My last day in Aiken SC was filled with an interesting assortment of joy, drama, and strange coincidences.
It all began at about 6am when I tried to hook up the trailer to leave and none of the electrical seemed to be working. Of course, I had just used the trailer the day before and everything was working just fine. Typical. Chris Stachiw of Stretch Equine Transport (friend and commercial shipper that was taking the horses back) spent nearly 2 hrs trying to get the blinkers and brake lights working so we could get on the road. At about 8:30 we were finally loaded and ready to go. As we began to pull out the driveway, I noticed that the electric trailer brake was not functioning. I called Chris and we stopped, unloaded my trailer into his (we didn't want to have a full trailer with no brakes!) and decided to stop at the truck stop to see if we could get it working. With no luck at the truck stop (note to self: do not go into future truck stops) I called my Dad to see what he thought about driving home without a trailer brake. We agreed that driving through the mountains of West Virginia would not be very safe and he promptly began Googling for trailer repair places near Columbia SC. He found and called a place called Frank's Discount Tires, and the person he spoke to said they could guide me in if I called them. Amazingly it was the next exit down, and I arrived at Frank's no worse for the wear.
Frank's Discount Tire is a brand new shop (they have four locations) and decorated like your 1950's soda fountain joint. The register area is set up like a diner, complete with red leather stools around it. Prints and life size statues of Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and the like adorn the walls, and the place abounds in neat antiques from the era, like the old fashioned barber chairs in the waiting room in which you can sit and watch the huge plasma screen TV.
Walking in, I explained that I was the girl whose Dad from Ohio had called, and that the electric brake box was not even lighting up. The man waiting on me was probably in his late twenties or early thirties, with a buzz cut and neatly dressed. Everyone was smiling and making light conversation with me asking me where I was coming from, where I was going to, what I did, etcetra. As I explained what had transpired through the morning, the man said, " Oh, I thought you had a brake problem. My guys here aren't trained to really deal with electrical problems like that, but the place down the road is, I'll give them a call." I literally leaned on the counter completely defeated, and said, "You must be kidding...." He began to reassure me that it was only a few miles away, but then interrupted himself, and said, " You know, just hold on a minute." He went in the back and reappeared a few moments later with a big grin, and said, "We can take care of this...let me get your information." Relieved, I gave him my name, address, and phone number. When he asked for the keys I realized that I had Rose in the truck, and explained that I needed to get my little dog out of the car. As I warily asked if I could bring her into the waiting area, explaining that she is just a little dog, can sit on my lap, he stopped me mid sentence, and said "of Course you can! Normally, we have a bulldog, hanging out in the office!" I was stunned. I couldn't believe that these people were so accommodating, friendly, and willing to let me bring my little dog into the lobby. I collected Rose, handed them the keys, and promptly seated myself, dog, purse and computer down in the waiting area.
If you have ever been to the south, you would know that everybody there treats you like you have been friends for a hundred years. Perfect strangers strike up engaging conversations, and this place was no different. I seated myself a few places away from a middle aged lady, who of course was enamoured with Rose. Soon after, another lady walked in and sat right next to me. She reminded me so much of my sister in law's mother... quite the gentile, southern belle. She was probably somewhere in her late fifties, with salon perfect curls that fell just above her shoulders, and a sweet way about her. I told her all about Rose and my exciting morning, and she related to it by telling me all about how she was dog sitting for her neighbor. We were having a lovely chat when the most unlikely thing happened, in walked an Elvis impersonator.
Elvis impersonators are always so interesting to me.... I once dated a guy whose Dad was in an Elvis impersontor's band, and all the people take this stuff very seriously. This guy was no different. He stayed in character the whole time as he made rounds talking with the employees, and customers. He was dressed all in black with shades, rings, and cologne. He came over and started talking to Rose (she was sitting on my lap), petting her on the head, and then he began to sing to her. He cupped her tiny head in his hands and she started licking his wrist as he sang to her, and she closed her eyes. She was in seventh heaven. It was so bizarre. I thought, " When I tell people this story, no one is ever going to believe that this happened." When he was done singing he took his shades off and asked if he could give her a kiss! He smooched Rose on the nose, and in his best Elvis drawl, told me, " Ma'am, you have a nice day." I was smiling so big with astonishment at the entire scene that by this point my cheeks were hurting and my eyes were watering. Incredulous, I looked at the sweet lady next to me, speechless, and she said, " They just have the nicest people here. You sure found the best place to be honey."
Several other people stopped to talk to Rose and I, and one nice man who raised Boston's and reminded me of my Dad offeredto buy me lunch at the place next door. I declined and a real southern gal (think Kathy Bates in a mumu) sat down and was talking a blue streak. Shortly thereafter the technician came out to say he was done, and explained that the auxiliary brake box either needed a new battery or had a short on the trailer, and kept shorting out all the electric. He left it disconnected and told me he had to replace a circuit breaker and some other thing. He showed me that all the lights were working as well as the regular trailer brake, and I was ready to get under way. I went back inside to pay, and the man that had been helping me was on the phone. The guy next to him said, " Ok...that's going to be $300." I smiled and started to hand him my credit card, and he said, " Oh no! I'm kidding! Jeremy will take care of you in a minute." He came around from behind the counter and started telling me how he liked Boston Terriers, that his bull dog was usually hanging out, and how it was too bad he wasn't here today to meet Rose. Clearly, Rose was a real celebrity. Jeremy finished up his call, and was ready to ring me out. I said, " I can't thank you guys enough. There is no place in Ohio where I would have been able to bring my dog in, and everyone here is so nice. How much do I owe you?" Jeremy leaned across the counter, arms folded, and said, " You don't owe me a thing." I said, " Oh no, seriously you can't do that! What about the guy out there," He interrupted me and said, "Don't you worry, I will take care of him. You are fine. You just get home safe." I started thanking him profusely, and he handed me his card and said, " If you ever need anything again, don't hesitate to give us a call." Without looking at the card I stuffed it in my purse, said thank you for probably the hundredth time, and walked out to the car.
I decided it would be smart to top off the gas tank before getting back on the highway so that I could just drive for awhile, as by now it was 12:30, and I still had a good 12 hr drive ahead of me. As I was filling the gas tank, I thought, "Boy, I don't even know that guy's name." When the other cashier had said that "Jeremy will help you in a minute," I hadn't clearly understood if he said Jeremy, or Jaime. I pulled the card out of my purse to see, and read, "Jeremy Angel." I read it again, hardly believing my eyes. "Jeremy ANGEL?" I sat down in the driver's seat and tears started to well up in my eyes. I was stunned. I immediately said, "Thank you God for taking care of me." After taking another minute to process what had transpired over the last few hours, I picked up the cell phone and called my Dad. When he answered I said, " Well, I am back on the road, and you are never going to believe the story I am about to tell you." As I told him the events of Frank's Discount Tires, he started laughing that laugh that only knowing fathers can do. When I was done and had told him Jeremy's name, he said through a teary voice, "God is good. God is so Goood!"
I wonder now if I went back to exit 58 in Lexington SC, if Frank's would still be there with a guy named Jeremy ANGEL at the cash wrap, or if I have been in a strange stream of consciousness like the movie, "Its a Wonderful Life!"
I would like to think that it really is there, and that Angels come into our lives when we least expect it.
Side note: I made it to the barn at 12:30 to check the horses, and home at 2am, thanking God for the most inspiring & amazing journey.
Frank's Discount Tire is a brand new shop (they have four locations) and decorated like your 1950's soda fountain joint. The register area is set up like a diner, complete with red leather stools around it. Prints and life size statues of Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and the like adorn the walls, and the place abounds in neat antiques from the era, like the old fashioned barber chairs in the waiting room in which you can sit and watch the huge plasma screen TV.
Walking in, I explained that I was the girl whose Dad from Ohio had called, and that the electric brake box was not even lighting up. The man waiting on me was probably in his late twenties or early thirties, with a buzz cut and neatly dressed. Everyone was smiling and making light conversation with me asking me where I was coming from, where I was going to, what I did, etcetra. As I explained what had transpired through the morning, the man said, " Oh, I thought you had a brake problem. My guys here aren't trained to really deal with electrical problems like that, but the place down the road is, I'll give them a call." I literally leaned on the counter completely defeated, and said, "You must be kidding...." He began to reassure me that it was only a few miles away, but then interrupted himself, and said, " You know, just hold on a minute." He went in the back and reappeared a few moments later with a big grin, and said, "We can take care of this...let me get your information." Relieved, I gave him my name, address, and phone number. When he asked for the keys I realized that I had Rose in the truck, and explained that I needed to get my little dog out of the car. As I warily asked if I could bring her into the waiting area, explaining that she is just a little dog, can sit on my lap, he stopped me mid sentence, and said "of Course you can! Normally, we have a bulldog, hanging out in the office!" I was stunned. I couldn't believe that these people were so accommodating, friendly, and willing to let me bring my little dog into the lobby. I collected Rose, handed them the keys, and promptly seated myself, dog, purse and computer down in the waiting area.
If you have ever been to the south, you would know that everybody there treats you like you have been friends for a hundred years. Perfect strangers strike up engaging conversations, and this place was no different. I seated myself a few places away from a middle aged lady, who of course was enamoured with Rose. Soon after, another lady walked in and sat right next to me. She reminded me so much of my sister in law's mother... quite the gentile, southern belle. She was probably somewhere in her late fifties, with salon perfect curls that fell just above her shoulders, and a sweet way about her. I told her all about Rose and my exciting morning, and she related to it by telling me all about how she was dog sitting for her neighbor. We were having a lovely chat when the most unlikely thing happened, in walked an Elvis impersonator.
Elvis impersonators are always so interesting to me.... I once dated a guy whose Dad was in an Elvis impersontor's band, and all the people take this stuff very seriously. This guy was no different. He stayed in character the whole time as he made rounds talking with the employees, and customers. He was dressed all in black with shades, rings, and cologne. He came over and started talking to Rose (she was sitting on my lap), petting her on the head, and then he began to sing to her. He cupped her tiny head in his hands and she started licking his wrist as he sang to her, and she closed her eyes. She was in seventh heaven. It was so bizarre. I thought, " When I tell people this story, no one is ever going to believe that this happened." When he was done singing he took his shades off and asked if he could give her a kiss! He smooched Rose on the nose, and in his best Elvis drawl, told me, " Ma'am, you have a nice day." I was smiling so big with astonishment at the entire scene that by this point my cheeks were hurting and my eyes were watering. Incredulous, I looked at the sweet lady next to me, speechless, and she said, " They just have the nicest people here. You sure found the best place to be honey."
Several other people stopped to talk to Rose and I, and one nice man who raised Boston's and reminded me of my Dad offeredto buy me lunch at the place next door. I declined and a real southern gal (think Kathy Bates in a mumu) sat down and was talking a blue streak. Shortly thereafter the technician came out to say he was done, and explained that the auxiliary brake box either needed a new battery or had a short on the trailer, and kept shorting out all the electric. He left it disconnected and told me he had to replace a circuit breaker and some other thing. He showed me that all the lights were working as well as the regular trailer brake, and I was ready to get under way. I went back inside to pay, and the man that had been helping me was on the phone. The guy next to him said, " Ok...that's going to be $300." I smiled and started to hand him my credit card, and he said, " Oh no! I'm kidding! Jeremy will take care of you in a minute." He came around from behind the counter and started telling me how he liked Boston Terriers, that his bull dog was usually hanging out, and how it was too bad he wasn't here today to meet Rose. Clearly, Rose was a real celebrity. Jeremy finished up his call, and was ready to ring me out. I said, " I can't thank you guys enough. There is no place in Ohio where I would have been able to bring my dog in, and everyone here is so nice. How much do I owe you?" Jeremy leaned across the counter, arms folded, and said, " You don't owe me a thing." I said, " Oh no, seriously you can't do that! What about the guy out there," He interrupted me and said, "Don't you worry, I will take care of him. You are fine. You just get home safe." I started thanking him profusely, and he handed me his card and said, " If you ever need anything again, don't hesitate to give us a call." Without looking at the card I stuffed it in my purse, said thank you for probably the hundredth time, and walked out to the car.
I decided it would be smart to top off the gas tank before getting back on the highway so that I could just drive for awhile, as by now it was 12:30, and I still had a good 12 hr drive ahead of me. As I was filling the gas tank, I thought, "Boy, I don't even know that guy's name." When the other cashier had said that "Jeremy will help you in a minute," I hadn't clearly understood if he said Jeremy, or Jaime. I pulled the card out of my purse to see, and read, "Jeremy Angel." I read it again, hardly believing my eyes. "Jeremy ANGEL?" I sat down in the driver's seat and tears started to well up in my eyes. I was stunned. I immediately said, "Thank you God for taking care of me." After taking another minute to process what had transpired over the last few hours, I picked up the cell phone and called my Dad. When he answered I said, " Well, I am back on the road, and you are never going to believe the story I am about to tell you." As I told him the events of Frank's Discount Tires, he started laughing that laugh that only knowing fathers can do. When I was done and had told him Jeremy's name, he said through a teary voice, "God is good. God is so Goood!"
I wonder now if I went back to exit 58 in Lexington SC, if Frank's would still be there with a guy named Jeremy ANGEL at the cash wrap, or if I have been in a strange stream of consciousness like the movie, "Its a Wonderful Life!"
I would like to think that it really is there, and that Angels come into our lives when we least expect it.
Side note: I made it to the barn at 12:30 to check the horses, and home at 2am, thanking God for the most inspiring & amazing journey.
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