A Door Attendant from Rhode Island.

“Did someone here go to RISD?” Nicholas, the door attendant at The Ritz-Carlton in Rancho Mirage asked.

For a second I wondered why he asked.

Then I saw the black & white logo tote bag I’d brought, hanging in the back of Vin’s car.

“My daughter did,” I volunteered.  “And I’m a Trustee.”

He nodded.

“And Vin’s from CRANSTON!” I added, making my “A” the long, drawn-out AAAAAHHH sound tongue-depressor sound everyone always makes when they say “Cranston”.

We got into the story of how he’s from the area, how his parents still live there, how he doesn’t miss it at all — except once in a while, which I why I mentioned “Connie and Ted’s” to him.  It’s got Quahogs, oysters, lobster rolls, everything one could ever want from the old stomping grounds.

He gave me his business card and tonight I followed up with a note to him.