Monday, February 23, 2009

New Purgatory

As most of you know I was suppose to be Kansas City for the next 10 days, hanging out with my Dad and Step-mom, recharging my batteries, and coming up with a plan for the next six months. Well sometimes things don't happen the way you want them to. The following is an account of the events of the last three days.

All great adventures I usually have start with a phone call, this one was no different. My Dad and my Step-mom Lucy were going to be flying out to California to pick up a RV that will be used for their 3rd walk across the United States. They called and wanted to know if they swung by Vegas, would Frank and I be interested in driving back with them and spend some time in KC. Always looking to spend more quality time together, I said yes. The four of us left early Thursday morning, with a full tank of gas, 12 boxes of cheese-itz, and not a care in the world.

Everything was going fine until we got past the Hoover Dam and into Arizona. I don't know if it was a mixture of high winds and a 30 year old RV, or this trip was doomed from the start, but when the extra storage compartment blew off the top of the rig, we should have know that we were in for a bumpy ride.

We stopped once to retrieve the shattered remains of the compartment, and then again in Kingman to assess the damage on top of the little RV that could. After Frank and Dad came down from the Brown Behemoth they told us that there was four small holes that needed to be patched. They decided that they would take care of the holes after breakfast. We ate at Cracker Barrel and I hate to say it but...it was the best part of the trip. That's right I said it, eating at a glorified general store was the best part of this trip.

After breakfast and patching up the holes, we were on the road again. Time seemed to stand still as we crawled along at an impressive 50 miles per hour, stopping every chance we could to stretch our legs didn't help matters. At around 6pm that night is when the real fun started. We were about 30 miles from the AZ/NM boarder, yes you read that right, we've been driving for close to 10 hours and were still in AZ, when we heard a loud bang, started to smell something burning, and lost power. We pulled over, popped the hood and saw that the radiator went ka-put. For those who aren't well versed in the mechanical word, Ka-put means, stopped working, or broken.

When driving a 30 year old motor home, these things are expected and being the well prepared people that my parents are they were ready. Whipping out her trusty AAA card Lucy started to dial the road side assistance number. After she hung up, she informed us the coverage they had didn't cover RV's, so they would have to pay for someone to come out and tow us. AND!!!! since we were still in Arizona they would have to send somebody from the nearest Arizona town, 100 miles away, instead of the nearest New Mexico town, which was only 30 miles away. Oh and did I mention that the tow company changes by the mile =(

After the tow truck journeyed over 100 miles to get us they towed us to Gallup New Mexico, or what I'd like to call Hell on Earth. If you've been lucky enough to have never been to Gallup A.K.A. the Devil's Armpit, I'll give you the lay of the land. It has one main road, which failed to have sidewalks, 13 versions of Motel 6, Augie's Automotive, a Taco Bell, and a truck stop.

The tow truck guy dropped off the RV at Augie's and was nice enough to take us to Motel 6, where we got a room and crashed for the night. The next morning my Dad walked down to Augie's and let them know the situation. Augie and his automotive minions didn't know how long it was going to take for them to get parts for a 1970 something GM RV, so we were stuck...in Gallup...without transportation...in Gallup...for God knows how long...in Gallup...confined to a one room hotel...in Gallup.

We were hoping to get out on Friday, because Dad and Lucy had a presentation in St. Louis on Sunday. If you have no idea what I'm talking about click here http://christwalk.us/ to learn more.

One option was to rent a car, drive up to St. Louis, do the presentation, then drive back. We called the only two car rental place's in Gallup, A.K.A. Slidell of the West, but they not only charged by the mile they charged $10 for every state you went through. Another option was to fly outta Albuquerque and pick up their car in Kansas and drive to St. Louis. Ticket prices were outrageous, so that was out of the question. There was no way to get out of Gallup, A.K.A. Alcatraz of the desert, the presentation was shot. It felt like I was in the movie, Groundhog's Day, trapped in a Podunk little town, and everyday felt the same.

Our mornings consisted of getting up, walking 3/4 mile to either Taco Bell or TA Truck Stop for breakfast, watching Law and Order, and sleeping hoping to wake up and realize this was all a bad dream.

Our Afternoon's and Evening's consisted of snacking on whatever we salvaged from the RV, watching Law and Order, and sleeping hoping to wake up and realize this was all a bad dream.

Late Friday Augie's informed us the the RV wouldn't be ready until sometime Monday, which meant we were here til Wednesday =( This news would be a blessing in disguise for half of the prisoners. Frank had to be home before Wednesday for school, and was planning on flying out of KC early anyways. In an act of love, a love only a parent knows, our Dad suggested we call someone to come get us. "WHAT...We were being paroled, what did we deserve to get released on good behavior?" Was what ran through my mind the second he was done suggesting it.

I felt bad at first I figured we were all in this together, but Dad and Lucy both assured us that there was no reason for us to all be here miserable, if there was a chance to take a life line, do it.

So Frank and I called the only person in the world to give up their Saturday and drive 800 miles to come save us...Our Mom. The Calvary came, we said goodbye to our Brother and Sister in Arms, and drove out of Gallup, A.K.A. 3rd level of Hell.

Even though I'm in the comfort of my own home while I write this, I know there are two still in exile, the following message is for you.

Your day is coming soon, even though it seems like the rain's of misfortune will never stop, it will. Your rainbow is coming. Stay strong, don't give up, they may take your cash, but they will never take your FREEDOM!!!!

2 comments:

Nick Della Valle said...

Every word is true and we're still stuck in Gallup, NM!!!

They're still taking our plastic (the cash ran out long ago) but we have our....F-R-E-E-D-O-M! I think we'll go rent Braveheart.

Colorado Joe said...

Buddy, you know all you had to do was call and no matter how far you are I would have come to your rescue. For the ones left behind STAY STRONG FOR YOUR DAY IS NEAR!!