I left dear ol Alabama for San Antonio to attend the CAP National Board. While I have many opinions about the Civil Air Patrol and it's members I will refrain from that diatribe and just give you a glimpse as to what they are like from the following:

About two weeks prior to my trip, I received an e-mail from a member which stated the following: "Are you going to be at the National Board? I'd love to have the opportunity to talk with you" I was a little discomforted by this e-mail as I had no idea who this gentleman was, but I answered: "Yes, I will be there. I am going there to learn about the program and meet the members that I will be working with".

Imagine my shock, surprise and distress when on Thursday, the day I arrived, as I was trying to take a nap after traveling since 4AM, I received a phone call in my hotel room:

CAP member: Uh, yes, is this Gretchen Clayson?

Me: Yes, this is she

CAP member: Gretchen, this is _________, you said we could meet - I'd really love to ask you some questions about the DDR program.

Me: Yes, sir, I remember telling you I would be at National Board, but as I told you before, I'm here to learn - I don't know what I could tell you.

CAP member: I'm sure you can answer my questions.

Me: Okay...

{awkward silence}

Me: Well, are you going to ask me your questions?

CAP member: I really would like to meet you - can't you come down so we can talk? I really want to meet you.

Me: Sir, I'm really tired, I've been up since 4AM and you just interrupted my nap - there's a mix and mingle tonight - are you planning on attending that?

CAP member: Well, I wasn't planning on it - I'd really like to just ask you these questions.

Me: Wait, How did you get my room number?

CAP member: I called the switchboard, I, I, I don't know your room number, no- are you going to come down?

Me: No, I'm sorry, but I told you before I don't know much about the program - again, there's a mix and mingle tonight.

CAP member: .....ugh......I guess I can go to that.

Me: Great.

Incidentally I did not attend the mix and mingle because it turns out it was just for members. The next day this creepy old man approached me in the seminar and cornered me - it was him. He sat right in front of me and then in between seminars as I was preparing the handouts in the corner, I looked up and to my horror, saw that he was taking pictures of me...and only me.

Apparently this is pretty standard for CAP folks - apparently some volunteers (as we call them) will even follow you to your hotel room or to the bathroom. They are a strange bunch.