Tag: Infinite Blessings

Graduation Parade

My great-niece’s high school graduation parade announcement was on Face Book.

We’ve driven our Chevy in a few parades lately.  We thought about how fun it would be to show up for that one. 

But this parade would be in Texas, and attending was extremely unlikely.  Driving the Chevy there was even less likely. 

My wife checked on the rumored, low cost airline tickets – a false rumor.  What if we drove the Yukon?  I asked.  I told her the map said it was a 27-hour drive.  We were standing in the lower part of Tuesday – the parade would be Thursday.  We would have roughly 48 hours to drive 1750 miles.  That’s less than 37 MPH – we can beat that!

Adventure was calling.  We made a last-minute decision, quickly packed the Yukon and left home at about 7:30 that evening.  We drove non-stop (about 24 hours) to Phoenix where we got a room for the night. 

I saw 113 degrees on our Yukon thermometer in New Mexico. Good thing we didn’t drive the Chevy, it has windows – not air conditioning.

We continued 7 more hours the next day, arriving in El Paso less than an hour before the parade was to begin.  My nephew knew of our plans, but the graduate, Isabella, did not.

We were the last car in the parade. 

Isabella cried when we surprised her.  It was contagious.

We stayed five nights.  I forgot how long it had been since we last saw my nephew and family.  We did a lot of visiting, just sitting and talking – although we did break away to go and see the world’s largest Pistachio. 

The best part about our marathon visiting was recognizing little johnny’s personality in the adult johnny’s body.

We ventured out for dinner (and a bank robbery?)

After returning home, I had an overdue colonoscopy and a follow-up upper endoscopy, it was kind of like a two-for-one deal.  The resulting list of discoveries included Polyps (removed and sent for testing), ulcers (Ulcers?!), and internal hemorrhoids (what?).

This is my favorite Isabella video: her witch dance

GM Torch Red – Literally

I was backing out of a parking space at the hospital. My 57 Chevy began acting like it wasn’t getting fuel. I pumped the gas peddle a couple times and heard a pop sound, like when the propane in a barbecue ignites.

I thought, “Great, I’ve backed over something or a part fell off,” but suddenly a path of liquid fire was streaming away on the pavement in front of my car, and the Torch Red paint in the center of the hood was literally dancing – mesmerizing!

Instantly smoke and flames were pouring out of every escape from the doors forward.

I quickly turned the key off, got out, opened the trunk, grabbed the fire extinguisher (that had been waiting for this moment for 10 years), opened the hood and sprayed the fire out. It was an adrenaline powered moment.

Without that extinguisher I would have been able to do nothing but stand and watch it burn. A couple guys rushed over to see if they could help, someone called the fire department but the flames were out long before they arrived.

Some guys paint flames on their cars. I had the real thing, and, it’s not that great!

The smoke cleared and the dust settled. Things were burnt and things were melted. The fuel filter had come off. After removing what was left of the air filter and reconnecting the fuel line, I was able to start it up and drive it home (with no lights or signals).

It was a stark reminder that this car is a thing and not a loved one. It’s a thing I enjoy very much, but a thing just the same.

And as I was reminded, things can unexpectedly be gone in an instant, but things can be repaired and things can be replaced.

Loved ones can be gone in an instant. People can not be replaced. I am so thankful for treasured moments and precious memories with friends and loved ones in my life, especially my wife. These are gifts from God, and are infinite blessings to me.