And We’re Back!
January 1, 2021, for some, this day is a turning point, an indication of what’s to come for the rest of the year. I don’t make resolutions so it’s never been, “this year is the year for me,” but there was an incident that happened on January 1, 2018, that made me declare the rest of my year would be…well interesting. On that first morning of 2018, we went about our normal routine. Darrel was up and out early, having coffee with his good buddy Bern and I was pitter-pattering around the house. All that changed when there was a knock, NO there was banging on the front door. A rather large guy, a bit disheveled, was asking for help. He said his car was stuck and he wanted help pushing it. He kept pointing in the direction of the intersection, so I thought maybe he got stuck in the snow pile out there. I didn’t want him to know I was home alone, so I told him my husband would be right out and to see if anyone else outside would help him. He seemed satisfied with that and turned to leave. As I watched him go, I noticed instead of going down the driveway to the street, this guy went straight across like he is going to the back of the house. I panic big-time running from window to window looking for him. I finally spot him as he was getting back into his car. His car is stuck alright, but it’s stuck on our property. The front end of his car is in our pond! After I wring my hands while doing the “Oh Lawd” dance, I call the Police who have me repeat myself several times, then tell me to call the Fire Department. Next, I call Darrel who has me repeat myself several times. Then I call grandson Kevin who has me repeat myself several times. I was about to call the Fire Department when the Police called back to say they had dispatched a car. Within minutes Darrel is home and approaches the guy. Darrel says the guy was sitting in his car, drunk as a skunk, with an opened tall can of beer. The guy tries to convince Darrel to stand in the cold water and help him push his car. When Darrel declined, the guy tells him to get our neighbor to help. Darrel is pretty laid back and not easily rattled, he is also quite the academic with an extensive vocabulary, and he is a Navy veteran (ahem need I say more). Fed up, you know which side of Darrel came out, yep full-fledged sailor. By now, the police arrive as well as grandson Kevin, Bern, and our neighbor Ron. The guy tried to plead his case with the Police that his GPS had him make the wrong turn, but they weren’t buying it. (Bern said the guy thought he was at a car wash. LOL) Not only was he drunk, but he had also soiled his pants. The police arrested him and not wanting him in their car called for a paddy-wagon to take him away and a tow truck to retrieve his car. What seemed to strike everyone as almost impossible was how this drunk driver was able to maneuver around my car without hitting it. I had parked at the top of the driveway, something I rarely do, and there was barely enough room for a car to squeeze by. He must have had some mighty powerful GPS!
As I watched all of this unfold, I thanked God that no one was hurt and the property was not damaged for what could have been a horrific collision was a near miss. I was then convinced the rest of 2018 would be interesting and it was indeed an interesting, adventurous, exciting, and fun year for me.
As for January 1, 2021, in answer to an early morning text from Bern wanting to know if anyone dropped in the car wash today (LOL), thankfully all is quiet at the May’s. We are looking forward to a year of healing and unity for our nation. We pray for grandson DeRel’s speedy recovery from COVID-19 and celebrate the news that grandson Kenyon and his wife Ama are expecting a baby girl. We are excited about our grandson Malik’s upcoming wedding. We look forward to creative communications with family and friends, developing a deeper sense of gratitude, discovering what truly matters, and finding joy in the simplest of things. We pray for the Blessings of God Almighty, to sustain us beyond our communities, countries, borders, and our boundaries. And we pray for an opening of our hearts to become His people living in harmony.
Happy New Year!
Darrel and Amanda
