Life is an adventure! Some people chalk things up to luck...some people knock on wood...I have learned over time that God has his hand in it all. Even when I screw up- which is certainly NOT often. Yeah, right!
Was reminiscing about a little trip Kerry and I took to the mountains on a foggy dreary cool day much like today. We were newly married and it being a Saturday, didn't have to work so I got the brilliant idea to go to the mountains. What in the world we would do there on a day you couldn't see your hand in front of your face is beyond me now, but it seemed like fun at the time. So, we set out. Now, being an independant female who must always be in control, I decided I would drive. Kerry is generally a good car rider who uses the passenger side brake infrequently, but he doesn't like to ride. For some reason, I make him nervous. Tee-hee!
We went up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is generally a beautiful drive- but on that day it might as well have been Silas Creek Parkway for all the beauty that could be seen- which was none. Nevertheless, we continued on our trek. The roads got quite curvy and I think my speed was making my new husband a tad nervous. His bad for teaching me to drive stick! He told me to slow down. I told him I had it under control. He requested that I slow down. I told him I had it under control. He demanded that I slow down and I informed him that if he said it again, I would pull over and he could drive if he thought he could do better. Of course that seemed like a stupid threat as it would get him exactly what he wanted in the first place but little did we know...
Again my dear husband told me to slow down, and so I made good on my promise. I pulled over- but not only did I pull over, I braked hard, on wet grass, on the side of a mountain in heavy fog and the car went sliding straight toward the edge. Fortunately the rain had been going on for several days so my tire sank in the dirt and built up a huge mound of mud around the tire. Apparently the only thing holding the car on the side of the mountain. When Kerry opened his door, it was to a steep drop- with no where to plant his size 10's. Oooooh, I knew I was in for it now. Not only did I almost kill my husband, but he was mad. He never gets mad- and when it actually does occur, it is a frightening phenomenon. It is like the lull before the storm. It is a very calm quiet with a look that turns me into a pathetic puddle.
I apologized profusely and even squeezed out a genuine tear or two- and my heart was in my throat--- that really was a scary moment- I mean, we were on the edge of a dropoff that would have meant sure death had we gone over. I looked at him and he looked at me and then the thought hit us- it was off season so a ranger probably wouldn't be along soon. It was off season so there probably would be little traffic. It was off season and we were probably stuck for a while, in the mist which, by the way, was wreaking havoc on my finely coiffed do.
Now this is when the super awesome God part comes in. (Of course the mud mound was a God thing too but - wait for it...). Along came a sweet old man in a caddy who stopped. He said, I have a rope, but I don't think my car will pull you out. WE debated for a second on what to do when a big pick-up with a good ole boy came along and said "I have my truck but no chain to pull you out". And a big grin broke out on my face. What were the odds??? A car with a rope, a truck with no rope- but together they could pull us out of this kristen made predicament... Thank you God! And after profuse thanks and some small talk we were on out way again...with Kerry at the wheel and me, a tad less cocky in the passenger seat. The rest of the day was uneventful. WE stopped at Little Switzerland and shopped a bit and went on home where all was safe and no one told anyone how to drive.
Its a really funny memory now- and a lesson in 1- how God manages to work all things for good in spite of us and 2- how I need to learn to calm my anger and 3- that its a really bad idea to brake on wet grass. See- three lessons learned in one day...I would love to say I don't have more stories like this, but I am a knee-jerk reaction kinda gal so of course there are more...and maybe next time you'll hear one.
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