Ode to Rod Riggs

The following poem is dedicated to the best car man that we know....Rod where are you when we need you?

Ode to Rod Riggs

Today we looked for a car
I mean, actually shopped near and far.
We kept looking for Rod,
but we had our worst fear...
he just didn't ever appear!!

We just spent six hours looking in Tegucigalpa, Honduras for a used car. This is no small feat. We went to the Toyota dealership the other day hoping for the opportunity to lease a vehicle for 18 months, but they don't do leases in Honduras. (Who knew). Most of the car dealerships here have used car lots, but the prices are a lot more than we wanted to pay. So thanks to one of the contacts Wayne has from the dental school, we were escorted the entire day by a native Honduran....her name is Titi and she is a dentist. She is about 28, and we were so thankful for the time she spent with us. She spent six long hours translating for us and giving us the low-down on cars in Honduras. All over the city there are "LOTES" where people sell cars from the states. That in itself is scary...but she knew so much about it. After a few hours she told me that her brothers used to own a lot and she knew the ins and outs from that.

It was amazing how many cars that we saw. We quickly learned that 1) if the car still has the air bags installed, that is a good sign. It means that it has not been in a wreck and 2) don't buy something that is from a dealership in Louisiana...Wayne pointed that out as they are probably hurricane totaled cars from Katrina...At the last place we stopped (of course) we found a 3 year old Kia that was a trade-in at the dealership associated with the lot. It was purchased here and had one owner. That is probably going to be the car. Titi called tonight and said that she has a friend with a small SUV that he wants to sell for $6500...new tires, air conditioning working, etc. She said that it is great shape...so now we have two possibilities.

Titi...our Lifesaver

A typical lot in Honduras...Wayne looking for Rod

I just have to say that it was so fun watching Wayne today miss Rod and the ability to walk in and sign papers and take home a car. He kept saying..."I am so not used to this."
Love you Rod!!!