THE MOST UNBELIEVABLE STORY EVER
August 24, 2002 at 12:57 a.m.
warning:
This story is so amazing I don't even belive it and it happened to me! Just sit back and read this - because when you're done you'll feel a little better about humans, and also then give me a call because... well, you'll understand that I'll reallyreally need it.
I'm in Arizona. I now have a new address. A new zip code, a new phone number... all that stuff you get when you go 15 hours away from your home and anyone that loves you and get a masters degree. Yup.
but getting here...
man, you are NOT going to believe this....
Wednesday morning I hitched up a U-Haul to my parent's Ford Taurus and headed out for a long day of driving, at least 10 to Alberquerque and then hopefully 6 more hours to spend the night in Flagstaff with a cousin.
But I didn't make it that far.
A few hours into New Mexico, in the most desolate place imaginable, I glanced into my rear view mirror and saw smoke billowing from the side of my car.
The FIRST miracle of the day was that there was a rest stop 2 miles ahead, so I clawed into it before stopping and watched my car be consumed in smoke.
I stood there in horror as a few passers by confirmed my worst fears: I was 40 miles away from the next town, there was no cell phone service and there were no pay phones until the next town.
The next bit was a blur - people came by at this remote rest area and looked at the car and each had different diagnosis, but the common theme was that I was stuck. Fluids were coming out from every part of the engine and transmission, the steam was so bad I couldn't see most of the car.
I just cried hysterically. Alone, in the middle of nowhere. I looked at the highway below and desperately wanted to just jump. All I could think of was dying - I was so scared I couldn't stop crying.
A nice older man came by and gave me a Gideon Bible and a $20 bill and a handshake.
The next miracle of the day came in the form of a man from the area with a cell phone that worked. I called AAA and was told a tow truck would be there in 2 hours.
What was I supposed to do?? The next town - 40 miles away - Las Vegas, NM would maybe have a motel to sleep in, but I would be stranded. I can't rent a car because I'm too young - you have to be 25, or for some places you can be 21 or over but you have to have a credit card in your name and pay huge proces.. and there's no rental car places in that town anyway!
One man came by and asked me where I was going. Through my tears I told him I have to get to Mesa Arizona because I had to take a test on Friday for my masters degree.
His wife was sweet, she stood next to me and rubbed my shoulder and told me anecdotes about her experiences with cars.
After a while of looking at my car, they looked at each other and then asked me if I wanted a ride.
I couldn't say yes of course - I couldn't leave my trailer with all my equipment and violins and...
They told me they had a trailer hitch and they'd take it along. They were on their way home from a family road trip with their 3 sons and they wanted some company.
.............!
I didn't know what to say - it was crazy - it was stupid - I had no choice... Believe me, I prayed about it - and the yes I heard was the only thing I could hear in my hysterical mind.
In the blistering heat, the dad and his sons repacked my trailer and spliced the wires so the blinkers would work...
I sat in their van crying for the first few miles, astounded at what I had just done, but speechless about what they had just offered. I was zooming towards Mesa with a family I had just met and my car was speedily fading into the distance...
are you taking all of this in?? Oh my heck!!!
That night we stopped in a Comfort Inn 30 mintes past Flagstaff around midnight. They got a hotel room that could fit all of us, but after all I'd been through, I just needed some silence... some alone time. Their van was this fabulous thing with a queen sizr ben in the back, so they let me crash there.
I woke up the next morning and looked around.. it wasn't a dream - the previous day had actually happened...
Then the man and woman knocked on the van door and wished me a good morning - they were going on a walk and the boys were still asleep - so I should run up to their room and take a shower and clean up.
Man, was that the best shower I ever had..
We headed to Mesa and got there sometime in the afternoon. They unhooked my trailer and I bade them farewell.
People, there are so many bad people in the world - but there a few special ones. WOW. What a way to learn that lesson.
I unpacked the trailer alll by myself and even got a ride to school this morning and took my darn tests.
It finally hit me as I finished up my third test.... I started crying, not because of how hard this has really all been...
The campus is so big and I feel so out of place... I feel so alone here, I'm so tired and I'm so scared..
that's all I can say for right now. I'm wiped. Come visit me. I'm so lonely.
I did meet Eden. though!!! She took me grocery shopping last night and chatted with me for hours so I didn't feel so odd and out-of-place. I know my violin teacher AND eden!
SUPERCRACK say here's to looking for silver linings:)
ps someone come visit me. I need a familiar face. what the the heck have I done??!!