Emotional Rollercoaster 07/08

Subject:  Emotional Rollercoaster
Date:  July 8, 2001
This is going to be a relatively brief posting - Faithful Scribe is one
bushed baby.

Yesterday was a rollercoaster of emotions day.   

The day before, Reynolds(my USA grandson) called to see if he could stay
overnight the next day.  Of course!  I looked forward to seeing him and
hearing all about his recent three month stay in Costa Rica (he loves to
surf).

At one time, I would have gotten my knickers in a twist because the house
is in its usual topsy turvy state.  All I cared about was getting a hug.   

Bright & early yesterday morning, John and Elsa were on the road to the
Railroad Museum at Strasburg.  (John needed to take snapshots of an engine
for a commission he's working on.  She dropped him off at the Railroad Museum
of Pennsylvania, then headed up back country roads to the Flower and Craft
Warehouse in Blue Ball to pick up more hexagonal boxes for this year's Girls
School Freshmen Tea.   

On her way back to pick up John, as she wove along those winding and often
steep back country roads, the engine area started making what she describes
as a not loud but definitely a fluttering noise.

She slowed down - she was heading down some hills - and drove on full alert. 
As she describes it, she had just started going around a curve at the top of
another hill when a lot of red lights lit up the control panel and the engine
died. 

Amazing, having traveled past mile after mile of lush corn fields, the car
conked out right in front of someone's house -- and they were at home.

She had a big problem - not only was the car conked out, she did not know how
to get a hold of John. (elm - this was before everyone had cell phones)

I send a mother's blessing on the people in the house - Bill and Violet - who
let her in and gave her the use of the phone.   She did not know the name of
the store he went to after the museum and was coming up short with what she
found in the telephone directories.   Finally, she called the motel we stayed
at last month for the museum's phone #, then called there and they called over
to the store and the people over there set out to track down John. 

While they were looking, she called me - they were supposed to be home by
7:00 p.m. for supper and a good gab with Reynolds.   She was pretty chin-up
when she started talking to me. but crumpled into tears within a few moments.

The car was not her big upset, it was being so apart from John and not knowing
if she would be able to reach him, let alone reconnect.  While she was blub-
bering to me, Violet touched her on the arm and told her that Bill would drive
her to Strasburg to pick up John.  

What a godsend!  

John called within a few moments and she set off to get him.   They called AAA
once they got back to Bill and Violet's house. The young man who came with the
tow truck tried to resuscitate the car and did figure out that the alternator
was acting up, but he was not able to get it back on its feet.  

The three of them drove all the way from Lancaster County to their mechanic in
Warminster, with the car on the flat bed of the tow truck. John and Elsa offered 
up blessings to Peter for insisting several years back they get AAA Plus, which
includes free towing within 100 miles. 

It was a weary uncle and even wearier aunt that Reynolds picked up at Premier
Pizza, which is right next door to the auto repair place.  

You can imagine how glad I was to see them walk through the door. 

My goodness - that was a lot longer than either Elsa or I expected.  She is
flagging, so I will close this at this point.  I look forward to talking in a
future post about my visit with my grandson and what an unusual and remarkable
time it was.  

Twenty-four hours after we shared our final hug (he was gone by 5:30 a.m. this
morning,on his way to breakfast with his Dad and then onto Maine), the warmth of
his love and caring is still very much with me. 

Nitie-nite and God bless - this Mom has to let her daughter wend her way to
bed.

Love to all - Gockers