When I moved, my top frustration was getting my phone and internet service up and running. For two weeks I steady-dated a stream of technicians that kept me in a steady state of on-the-verge-ness. If it wasnt my phone, it was the internet connection and vice-versa.

These technicians varied wildly in their degree of ability, knowledge, skill, and even dedication to seeing the job through. I think they are all cowboys of the new Western frontier: technology. But, in one quality alone, they were brothers: charm.

My oh my, did these cowboys have charm! And it went way beyond the charm taught in customer service classes. I mean, they really had it, and I was glad to be steady dating such a charming stream of men from all over the world--the Islands (Jamaica), Algeria, England and so on around the globe. Each technician had a different idea about what the problem with the phone or with the internet connection was. Some service guys were aces on the phone and knew diddly about the internet. Other technicians were aces on the internet and knew diddly about the phone. A few good ones knew both. I mean, I jived with half a dozen of these charming dudes.

Some just ran in and out, collecting their time, and throwing their charm over their shoulders as they shut the door. Some really stuck with the problem, but didnt have knowledge to bring. One guy kept me waiting for 18 hours, but was still charming when he did show. It was always the guys who made house calls. And it was always the gals on the phone, ameliorating my ruffled feathered feelings when all was not well. Even the gals clearly from the Foreign Legions were pretty good at keeping it calm, if not keeping it real.

But it was Omar who Id been waiting to meet. Omar who Id heard so much about. Two guys who came to look at the internet connection told me, Oh, that Omar, hes the best. He really knows his stuff. If you can only get Omar.

Finally they had to send Omar, or, maybe I have the New Boy network to thank for Omar. Locksey from Jamaica called Omar from Algeria and asked him to work me in if he could--that my system was in a bad way and Locksey had done what he could.

At the very end of the day their best internet man arrivedthe famous Omarfrom Algeria. He did in 5 minutes what others couldnt do in 5 hours and 5 visits.

I gave him one of Pops carved dogs in thanks, along with the little story called, I am a dog that Pop wrote to go with it. Omar understood about families and elderly fathers and we had a nice chat about that. But of his abilities to fix things, he was very modest.

Omar, I said, what did you do?
Nothing, said Omar and smiled one of those charming smiles, and even giggled a little.
I see, I said, The nothing that is everything. Well, for this, I thank you.
Just call me if you have any more problems, said Omar, my man from Algeria, and I walked him out to the gate.

Lets hear it for charm, combined with skill. Lets hear it for the Omars of the world.