Wheel of Fortune
is one of the longest running and most popular game shows on television. The host, Pat Sajak, and his lovely co-host, Vanna White, have been with the show since its inception and display a great chemistry which adds to the show's popularity.
Among the prizes and cash awarded during the show are trips to exotic locales. The names of these destinations are usually recognizable but occasionally a newer resort with an unfamiliar name is the prize. These new vacation destinations probably pay as a sponsor of the show or provide the vacation to increase its exposure on this popular show. In many instances, names may change as new resort owners enter the business.
Sandals is a very popular resort with many locations throughout the Caribbean. In recent years Sandals had acquired a private island and developed a beautiful resort that had a period of great popularity but had recently fallen out of favor with travelers. Sandals offered a spectacular package to
Wheel of Fortune
to boost its image.
Lori was an avid
Wheel
fan. She and her husband, Michael, had developed a routine that included dinner, the evening news and
Wheel
most every weeknight. Lori's regular viewing had contributed to a remarkable ability to solve the puzzles regardless of the subject. Michael urged her to attempt to participate on the show and offered to vacation in California if and when she might be chosen. Michael and Lori's two daughters added their encouragement hoping to tag along for the vacation. Annie, 21, and her older sister Megan, 23, had recently finished college and graduate school, respectively. They both lived at home as they considered job opportunities, but neither was anxious to enter the work-a-day world immediately.
After several attempts, Lori was finally chosen to be a contestant on
Wheel
. Michael planned the trip to California and he, Megan and Annie were in the audience as Lori deftly chose letters and solved puzzle after puzzle virtually annihilating the other two contestants. Along with the $70,000 in cash, Lori won an automobile in the bonus round and a vacation to Sandals private island resort.
As the family celebrated Lori's success as the show's taping concluded, Pat told them that he and Vanna would join them on the Sandals trip since this was a new sponsor. Michael had always been attracted to Vanna and was thrilled that she might be along for the trip.
Michael set about negotiating a discounted price for Annie and Megan to join them a well. After numerous communications with Pat Sajak's office, the dates were set and Michael and Lori told the girls that they were coming along. Both girls set about planning their wardrobe for the vacation including bikinis to accentuate their sunbathing bodies. Both girls were blessed with natural beauty. Lori, at 45, had maintained a long and lean figure that rivalled her youthful daughters' and she, too, gave thought to her wardrobe and beachwear.
The trip involved flight by major airline to an airport in the Caribbean where the family rendezvoused with Pat and Vanna. There they boarded a seaplane with the Sandals logo affixed to the fuselage. The seaplane trip was a first for all but Pat and Vanna, but was exciting nonetheless and the hour--long trip passed quickly. After a bumpy landing on crystal clear ocean water, the plane taxied to a long dock that extended out from white sand beaches and swaying palm trees. Excitement continued to build as the dapper, uniformed attendants strode briskly to the plane and its passengers.
"Welcome to Sandals Only", was the British-accented greeting from the attendant in a uniform that seemed to indicate some supervisory capacity to those unloading the luggage onto a cart.
"Did he say 'Sandals Only?'" Megan inquired of Annie as they walked along the dock toward what appeared to be a welcome center. Megan had done considerable research on the resort hoping to take advantage of all its amenities during their stay but was unaware of any name change.
"I wasn't paying attention. I was enjoying the beauty of the place. Can you even believe we are here?" Annie responded with a question of her own.
Michael and Lori were leading the parade of visitors flanking Vanna as they walked. Pat was lagging behind in conversation with those who had greeted them and toiled with the luggage.
The six making up the
Wheel
contingent were met by a lovely raven-haired twenty-something woman wearing a tropical print sun dress with a "Sandals Only" logo. This was the first time they saw the altered name in print.
Before anyone could ask, Camilla began:
"Welcome to Sandals Only. You will note the name change. Firstly, the Sandals resort was purchased and ownership changed the first of this month, thus the name change. Secondly, the resort is now a naturist, or nude only, resort, thus the name change." Camilla declared.
"Why weren't we told of this before now!" barked Pat amid the discussions occurring among the family and Vanna.
Knowing that Pat was about to blow his top, Vanna spoke, hoping to salvage the best from the situation.
"Surely those of us not expecting a resort of this type will be allowed to stay and clothed? If not, maybe you can explain what will be expected of us." Vanna searched for a solution.
"Has the seaplane left? I'm not staying under any circumstances." Pat stated as he began pulling bags from the cart searching for his own. Finding his stylish luggage, he started down the dock without another word.