LIVING AND LEARNING WITH NEW ADVENTURES

My life is just one adventure after another. Everything turned/is turning out well. I am happy, healthy and after a couple of good night's sleep I am able to perform the tasks that need to be done. But, I'm getting ahead of myself so let me start at the beginning.

It all began a couple of weeks ago. Patti called me and, with Danielle's game schedule in front of her, she relayed the information that Danielle would be playing a home game (soccer) against a BIG rival (the other High School in Cedar) on Thursday, September 17th, and the new Shakespeare Festival season would be beginning on Friday, September 18th, and would I like (be able) to come over for the game and the play. Everything fit into my schedule and I gave her a big YES!

Inasmuch as the amount of knowledge I have regarding the inner workings of an automobile would fit on the head of a very small pin, I decided I'd take my van over to the local shop and have them check the tire pressure; determine whether my tires were safe to travel to Cedar and back; change the oil and filter, etc. The people at that shop have taken very good care of me since my arrival in Loa. When I call them for anything, they always offer to come pick up my vehicle, take care of "whatever" and bring the vehicle back when the work is done. Believe me, that kindness/courtesy has been much appreciated. They recognize my voice on the phone---they just take care of me. They picked up my van Wednesday morning, took care of it and brought it back to me Wednesday afternoon.

I packed my suitcase Wednesday evening so I'd be ready to leave at a decent time Thursday morning. I had hoped to leave about 10:00 a.m. but a couple of things came up and I didn't get away until almost 11:30. Initially, I had planned to wash my van in Richfield so it would be pretty, but inasmuch as I was so late and I couldn't remember how many miles I had to drive or how long it would take me, I decided not to wash the van and wait to wash it in Cedar. I certainly didn't want to be late for Danielle's game. I did, however, fill the gas tank in Richfield and immediately drove to the freeway (I-70) and I was on my way. The speed limit on I-70 is 75. I don't do 75 but I did set my cruise between 65 and 70. I-70, between Richfield and I-15,
is a beautiful drive and I was thoroughly enjoying the scenery. I saw a sign that said: I-15 5 mi. I was satisfied at what good time I was making. A couple of miles later as I was nearing what I thought was the last hill before I-15, I passed a truck with its blinkers on. After I passed the truck I checked my rear-view mirror before I moved back into the outside lane. I thought I saw smoke. It alarmed me just a little but then I thought, "I've just passed a truck. That's probably where the smoke is coming from." (Can you imagine that, in my mind, I ended two sentences with prepositions?) I breezed over the top of the hill and as I checked my rear-view mirror I thought I could still see smoke. At first I thought it was my imagination. My next thought was, "There is probably another truck in front of me." Then I looked at my dash! The red light that indicates the little oil can with a drop of oil was glowing. I do know enough about cars to realize that I really didn't want to see that red light on the dash. I touched my brakes to turn off the cruise and began to slow down. I was on the downhill side of the hill leading to I-15.

I decided to let the van coast out of the canyon if it would because I was afraid I wouldn't have cell service in the canyon and I knew I needed help. There were a couple of bridges that, of course, didn't have a wide enough place for me to stop and then I saw the off-ramp that turns north on I-15 toward Salt Lake City. I coasted past that off-ramp and pulled into the emergency lane. As I came to a full stop I realized the motor was not running so I turned off the key. Almost as soon as I turned off the key I realized I was not as far over on the emergency lane as I had, at first, thought. I turned on the key to move about 10 feet further where there was more room in the lane but the vehicle was dead where it stood. To say the least, I was a tad worried. I have to tell you that in the next two hours (or however long it actually was) every vehicle (and the traffic was quite heavy) coming down that highway moved over into the far lane and did not even come at all close to me. I got out of the van and raised the hood in case a Highway Patrol Trooper happened by so he/she could see I needed help.

The first thing I did was try to call AAA for a tow. Alas, I guess I've only had my cell phone three or four months. Juli got it for me and she and Kadi programmed it with the numbers I thought I'd call. Guess what? I didn't know how to put a new number into it and I couldn't figure it out. I suspect my brain was not working to full capacity at that moment so I called Patti. Her number was in the phone. Patti dropped everything, got on another phone (keeping me on line for information) and called AAA. They told her they would send a tow truck and tow me to Fillmore. I didn't want to go north to Fillmore because, duh, I was headed south to Cedar. We were told only the first five miles were free and unless I went to an AAA approved shop it would cost $4.00 per mile. The shop they were pushing at that time was in Fillmore. We were told it was the only shop in the area that was AAA approved. Patti and I discussed the situation and tossed around two or three options. Patti called Dave for some input. AAA called me and told me a tow truck was on the way and it was coming out of Beaver Valley towing and it would be there shortly. A few minutes later the tow truck driver called me and said he was 30 to 35 minutes away. I called Patti back. She had talked to Dave. He had learned that the Dodge dealership in Richfield is the only Dodge dealership in southern Utah. By then, inasmuch as I would not be able to get to Danielle's game on time (and seeing Danielle play her game was the big draw in going to Cedar---everything else was a bonus) we all decided that I should go to the Dodge dealership in Richfield.

AAA had told me they had called the Highway Patrol to alert them. Highway Patrol Dispatch called to tell me they had a trooper in the area and he would come and stay with me until the tow truck arrived. (I don't know whether Patti had told them I'm old.) I waited for quite a while and finally a trooper stopped at the side of my van and asked if I was okay and did I have any water? I said, "Yes, I'm okay and yes, I do have water." He said, "Okay, I'll be back to check on you a couple of times until the tow truck gets here." So much for staying with me until help arrived! I never saw the Trooper again.

I called Juli to tell her what was going on and she said, "I'll come pick you up in Richfield." We decided I'd call her when the tow truck arrived and we'd probably get to Richfield about the same time but after the tow truck arrived I thought I should get to Richfield and then call her to come because I needed to see how serious the damage was and I didn't want her to have to wait a long time.

The thing that is so incredible to me is this: Both Patti and Juli were willing to drop whatever they were doing and do whatever was needed to rescue me. It brings tears to my eyes every time I think of it and I think of it many times each day. I am so blessed to have a loving family on whom I can rely.

It was hot sitting in the sun, however I was happy it was cooler than it had been a few days earlier. I had my windows open and, of course, the flies swarmed in. The flies were quite annoying.

Before the tow truck arrived I glanced through the front window and could see a car stopped in front of me. Two old guys were getting out. I must admit I was just a little nervous. Now is the time to tell you why I was not a whole lot nervous. When I travel alone I carry a gun---and I know how to use it. One guy stopped to take a look at the car, the other came to the window and said, "My name is Richard Beaumont. We are from LaVerkin. Are you okay? Can we help? Do you know what is wrong?" I told him about the little oil can light on the dash; about having the oil changed yesterday; about the tow truck that would be here in about 10 minutes. By then, I could tell they were completely harmless and really did stop to try to help. One of them kneeled down and got under the van to take a look. Frankly, he was old enough that I wondered whether he'd be able to get back up on his feet after crawling part-way under the van. I marveled that he was able to get back on his feet. I don't think I could have gotten down in the first place and I know for sure I couldn't have gotten back up without help. He told me there was a big puddle of oil under my van and that there didn't seem to be a plug in the pan. Guess that's why my van stopped. Cars don't seem to work right if they don't have oil! The three of us visited a few minutes. They asked where I'm from and when I said, "Loa," they got really excited. They told me they come up to Boulder Mountain several times each summer for camping and fishing because it is so much cooler on Boulder Mountain than in LaVerkin. I enjoyed their company until the tow truck arrived.

The two old guys told the driver what they had seen under the van. The driver, who is a certified mechanic, took a look and verified what they said. The two guys told me good-bye and good-luck, then got into their vehicle and drove on. They had to move, of course, in order for the tow truck to pull in front of me. After he pulled in front of me he asked me to come and he'd help me into the tow truck and then he'd load up the van. I guess this is the appropriate time to tell you that the minute I looked at him, I knew I was in love again! He was extremely good looking with a marvelous smile. I learned later that he also has a great sense of humor. He and I talked and laughed all the way to Richfield. I hope he remembers me as fondly as I remember him.

I took my purse, water and cane to the truck and then was faced with the daunting task of actually getting into the truck. Holy cow! Those trucks are high; the steps are high and far apart and I'm not much of a climber anymore. There's always a bright side to these things. He had to help me a lot! What fun! Yeh, I was finally up in the truck. He pulled my van up onto the back of the truck and we were off to Richfield.

After we pulled up to the Dodge dealership a man came out to see what was up. Rick, my driver, told him and also told him I'd had the oil changed the day before. The Dodge guy said, "That's who you need to talk to, first." I didn't remember the number so Mr. Dodge guy went in to a phone book, got the number and brought it out to the tow truck. Rick called the shop here in Loa. Gary answered the phone. He is the man I usually deal with at the Loa shop so I know him best and I was glad he answered the phone. Rick told him he had me and my van at the Dodge dealership in Richfield and told Gary what he had seen under the van. Gary said, "Take her to Wal-Mart. Leave the van in the parking lot. If she has any shopping to do she can do that while I drive down to get her." The first thing I did was call Juli to tell her not to come to get me because I'd be coming with Gary in his tow truck. Rick and I drove to Wal-Mart. He unloaded the van. I paid him for the tow; he helped me down out of the truck---no small task (no pun intended). Personally, I don't think it was as good for him as it was for me. Then we said good-bye.

I had a short list at Wal-Mart but I had to wait for an electric cart. By then, even with a short list, I was too tired to try to walk through the store. After about 20 minutes a cart became available so I did my shopping. Just as I picked up the last item I looked up and saw Gary coming down the aisle. I waved and said, "Gee, I'm sorry we have to meet like this." He smiled and said, "I think I'm a lot sorrier than you are." I felt very badly for him because I consider him to be my friend and he has always taken such good care of me. I gave him the key to my van. He went out and loaded up my van while I checked out. Of course, I had the daunting task of trying to climb up in another high truck and I have to tell you---the steps were even further apart on the Loa truck than they were on the Beaver truck. Gary had to do some boosting to get me in. I'm sure I enjoyed it more than he did. We talked and told stories the whole way home and it was very enjoyable for me. We know each other better now. I like him a lot. He drove me home, got me down out of the truck and into the house. Then he went out and got my suitcase and everything out of the van and brought it into the house. Again, he apologized for what had happened. He said his 18-year old son changed the oil and afterward, the son told his dad that he checked everything twice because he knew I'd be driving alone and he didn't want anything to go wrong.

As for me, I was well taken care of. I wish everything had been good because I know this is causing my friends grief and they thought they had taken every precaution to be sure I was safe. I don't know exactly what happened. Perhaps we'll never know. Sometimes things just happen! I love my friends at the shop and they are doing everything possible to get my van fixed.

Friday afternoon Gary came over to tell me what's up. They will be putting a new motor in my van. It will probably take 10 to 12 days to get the motor to Loa and installed. In the meantime, they have loaned me a Blazer to drive until mine is fixed. It is costing them a lot of money but they are determined to do things right. I have the utmost respect and love for them.

I probably should tell you of one of the decisions I made before I left Loa on Thursday morning because it turned out to be of great importance. Every day I take three or four vitamin supplements and a couple of prescription pills. One of the pills is for allergies and the other is to prevent water retention. I decided not to take the water pill inasmuch as I'd be on the road and I didn't want to have to stop every hour to pee. I went to the bathroom the last thing before I walked out the door---probably about 11:20 a.m. I loaded my stuff, drove to Richfield, filled with gas and thought about going to the restroom but it was not urgent. I figured before I was in trouble I'd be on I-15 and there would be several convenience store/fuel stops where I could find a restroom. As it turned out, I didn't get to a restroom until about 5:00 p.m. at Wal-Mart. If I'd taken my water pill, I'd have had to go at Richfield and then while waiting for the tow truck, I'd have had to get out of the car and "bare" everything at least two times right there at the side of the van with the whole world looking on. Not taking my water pill last Thursday was one of the better decisions I've made in my lifetime.

The end of my most recent adventure is coming to a close. It certainly was not all bad. I had the privilege of riding/interacting with two good-looking men with whom I had a very good time. At Richfield while I was waiting at the Dodge dealership, I called Patti and told her, "I think I'm in love again." The driver was climbing into the truck at the time and heard me. When I said what I said, I wasn't paying attention and didn't realize he was close enough to hear. After I was through talking to Patti and had hung up the phone, I said to Rick, "I hope I didn't embarrass you, considering that you are young enough to be my son." Rick laughed and said, "Actually, I'm flattered." Aaaaaahhhhh! Not only is he good looking---he is also very gracious and happily married with children. AND Gary and I are still friends and I love him more now than before. He is also young enough to be my son and is happily married with children.

There are many things to be learned during any adventure. One of the most important things I have learned is to be more aware of what's going on under my van. I am going to be checking under the van each time before I drive it. If I had looked while was getting fuel in Richfield there may have been an indication of something wrong: a drop or two of fresh oil or something. I am also going to walk around my van each day before I drive it to make sure the tires are okay. No, there was no problem with the tires but that doesn't mean there never will be. I need to be aware of those things. In years past I have always relied on Jack to notice things like that. Obviously, I don't have that crutch any more. I must be more self-reliant.

This paragraph is a Post Script to the above: Out of curiosity, I went outside and looked at my driveway where my van was parked before I left. After the oil was changed my van was brought back to me and parked in my driveway. I then drove to the grocery store and back and parked it in my driveway. It was parked in two slightly different places and there are two small oil spots. There has never been an oil drip on my driveway since we moved here, until now. If I had looked under the van and seen the oil, I may have been able to avoid this whole ordeal. In my defense, I had no reason to think there would be any problem inasmuch as I'd just had the oil changed. They have changed oil for me before in other vehicles and there have been no problems. This, for some reason, was different. And now I am different.

I do love you all so very much.