Tuesday, I picked up my new work computer. I was beyond happy. The previous computer was from the dinosaur age. It ran slow and glitched constantly. My happiness was somewhat short lived. When I arrived home with the lighter compact laptop with its slender docking station, I discovered the monitors couldn’t be connected. No HDMI cords. Called the tech team, who said a cord would be available tomorrow at 0900 at the main hospital. Frustrated but overall it’s a life moment.
Hopped in my car, drove the 20 minutes to the main hospital. Locate the tech guy in the Terrace Café. He was happily watching some anime show. He looked up and asked the name of my monitors. I shrugged and said, “I think one is ASUS and the HP. Not sure. I don’t pay attention to the names.”
He replied, “they need different HDMI cords.”
Moments like this I am happy the bubble above my head is invisible. WTF! It would have been a lot easier to answer that question while emailing the day before. But no, you decide to ask now.
He offered me both. I take both only to discover once at home neither work on the monitors. Crap! Crap! Crap! Kind of hard to be productive without monitors. Luckily, our team was having a celebration in the office. I would stop by Best Buy with the name of the monitors and buy cords.
I purchased the HDMI cords. My mood was still edgy but hopeful. Arrived home. The dang cords didn’t fit. Now I moved from edgy to livid. I really didn’t have time to wallow in this mood. I put on my MacGyver hat, stole my son’s gaming monitor. One working monitor was better than none.
The situation is basically solved but the edge in my mood would not settle. I could feel it snaking, lurking. I meditated/prayed to get my energy something close to normal. We were leaving for a quick getaway tomorrow, I needed to be centered.
Tomorrow comes and the edge had lessened but was still there. I packed my stuff in the back of the truck, stood on the edge on the ramp and said one more prayer, took one more deep breath and climbed into the passenger seat of our new to us F350.
The highway ride was good. Minimal traffic and good weather. My partner, David, was making good time. I was doing my normal co-pilot duties. Life was improving. Less than two hours away from Sebring Florida, our destination, there was an accident. We were in construction zone with some crazy change overs. There always seems to be an accident in Florida! I swear every time we are in Florida there is some sort of major accident with road closures. Not sure if it is the cautious, slow driving seniors or the crazy fast driving, lane changing sports cars. Interesting fact. Florida had over 300,000 traffic accidents last year.
Traffic was at a complete standstill. You know it is going to be a long standstill when the semis turn off their engines. So close and yet so far. I was ready for bed. We joined the semis and turned off our engine too. There we sit in the dark on the highway at 1130 at night. We sat and sat. Nothing moving except emergency vehicle after emergency vehicle.
I amused myself watching the other drivers in their cars. One couple in a yellow car had the overhead light on their heads close together laughing. I smiled too; their energy was contagious. A couple cars over, a mom was entertaining a child in a car seat. Everyone, at least everyone I could see seemed to be taking this slowdown in stride.
I heard the truck engines in front of us start to rumble. Red taillights meant it’s time to go. David turned the ignition, and the most awful sound happened. Grinding and squealing noises. I looked at him, hoping for some simple explanation. The pinched face and tossed up hands were not the reassurance I was expecting. The truck would not start.
“Traffic is not moving. I’m going to let it sit and try again in a bit.” He said.
“Ok” was all I could muster. My anxious mind was processing. We were in the far-left lane and dead in the water. If the truck didn’t start before the traffic resumed. We were screwed.
As traffic began to inch forward, he tried again. The awful sound was still there but the stubborn engine started. The smell was burnt something; eww!
I’m going to try to get over to the right shoulder.”
Luckily, it was dark, and he couldn’t see the saucers my eyes had become. Hazard lights blinking, he began to cross the four lanes of traffic. Amazingly, the people who’d sat for hours with us were still gracious and made openings to allow us to get over. Within minutes the traffic was moving again, not fast but moving forward.
As David began to call for tow services, blue lights flashed again. The officer stopped at David’s window. We were now in the lane they had been using. Again, my eyes were saucers. I’m sure the cop was going to pissed. As a Black girl traveling, especially in the South, my goal is to minimalize my contact with the police. That way I don’t have to figure out anyone’s intent. This officer’s face was warm, I felt comfortable.
“Are you ok”, inquired the officer his eyes briefly darting toward the other flashing lights.
David responded, “The car stalled. Calling a tow truck now.”
“OK. Nothing is moving until we get this cleared out”. The officer refocused his eyes and drove off.
Once the service was on the phone, we pinned our location. We were informed the driver would arrive in about 30 minutes. While this sounded like a enormous amount of time, we were happy to have a plan and a way off the highway. Again, this happiness was short lived…
The driver called from the entrance to the highway, “They won’t let me on the highway. There are three fatalities. I can’t come until the highway is re-opened. They say three hours.”
What could we say? “Ok, see you in three hours”.
We settled in for the night and attempted to sleep. I’d doze intermittently. Reassured when I’d wake up to see the blue lights flashing. At 5am I woke up, looked out of the window and there were no flashing lights. A semi flew by us rocking the truck. The highway must be open.
“David, wake up. The cops are gone, and traffic is moving.”
He woke up and looked around and smiled. He saw the flashing lights of a tow truck approaching us. It approached and then went right by us to a car we hadn’t noticed about a mile in front of us. My only thought was “are u freaking kidding me?” The interstate is now moving fast. The semis shook the truck as they zoom freely to their destinations.
David called the tow truck guy. No answer. I remembered I’d texted him our location so I sent text. Again, crickets. Next call was to the tow service company. They were unable to locate the original driver and were happy to send a new driver. The new driver was set to arrive in 30 minutes. Again, are you freaking kidding me? The 30 minutes seemed to drag on forever. This time when we saw the yellow lights approaching, much like Debbie Downer I was like it’s not for us. But the yellow lights stopped in front of us. I was never so excited to see anyone!
A big burley guy with a decent smile, especially for the time of day, descended from the truck. He and David talked while I stayed in the truck. The more the trucks whirled and rocked the truck the more uncomfortable I became. I decided to wait outside the truck. I don’t know what the heck I was thinking. The trucks were flying by me without the protection of the truck. I liked this even less. The tow truck guy must have seen the angst on my face. He offered for me to sit in his big tow truck. I think I said yes before he completed the question.
Once in the truck the Reggae music and bright colors and were comforting until…my overthinking brain re-engaged. My mind created some crazy scenarios. Including the driver killing David and kidnapping me. This one in particular freaked me out and in that moment seemed plausible. I scooted to the edge of the seat and opened the passenger door slightly and leaned out. I could still see David smiling and talking while the guy hitched the truck. I told my overactive mind things were ok. I still left the door slightly open just in case craziness popped off. Eventually, David climbed into the tow truck, and I slid to the middle seat. The driver jumped in, and we were off.
He dropped off the truck at the closest Ford dealership in Clermont, Florida. Being a kind gentleman, he asked where he could take us. I hadn’t researched the hotels, so I said the closest one to the dealership. I admit when we arrived at the hotel I may not have been at the pinnacle of my best self. So, when the desk clerk said she didn’t have any rooms left, my face must have shown my absolute displeasure. After a moment she said she had one room available because the person had not checked in yet. They were supposed to arrive yesterday. The cost of the last room was $250. Again, are you freaking kidding me!? $250 was paid and off to sleep we went.
Overall, things ended well. The next morning, we spoke to the dealership. The truck would be ready near the end of the week. We rented a car and headed to the camper. The repairs to the truck were covered under warranty. The trip was a fun time in the sun!
Just another Awkward Adventure :)
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