I'm going to skip updating you on our Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years... just for a moment.
My mom and dad finally purchased a beach house in their hometown in North Carolina. They have been wanting to do this for years. They want to rent it out to people and, when they retire, move back to the beach.
Also, my mom's mom (Oma) has been having huge events take place in her life, so things are being re-organized, removed and moved in, out, and around her house.
Fortunately, the beach house and the Oma's house are in the same town.
In order to rent out the house, the realty company requires owners to keep a list of things renters may need- pot holders, extra sheets, mop and bucket, etc. Mom needed to purchase all of that on top of doing some handy work to make it a little nicer. At the same time, Mom was also trying to fix up Oma's house and do all that moving I mentioned.
She called me Tuesday night, overwhelmed and tired and frustrated. Tommy and I had just gotten home from our Christmas and New Years trip on Sunday night. But I hadn't been up to North Carolina in at least two years. Tommy and I chatted it over, and decided I would go up to good ol' NC to help everyone out and to get to see some family.
Wednesday- I couldn't leave early in the morning for the 10 hour and 45 min drive to NC. Tommy had meetings all day and so wouldn't be able to come home for lunch to let the Bear out. So, I stayed until around 11 and took him on a few long walks so he wouldn't have to wait alllll day for relief.
I filled up the car, made sure my cell battery was charged, had my clothes and my computer, and was off.
Around 5:15 that night, I was talking to Tommy on the phone. All of a sudden. The car's cruise control stopped. I started slowing way down. I shouted, "Something's wrong with the car!!"
Then I realized.... No gas. NONE. The needle was about half an inch below the E. Less than Empty.
Pause for back story:
I have driven many many miles for many years.... Ten hours one way to college, and I would often make the trip there and back in a weekend. We've always lived several states away from extended family, so those trips happened at least once every year, and as soon as I turned 15, I was the relief driver. After college, I lived a days drive away from my parents. Since we got married, we've lived even farther away from both of our parents. I have never ever been in a car with no gas.
You can imagine my dismay and embarrassment,. Fortunately, I was able to laugh a little bit at the ridiculousness.... I called AAA, began talking to the angel of a lady and then heard a familiar and unwanted -beep- YUP, my phone battery was running low. And I had no car charger.
OF. Course. I told Tommy not to call or text and to spread the word to Mom and Dad so that I could stay in touch with the AAA people.
So there I waited. on I-95. 110 miles from Florence, SC. (I couldn't walk to get gas because the sun was already sunk, leaving some pink in the sky that would be gone oh so soon.)
It is a strange feeling to be completely alone and quiet. I didn't want to risk draining the car battery, so I kept the key out and the radio off. I couldn't use my phone. I couldn't even see the faces of the people whizzing by in their cars. God tells us to Be Still. And then He made me be still. In silence, I just sat with my Heavenly Father. He reminded me of His power, of His overwhelming indescribable love. There was peace.... not the worldly peace that would end as soon as I was back on the road. A reminder of the true Peace and rest in the One who will never change.
Funny the things that come to mind when you're forced to be alone and quiet. I sang "This Little Light of Mine"... the one with the kids and the "on a Monday..." part. I'm probably one of the few people who remember Psalty, the singing songbook. Well, it's his version. It's a good version to sing when you're alone... you unashamedly do all the different voices....
I watched the lights of other cars fly by. Those big trucks really make your car sway... lots of air/wind/y power behind those things. It was kind of chilly so I used the towels to warm up a little. See, the car leaks when it rains, so you always need some spare towels. They got used as warming layers.
The AAA lady called again and said to look for Jerry's Wrecker. I could've hugged that lady over the phone- she had found someone to bring me some gas that wasn't two hours away like she originally thought! So, waiting just one hour wasn't that bad. After the call, I spent the end of the hour looking at headlights in my rear view mirror, trying to decide if they looked like they belonged to a wrecker or not.
At the end of the hour's wait, an old sedan pulled up behind me. Not a wrecker. And who got out? A regular older man, no "Jerry's Wrecker" uniform or shirt or name tag. I thought, "Annnnnd this is how I die." Way to Rest on Him, right? Fail, Mallory.
But then he got two old oil jugs out of his car, and I assumed he really WAS the gas guy. I met him outside the car with a flashlight and a huge "thank you!!!"
I asked him if people usually tipped, and he said it was up to me. I said, "well, I have two dollars." He said, "no, that's ok."
To conclude, I made it to North Carolina and was able to surprise my Oma and my aunt and uncle. This was to humble my I'm-an-expert-traveler-can't-tell-me-nuthin' self.
