Ed Bobit: All I Want for Christmas Is ...

At my age (which some people call "mature"), receiving a gift for either my birthday or Christmas is not all that important. I'd prefer that little notice is given to commemorating yet another year to my credit. Christmas remains a sacred and spiritual event for me and I'd like to think that many share that view.

The true joy is planning for months for the item that a young son, daughter, or grandchild secretly yearns for and simply knows that they cannot hope to receive it. You figure it out, purchase it, wrap it, and don't lend a hint (in my book, surprise is everything) as to your largess. No one can duplicate the genuine joy of private satisfaction as you watch that youngster open that box. That makes my day.

It's that kind of gift that I visualize for some of you within the fleet industry identifying those secret yearnings of yours.

The fleet manager who suddenly gets a new boss who's wired with the chairman, allowing an expanded fleet budget of 50 percent more dollars. And the boss is begging you to recommend how to spend it. (Let's see, a raise for myself, a new, good-looking assistant...)

The fleet management companies are stunned as they are inundated with accounts who insist that they will remain loyal, sign a long-term contract, but want to increase their monthly rate because of all the personalized service they are getting.

Pontiac officials go wild when the competition finally admits that their comparably-equipped cars cost more than the Grand Prix.

Daily rental buyers are pleasantly surprised to find that domestic manufacturers find it is actually more economical to make program cars available in the spring and offer upfront monies for orders.

George Frink is elated that his new air-bagged Lumina is ready for January deliveries with the first 25,000 going into fleet for GM's testing purposes.

David Lefever is amazed that the full NAFA Board completes a long agenda in an hour and a half. And the Board members want to leave in the afternoon to get back to work in the office.

The many import makers are laughing in the isles as the yen goes back up to 150 and they declare a new "level playing field."

The auctions are delirious as they have to quickly develop a priority system to control and limit the 20,000 new-car dealers who want to buy used cars every week.

Automotive Fleet is besieged with requests for copies of its newly-published "Fleet Manager's Secret Success Career Handbook" that defines strategic moves that are guaranteed: i.e. lifelong employment, incremental minimum pay raises of 10 percent each year, direct access to senior management, home phone numbers for all factory fleet directors and your lessor's president, and an extra $1,000 as fun money for you to use at the next NAFA convention or your vacation.

Yeah, it's fantasy. But wouldn't it make for a great Christmas?