I sometimes find myself being too serious. For this reason I thought I’d start this week off with a real life story. Trust me, it was not funny at the time, but it wasn’t long before it produced many a chuckle. It is in reflecting back on times like these that I am so very grateful for my online internet business opportunities with the Crazy Foxes Marketing Group.
After my oldest daughter graduated high school in Boca Raton, Florida we decided to move back up north. I had been divorced for approximately nine years. My youngest daughter still had one more year of high school to complete, but we were all in agreement that it was time to make a change. Our plan was to drive first to Maine where I would help my brother in his restaurants and then move to Vermont in time for school in the fall.
As a single mom I did not have the money to pay for a mover so we loaded all of our worldly possessions on the biggest U-Haul Truck available. (24 ft – 27 ft) It was huge. There was not a smidge of space left. It was so packed that when I came across my jewelry box I asked my girlfriend for a Ziploc bag, dumped my jewelry in it, tossed the box in the trash and threw the bag under the seat of the truck.
Now in order to get the full picture of this escapade imagine this sight. A 48 year old single mom, two teenage daughters, a Shitzu/Pekingnese, two cats, a parakeet, and a blue headed Amazon parrot in the cab of the truck. I was towing my Toyota Celica which was packed with suitcases, etc. and also carried a very precious cargo….our Doberman/Dalmatian mix and our black Lab.
As we said our goodbyes, cried and jumped up into the truck I found myself thinking, “What are you doing?” I started the engine and we were off. I had a constant conversation going with Jesus. And thank God He had us in the palm of His hand.
It wasn’t long before my fears were confirmed. Only three of the five gears worked on the truck. The air conditioner was less efficient than us blowing on each other, (and this was the middle of July) and the radio did not work. Teenagers on this type of a journey are disgruntled enough without having music!!
We hadn’t gotten out of Florida before the truck had a muffler problem. I pulled over to a rest area. A repairman came out and it wasn’t long before we were back on our way. His comment, “I am sure glad you are leaving my territory, this truck isn’t road worthy” distressed me to say the least.
We traveled I-95 up the east coast. I got off at one point to get gas and it was one of those crazy places where you had specific turn lanes to get back on. I found a gas station, but for the life of me I could not find my way back to I-95. It was after 10 PM. I turned down one street and it went up a hill and dead ended. I developed a true admiration for truck drivers on that trip!! I managed to get turned around with the truck tipping and the girls crying hysterically. More than once I heard, “Mom this is the stupidest thing you have ever done.” After turning around I set at the stop sign in tears myself at this point.
Out of nowhere a man hopped up on my side of the truck and asked if we needed help. I had him tell me at least five times how to get back to I-95 and as he got down and started walking towards the back of the truck I watched in my side mirror as he disappeared in mid air. Whether you believe in angels or not, I know this was my angel!
It was very difficult driving this truck towing my car. I was constantly afraid that I was going to wipe my car out or back into someone else. One time when we were at a traffic light I asked my daughter to just put her hand out the window and motion people around us. Her comment to me was, “Mom he just gave me the finger.”
We had just gone over the Baltimore Bridge and there was a lot of road construction. I watched as the lights on the dash all started to dim. I did some fast navigating and got the truck and my car between the big construction barrels before it just died. It was 2:00 AM.
It wasn’t long and a state trooper stopped by to see if he could help. I asked him to please call U-Hall to let them know we had broker down. This trooper stopped back every hour to check on us. Being on the road for over 36 hours in July heat, and now it was raining I made sure that I stood a distance from his car to speak with him. I would’ve given anything for a shower at that point.
I finally went back to sit in my car with the dogs. At least they wouldn’t be disgruntled with me. In about an hour my daughter came back to tell me that one of the cats had gotten out. She’d put the window down too far. So I was walking through tall grass on the side of the road calling for the cat. I was so happy when I saw her little head popping above the grass meowing and running towards me.
U-Haul didn’t come out to help us until 9 AM. I was informed that the truck would have to be towed to their garage and they would put us up for the night. I discovered the hotel they booked for us did not take pets. I was told, “You can lock them up in our garage and put some food and water down for them.” NOT going to happen!!
I got on the phone and found a Holiday Inn that took pets. We had to take some stuff out of the car so we could fit in it to drive to the hotel. I got lost on the way. While stopping at a gas station to ask directions I heard the flutter of little wings go by my ear. Somersault the parakeet would now reside at the Merit station. To my amazement when we arrived at the Holiday Inn it was not one you drove up to your room. We proceeded to take 3 dogs, 2 cats, a parrot, litter box and suitcases through the lobby onto the elevator and up to our room. What a sight we must’ve been. It was so wonderful to get off the road and get a shower!!
The next day we were back on the road and on our way to Maine. Thank God nothing else happened. To the rhythm of the tires I kept praying and saying, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” His Word will never come back void.
We did have problems on the New Jersey Turnpike….they don’t allow trucks like we were in!! I had to turn around across 5 lanes of traffic and take US1 past New York City. One point we made the wrong turn and I ended up driving in New York City. A truck pulled up alongside of us with some Mexican guys. They said to us, “Perros, and made panting noises and told us they thought the dogs were going to die.” It was so hot. They did have water and the windows were down quite a bit, but I was very worried about them.
When we arrived in Maine there was a U-Haul truck off the road turned over. We were all very thankful to be safe.
I wish that I had been blessed with a business opportunity that I have now with the Crazy Foxes Marketing Group back then. I would’ve given anything to be able to work at home and be there for my daughters when they got home from school. Nowadays, your office is anywhere with internet marketing.
I hope that you have gotten a smile or two out of this writing. It just proves that God never gives us more than we can handle. And most important to remember is that He always is there to go through it with you!!
Blessings,
Judy Conway
Judy Conway
678-493-4890
Skype ID: judy.conway
judyconwaycontact@gmail.com
Check out an excellent Post by Marcus Calligaro, “Mountain Top Success“
