The Dynamic Duo

It is amazing to me that after living in Howe for 30+ years, and living only 6 mere hours away that I hadn’t been back since last October. Hadn’t, that is, until last week. We had been planning this trip for a long time, UDad and I, for when he would have his monthly 7 contiguous days off (yes, I mean contiguous), when I would be able to wrangle a few days off myself, and when there wasn’t something else going on, such as visitors from the outside. Mars and Venus were finally in agreement (pun intended) and plans were made. We would drive to Howe on Friday, Udad’s first day off. We would spend time with several of our offspring, several of our (his) siblings, and, most of all, work on getting that house we still own cleared out.
Some of plan actually happened, though in its own timing. On Friday, we briskly set off about 10:00 A.M, with UltraMom (me) at the wheel. I missed my turnoff to the clinic to pick up UDad’s prescriptions and turned into Walmart so I could turn the jig around when my car turned into a fire-breathing dragon. Smoke billowed out from under the hood, while leaking anitfreeze sizzled and stank. I parked and we discussed the situation. We have an AARP Motorist plan (kind of like AAA), so I placed a call to arrange for a towtruck. Since it was about 102 degrees F that day, Dad went inside Walmart to wait for me, Murphy in tow. After navigating my way through an intriguing menu system, I was connected to a rep and explained what had happened. “Ma’am, is your car leaking any sort of fluid? We can’t tow a car down the road if it is leaking any type of fluid,” I was informed. “Uh…I’m pretty sure it has all leaked out by now. Just send the towtruck to the Walmart lot.” “We need the exact address of Walmart. You don’t know the address? Aren’t you at Walmart? Can you ask someone? Yes, I will stay on the line while you go inside and ask someone.” What I had forgotten was that our cell phones never work inside Walmart. Sure enough, shortly after I stepped inside, the call was dropped. I placed the call again, this time armed with Walmart’s all-important address. I did not mention any fluid leakage, and neither did the new call-center person who answered this time. The arrangements were soon made. As soon as I hung up, my cell phone rang again. This time is was UltraDad. “Murphy and I got kicked out of Walmart,” he grumped. “We are at the car.” Soon I was at the car also. UDad does not tolerate hot weather very well, so I suggested he go inside and get a cool drink while Murphy and I waited for the truck. He accepted with alacrity, and I got Murphy a drink of the water I always have with me, and found him a patch of shade. It was nearly 1/2 hour before the tow truck showed up. It turned out that the only way he could get into position to load our car onto his truck was to block both lanes of Walmarts traffic, both entering and exiting the parking lot. There were some ( actually quite a few) very excited car-fulls of people lined up on either side of us before we were done, but done we finally were.
At the other end of town we were dropped off at Chuck’s Oil City, where they kindly said they would work us in. Meanwhile, we walked to a nearby Wendy’s and got a little lunch, which we ate sitting on a curb under a tree in their parking lot. There sure is a lot of anit-dog prejudice in this world, particularly in eating establishments. Then it was back to Chuck’s waiting room to…...uh…wait. At least Murphy was allowed in here to wait with us in semi-airconditioned comfort. Finally, about 4 P.M. we got the news. We were lucky. The problem was a stuck thermostat, which had been replaced. We were ready to go, and go we did.
Outside of a few bathroom stops for me and Murphy and another one for food, we made good time. But what with losing the hour when we hit Idaho, it was 11 P.M. when we finally walked in the door of the place we used to call home. In some ways, it seemed I had never been away.
Well, I think that is enough excitement for one post. I am all excited just remembering it. I guess the rest will have TO BE CONTINUED

Serially Yours,
UltraMom