Into the Wild Blue Yonder: April 2012

So...this story begins a loooooooonnnnngg time ago in October. Sam and I were planning on driving to Iowa for Joel and Brianna's wedding. We were going to leave on a Thursday afternoon drive back Sunday. Sounds simple enough right? That's what we thought too, but boy did things go down hill fast.

Let me first mention that Sam had been on the verge of getting sick for quite a while. Unfortunately for Sam, he is not the kind to get a "little" cold or a "little" flu. When he gets sick its like knock down drag out, in bed for a week, wonder what happened to my boyfriend kind of sick. Poor guy:( On the Thursday we were supposed to leave for Iowa, Sam was running a high fever and feeling miserable. After much convincing on my part, he headed to the little Take Care Clinic down the street to get checked out and hopefully get some meds around 10 that morning. I thought this quick trip to the doctor would set us back an hour or so, and that I could handle most of the driving so he could sleep while his meds kicked in. But then 12 came, and then 1 came, and then 2 came, and then 3 and finally that boy was leaving the doctor. Turns out the sweet lil' lady at Take Care Clinic wanted him to get blood work done. So he went all over God's Green Earth, with a raging fever, to find a place that could do that blood work. Turns out that boy had mono, and extreme case of cold sores, and strep throat. Despite all that, he came to pick me up with a huge smile armed with an arsenal of medicine. And away we went to drive away the rest of a beautiful day!

:) On the road again!

1st time to IOWA...but then an hour and a half into our 10+ hour journey, on the outskirts of Steele, Misery (Missouri), population 2,000, our little car over heated and broke down. Sam promptly called his Dad who suggested we head to the nearest gas station and get some antifreeze. A good Samaritan, and retired trucker in a pick up kindly drove us to and from the gas station a mile up the road, and went on his way. Unfortunately, I didn't get his picture:/

We tried the antifreeze to no avail, and at 10 to 5 we called the local garage just in the nick of time to tow our little car.

That tow truck driver was a nice guy, very friendly and wearing a Carolina baseball cap, which made me super happy--yay Tarheels!

We arrived at the B&B A TO R PAIR after a short roll down Main Street in Steele. Sam was all smiles...

and we laughed about our bad luck...the closest rental car place was an hour north. The repair shop was closed and could not take a look at the car until the next day. All of our friends in Memphis were cramming for an exam that we were conveniently skipping out on the next day. We were still 8 hours away from Iowa. The owner of the shop offered to drive us to the local truck stop on the interstate so we could decide what to do from there. On the short car ride, that gentleman told his whole life story. I seriously love small towns; the people, the hospitality, all of it.

That truck stop was a classy joint y'all. Clean bathrooms, TVs, a Subway. I would go back, and that is saying a lot. So Sam called the most reliable couple we know: Mike and Megan Kortum. Have I mentioned the amazing friends we have made in Memphis? They are truly the best, and most generous people I have met. Those friends offered to stop what they were doing, and drive 2 cars to Steele, Missouri and let us borrow one of their cars to continue our trip to Iowa. Sam and I were afraid that our bad luck may continue, and the last thing we wanted was for anymore car trouble, especially to someone else's car. So it was settled. Mike offered to drive 3 hours round trip to come bail us out!

And how else should we reward such saintly behavior but with beer... and smiles: seriously thanks again Mike if you ever read this.

And then we did what any normal student would do. Studied. In that truck stop. I hope I look back and smile one day about all the crazy places I have studied. I would be secretly happy if I didn't have to study another day in my life. But Sam was there, great as ever (and probably still contagious), and I was so flippin' happy y'all, I couldn't stop smiling. His positive attitude and smile made me so grateful that I have someone to share the tough, unlucky, terrible days with. And my heart melted, and I fell in love a little bit more right in that truck stop in Steele. Sam and I have joked that our firstborn should incorporate that name somehow....Steele Johnson is a pretty solid name right? :)

And our rescuer arrived! Good ending right? We should probably just stop there. But that wouldn't be half as interesting. We got back to Memphis around 9:30 and agreed to go to bed and re-start our trip the next morning...until I realized I left my cell phone in Mike's backseat, and that the Kortums live in Southaven, Mississippi. We called them and Mike met us half-way (I know he's a saint) to get my phone.

And then, on our way back to Memphis at 10:26 PM, just a mere 7.5 hours after we began our initial trip....I had a brilliant idea. KEEP DRIVING! By this time I was wide awake, we had a full tank of gas, and our bags were already packed...

10 hours 10 minutes to go!

Houston, it's a go!

And I drove until I couldn't drive no more...around 5:30 the next morning....

And promptly passed the heck out until....

IOWA on the horizon!

YAY FREEZING IOWA! Looking back, a lot of things went wrong that day, but a lot of things went right. Sam was on the road to a full recovery, thank God for good health care. We had encountered kind souls, strangers and friends alike that offered to help us, making me realize all the wonderful people that still exist in the crazy world. And my best friend was there the whole time, with his wonderful sense of humor and smiling face, and encouragment. And all though I was freezing in this picture, I was so happy I could have cried, and laughed all at the same time...because as y'all may know, that's how I do things. I am so blessed.