Angels and Miracles and U-turns

Did you ever get so excited while packing for vacation, and then forget one of the most important things?

Well that's what happened to several of us on our family vacation with two adult daughters, four young adult grands, and two of their friends.

We were scheduled to leave at 5:00 a.m., drive in a convoy to New Orleans, spend the night in a motel, then board the ship the next day. Hubby likes all his cans in a row. We had every single thing in order. At 5:02 a.m. his GPS was telling him where to turn top enter the highway, as if we didn't know.

One daughter called half hour into the ride to say they forgot one of the kids' driver's license.

Other daughter called an hour and half later to say she forgot her credit card.

Shortly after that one of the friend's also forgot a credit card.

There were a lot of U turns that day.

Bill stopped for gas. As we turned out of the gas station, he said, "We'll make it to Shoney's for breakfast in an hour. Everyone is going to have to find their own way, I guess." He felt bad.

After our pit stop, he drove out of the station, through the intersection, headed for the on ramp, when I screeched, "Stop! Go back. Make a U turn. I left my phone in the bathroom."

I waited in our car as long as I could for the longest stop light in the state to change. I could wait no more. I bounded from the car, ran against traffic, every ounce of me bouncing, and huffed it into the restroom as a customer came through the front door.

What a relief! My phone was there. 

What bad shape I'm in. I gasped back to the car, and we traveled on. I am so blessed with a man who doesn't complain too much.

By evening, we all arrived at our destination, rode the ferry across the Mississippi River into New Orleans. We elders returned before the youngsters, got a good night's sleep and woke to a text stating our ship had engine problems and boarding would be delayed two hours. However, since Bill and I had priority boarding, and our taxi on standby, our entire party had to leave at the same time.

So, as everyone was tugging their luggage to the lobby, I received another text. It was from Chicken Soup for the Soul asking me to sign a permission for a story I had submitted. I was to fax a copy ASAP. My honey worried that we'd get lost, but good man that he is, he plugged in his GPS, and we tore around town to find an Office Depot. With 45 minutes left before departure, we found the store... and a teacher ahead of me having dozens of posters laminated. Hurry-hurry-hurry! I commanded silently.

With thirty minutes left, we accessed our home computer, printed and filled out the contract and faxed it to C.S.  

Ten of us piled into the transport van. As our driver was loading luggage (we tipped him well) a taxi driver approached him and told him he was in his territory, snapped pictures of his license plate and threatened to call the cops.

With fifteen minutes to spare, our angel of a driver, Harold, said, "I ain't afraid of him."

Off we went. Hubby and I got right in line, but the rest of our party had to wait outside for two hours before being able to board.

I guess the moral of my story is U-turns happen.

The Chicken Soup for the Soul story is designated for the Angels and Miracles book. I'd say angels were watching over us and it's a miracle we made it to the boat on time.

I know I had comments. Where did they go?