Christmas at my grandparents is wonderful. I missed it last year and there was no way I wanted to miss it this year. My grandmother has every Christmas thing that sings and dances. The tree is perfect and there is always the decorating of Christmas cookies. As my sister pointed out, our traditions with the grandparents are the only things that are the same as they were before our mom died.
All these thoughts flooded my mind as I sat in my apartment watching it snow more and more. Everyone was rejoicing with the beauty of the snow, but I was crying a little more and more inside each time another flake fell. I did laundry and packed with the hope that I would get to keep my plans. I was not worried about the flight making it, I was worried that I would not be able to get off my street to make it to Greensboro!
I went to sleep that night, but did not sleep well. I was happy to see at 5 am, that it did not snow 10 more inches! It still looked bad, but I was hopeful this could work. By 8:30 I was up and dressed. I went to start my car so it could thaw out! A nice man shoveling the sidewalk encouraged my efforts. I even got my swiffer out to knock all the snow off my car. I got weird looks from my neighbors as I was loading my gigantic suitcase in the car.
The time came to get in the car and leave. I knew if I could get to the highway I would make my flight… getting off my street was going to be questionable for I live at the bottom of two hills. They are not big hills and I would never really even say I live at the bottom of two hills if they were not covered in snow and ice! I got in trusty Coco (2003 Corrolla). She took off!!! It was a miracle… but wait she got stuck. I put her in reverse to see if I could get more speed to hit the hill… nope it did not work. I was trying to tell myself not to cry, but all I could think about was being stuck in NC while all my family was together (yes I know it was a little dramatic).
I continued to do the forward and reverse thing for a few minutes. A truck was coming the opposite direction as I went in reverse into a pile of leaves covered by snow! I waved for the truck to go by. Instead of going by a young man got out of the truck. He walked over to the car and asked which way I was trying to go. He let me know I had gotten myself in a mess (this I did know). He then proceeded to tell me to put it in reverse and he would push at the same time. I did this, but not much happened. A woman that had been in the truck also got out and helped push my car. Once they got me straight, they got behind the car and pushed me up the hill!!! Once at the top it was all good. I easily made my way to the interstate and onto the airport. I made it to DFW that afternoon and was nice and warm at my grandparents that night.
I could not believe the compassion of these two people. I have no clue who they were. I could not stop and get names and addresses for a thank you note. These two individuals gave me hope and peace during this Christmas season. They showed in one action the meaning of Christmas that is forgotten in the materialism that now defines the season. I was blessed that day. I hope I can slow down in my daily life to help push a stranded person up a hill.
