Paul W. Smith: A postcard from paradise

“Outta’ My Mind on a Monday Moanin’”

Papeete, Tahiti

Two years after Charlie Crull of Cruise and Tours travel company and Donald Schuster, one of WJR’s top account executives, came to me and asked what my dream vacation was, we are here. Way over here. Sixteen hours (counting the three hour layover in L.A.) away from home.

The truth is, when they asked me that question, I honestly told them I had no dream destination. I’m one of the luckiest guys I know. I never take for granted all of the travel I’ve gotten to do because of my job.

For my sweet wife Kim, on the other hand, a middle school teacher painted such a compelling story, including sights, sounds and even smells of the Polynesian Islands, a dream was born, and carried, for years. Hence today’s, “Paul W. & Kim’s Dream Vacation to Tahiti, Bora Bora and other French Polynesian Islands.”

■Who knew President Barack Obama had the same dream? I guess this proves there is a difference between Hawaii and Tahiti.

Virtually everyone on the Island has told this fellow American about the former president’s travels: “That huge white yacht/ship over there is at his beck and call.”

I was talking with a woman in broadcasting who asked me with a straight face if I could bring him over for an interview at her station. I mentioned he hadn’t called me since we arrived. She went on to say he (Obama) was welcomed, “but not Trump!” Even the Polynesian press is out to get our current president.

■In abundance: sunny skies, beautiful water, friendly people and tattoos. Virtually everyone has tattoos. They are traditionally used to tell one’s life story. Apparently, some stories are pretty long. Next postcard, our listeners will have arrived, and we will be aboard the Paul Gauguin cruise ship.

Paul W. Smith is host of The Paul W. Smith Show on WJR-AM (760) from 5:30-9 a.m. Monday-Friday.