A Mom's long, exhausting, and emotional day

 I decided to blog about today, some of the events have been chronicled on Facebook but there is so much more to the story!  I knew today would be a long day -- driving Sean back to Madison for semester #2 means 9+ hours in a car on I-94.  The dreaded anticipation of a long day was increased when I saw that MN is in a winter weather advisory, with projected 2 -4 " of snow, and then blowing snow all day today and I knew it was going to be a killer day.  Add in saying good-bye to Sean, and well, let's just say I was not looking forward to today.  The only bright spot was that we had plans for a curling night get together with families from Holy Angels at the St. Paul Curling Club, which promised endless beer, food, and fun.  Instead of that bright spot, I am sitting home, emotionally and physically exhausted with quite the tale to tell.

To set the scene, my car has had some issues the past couple of weeks, and we finally were able to get it to our regular mechanic this week.  Yesterday, he gave us the all clear to take the car to Madison today, and asked that we bring it back Monday to finish up one last thing he ordered a part for.  Sean and I woke up early this morning to head out for the drive.  Immediately the roads in MN are horrible, snow covered, no plows, salt, poor visibility, etc. We cross the bridge into WI and all of a sudden at least part of the road is dry and easy to drive.  I think, "It's going to be a good drive!"  About an hour into the trip, one of the dashboard lights that was on prior to taking my car in, comes back on.  I don't think too much about it, after the "all clear" from my mechanic yesterday....big mistake.

Thankfully the drive to Madison goes without incident, we arrive around 12:15, unload Sean and get ready to say good-bye.  The smart alek keeps asking me, "Are you going to miss me Mom?" and I finally look at him and say, "Are you going to miss ME?".  This detail is comes back later.  We say goodbye, and try as hard as I might, I end up crying and hugging him, not wanting to let go. I know it will be several weeks before I get those hugs again.  We say a final goodbye, and I make my way to head back to MN.  I'm feeling pretty good about the drive, thinking I just might make it back in time for the start of the curling party!

As I am driving down Washington Ave. in Madison, my car starts making strange sounds...the lights are on again as before, and I notice that it's difficult to accelerate every once in awhile.  Anxious to get home, and not wanting to deal with car issues in Madison, I head out to the highway.  I am able to get to my cruising speed of 72 MPH, and feel good about the trip back.  About 2 hours into the trip, as I am putting a CD of the Diving Mercy Chaplet in to pray (it was 3:00 p.m.), just as I started saying the Our Father, the car makes a "thump" sound, and I lose speed.  I did have control of the car, and the brakes worked, so I managed to get the car over to the right side of I-94 and it DIES.  Dead. Nothing.  There is power via the battery, so the dashboard is lit and the radio works, but nothing happens when I try to turn it over.  I instantly know, this is not good!

My parents give us a AAA membership each year for Christmas, and it has come in handy several times for dead batteries, car accident tows, and keys locked in the car.  I know it will never be more handy than right now!  I am able to figure out where is the nearest exit (#143 just north of Tomah, WI), and assured that my tow truck will arrive within the next 40 minutes.  I have 100 miles of free towing, so  I find a Volkswagen dealership in Eau Claire, WI,  I know that is about 75 miles away and call them to arrange service.  The service department is closed (it's now 3:30 on a Saturday), but the very pleasant and helpful receptionist tries to secure a loaner car for me from the sales manager (there wasn't), then tries to find a rental car for me in Eau Claire (all closed at noon), and finally finds a place for me to wait that will be safe and easy to find.  What a gem she was!  I wish I could remember her name.  While I'm waiting, I read a text that was sent to me during my drive.  Remember what I said about Sean's smart alek questions and my response?  The text is from Sean, "I will really miss you.  I take for granted how nice it was to have you for a month.  Drive safe, and love you."    Boom.  Heartstrings tugged.  How did I get such a great kid...I start sobbing in my increasingly chilly car, finding myself with no napkins, no tissue, missing my son and wishing for one more big hug.

About 3:50 I get a call from Duane, from Granger Campground and Small Engine Service in Oakdale, WI, telling me is on his way.  Duane arrives, and walks me to the warm cab of his tow truck.  He then proceeds to get my car hooked up to tow to Eau Claire.  I take advantage of the warm truck, call Corey and let him know what is happening.  A few minutes later Duane comes back to the truck, and I ask if we're all ready to go.  "Nope, it's gonna be a while." He then proceeds to call someone and tell them to bring the flatbed, because the hydraulic something snapped on the tow truck we were in.  All I can think is, "Of course it did!".  So, after another 30 minutes of waiting, desperately trying to find someone on their way back from Madison to pick me up in Eau Claire before finally calling Corey to let him know where to pick me up, and we are on our way.  Duane then tells me that we need to get fuel in Black River Falls, because he is almost on empty.  I am happy to hear this, because I have to pee and I am very hungry, not having eaten anything since 9:00 this morning.  We are in Wisconsin, and I spy cold beer in the refrigerator cases at Kwik Trip.  Oh, do I want to snag a six-pack to drink right now, but I pass on that impulse and meet Duane back at the rig for the rest of our trip.

Duane is a kind older (75) gentleman who reminds me a lot of my Dad, and we have a nice conversation for the 60 minute drive.  He says several times that he is worried that I'll have a ride when he leaves me in Eau Claire, and asks if I'm sure I don't want him to wait with me.  Kathleen has been texting me to let me know where she and Corey are, and I assure him that I will not have to wait long.  We drop off my car at Ken Vance VW in Eau Claire,  he drops me off at the Holiday station, and soon after Corey and Kathleen arrive to bring me home.

On the drive home and as I share the details of the day with Corey and Kathleen, I make sure to find the things to be thankful for in the day.  Despite my nerves being frayed from the events of the afternoon, I make sure to be thankful that this happened on my way home, not during the snow, not in the dark, that my parents give us a AAA Plus membership, that I had kind strangers working to help me out, that I was able to have control of my car enough to get to the side of the road safely.  Earlier as I was driving, I kept thinking and praying about breaking the drive into small sections and pray that the car makes it.  My last prayer was to get to Eau Claire.  My car did make it to Eau Claire, although not in the way I had been thinking and praying, so I guess my prayer was answered.