Miracles do Happen August 29, 1998
An adventure was planned for this day with ourselves, Colby and Lucas. We drove to Nelson to do some shopping for school clothes and then took a short excursion to the Slocan River to spend some time on the incredible sandy beach, sun tan, do some swimming etc.
After enjoying a really nice time on this beautiful summer day, as the sun began to set we knew we must be on our way.
Right off the engine began to make funny noises and without much warning literally started to break apart. Knowing what was coming, Patrick told the children to look out the back window and sure enough, just like Goofy’s car in the cartoons a loud bang came from the engine and a string of broken parts littered the highway behind us. She had driven her last mile.
So here we were stuck on the highway without much passing traffic, wondering how we were going to make it all the way back to Creston, a distance of more than 100km. We managed to push the car off the highway into an abandoned driveway.
Gathering our belongings which included a cooler, blankets, beach chair, grocery bags, hamper, duffle bags etc. we stood on the side of the highway and with no other option available stuck out our thumbs. The things that go through your mind at a time like this is difficult to convey. You just begin to pray somehow a solution will make itself known.
We put on a brave face making light of a bad situation, not wanting to alarm the children, yet now wondering how we would alert our two children in Creston, waiting for us to come home, make supper etc. Not really a good situation!
Three or four cars drove past, then a motorcycle, and then our miracle arrived. A small truck with two men stopped and offered us a ride to the gas station at the junction 25 km distant. We were thrilled to get to a ride so quickly! A pay phone at the junction would let us call the children to explain our situation and perhaps find a way to Nelson, at least for the night.
We loaded ourselves and essential belongings into the truck. Riding down the highway in the back of the open truck, the wind blowing hair around my face I began telling myself everything would be fine, that something good would come of this. With the sun setting behind the tall mountain a spectacular summer evening unfurled. I too was strangely relaxed and soon found myself as a bird flying above the truck, feeling that miracles do happen and we were fortunate indeed. The freedom of flight carried me beyond the fear of what might have been. It was a magic half hour—life truly out of our hands as we willed its full embrace.
But before we arrived at the junction the driver stopped the truck. This seemed strange because we were just a mile or so from the gas station and it meant we were going to have to carry our things down the highway that last bit of the way. I was confused as the driver said to us this was as far as they were going.
My confusion turned to awe as he then said if it was alright with us they would let us take their truck home and we could bring it back next week, or whenever it worked out for us. I just shook my head, no. How could this be? It was so generous a gift that I could not imagine anyone being this kind to complete strangers. The brother of the driver looked me in the eye and said “It is your need, take it.”
Never in my life has anyone shown me this kind of generosity and the full impact of the gift did not really settle in until we arrived home a few hours later and told our story to Josh and Rheann, patiently awaiting our return.
Some ten days later Patrick made the journey back to the Slocan Valley to return the truck. Still without a vehicle he plopped his bicycle in the back to make the return journey home. It was this homeward journey that would introduce us to a couple, who introduced us to a woman who ended up renting us her home….one serendipitous event leaning into another until all our needs were addressed. Problems solved!
We were finally leaving Creston which was essential for my health. With all the fruit grown in the Creston Valley a great deal of chemical overspray wafts through the air during summer months. To make matters worse, the cuttings from the orchards are burned throughout the winter. There was no escape for me from these toxic poisons, causing me severe, crippling headaches almost every day.
The domino effect! One decision to have fun at the beach can change your life in ways you cannot perceive at the time. Truly it is amazing the way your life can twist and turn so unexpectedly!
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