Compact cars hurt young children...

...well, at least that's what I was told as my much-needed vacation started in Fort Lauderdale.

Finally! All this stress between work, family and responsibility and vacation is H-E-R-E! Our flight landed on time, with just minor turbulence. My son watched DVD's on my laptop during the ride and I actually got to take a nap. Lovely!
Alas, we arrive at the airport and his bag gets lost and I was determined not to let it damper my mood (it was found and shipped on the next flight out).

Then at the car rental spot... I reserved a compact car for the full 5 days, for $97 total (Those who know me personally know that I will usually drive an SUV at all costs, but gas is ridiculous lately). Anyway, the woman at the counter proceeds to tell me that they only have Geo Metros and said I probably want a safer car since I have the "baby" (aka the 2-year-old who looks 4). WHAT?
So, now that she has spoken it into existence, I feel pressured and JINXED and decide to upgrade to the next size at an extra $40 which was much higher than if I had gotten it online.

We go upstairs to pick out the midsize car and there are none. There aren't any compacts either. So I go into the desk upstairs and ask what kind of cars they have for compact and midsize rentals. She lists quite a few of them.... but leaves off the "Geo Metro" (gasp, no Geos??) So I repeat my earlier conversation and she says, no we have plenty of different cars, (including Saturns which are super-safe) and I feel hoodwinked.
At that point, I ask her to credit my account back to the $97 since I only switched for the "safety" and I'd much rather save the gas costs (the whole point right?). At that point, Madame Safety walks by and asks me, "Was something wrong?" So I repeat our conversation and then tell her that there are no Geo Metros and plenty of safe cars. She just says "OH" and walks on by (I'm making the neck-wringing motion with my hands in the air writing now.... aghhhH).

Bottom line -- the bill got credited, there were no compacts available so they gave everyone who was waiting the next size up. So I ended up with a midsize car at the price of a compact and now we all feel SAFE.

• Was it necessary for her to scare me in order to make a sale? Was it necessary to blatantly lie? Sigh...