I don’t know if you noticed. I didn’t blog last week. That’s because instead of making it home after rehearsal for Spring Mysteries, we were stuck in Washington.
As we were on our way to rehearsal, the battery light came on. There didn’t seem to be any other effects, and it didn’t come back on after we made a stop, so we hoped it was just a fluke.
It wasn’t. The battery light came back on as we were on the way home. When we were about 40 miles from the border, the engine began revving high, and then other indicators started lighting up the dashboard. We pulled off at the next exit, which thankfully wasn’t far, and also had a gas station. Also, thankfully, we switched our cell plans a while ago so that we don’t have extra charges when in the US.
The first phone call I made was home to my eldest, who thankfully was home, and has his drivers license. I asked him to drive his brothers to school the next morning. My husband went into the gas station and got the phone number for a local auto shop. Next I called friends in Washington, Bella and Dusty. They agreed to come pick us up so we could stay with them for the night, and help us get back the next morning.
Then I sent a text message to the manager at work, letting him know I wouldn’t be in on Monday. He was awesome about it, asking if there was anything he could do to help. (There wasn’t, and it was nice to be asked.)
While we were waiting, I was patient and read. There was no panic. No freak out.
I had one moment of stress a couple of hours later. Our friends had over an hour drive to get us, and we had not eaten. We stopped for food, and it wasn’t quite what I had been looking forward to having (before the van stopped working). I was hungry, and the reality that I wasn’t going to see my boys or sleep in my own bed hit me pretty hard. With a couple of hugs, and a dose of Rescue Remedy, the moment passed quickly.
The next day, our friend Dusty took amazing care of us. He drove us to our van, and followed us to the auto shop to make sure we made it safely. Then he took us to lunch and to hang out with another friend while we waited for the repairs to be completed. The shop was able to replace the alternator (which was the problem) within a few hours. And the repairs didn’t cost more than we were able to cover.
For something that wasn’t a fun situation, it really had the best outcome possible. I am so grateful that it all went so smoothly and easily. And even more, I’m grateful that I was able to handle it without breaking down or getting upset with anyone.
The Universe threw me one more curve – Friday morning, the van had the exact same symptoms, as I was driving my boys to school. I got them safely to school, and the van to the shop. By sheer dumb luck, the part that was replaced was faulty. Our local shop was able to repair our van, again, and in time for us to make the trip to rehearsal. They are checking on the warranty on the part for us. Once again – so full of gratitude!
Blessings,
Mary