An angel in the storm proves to be a godsend
Yesterday started as a fun day. I spent time with my family, playing with grandkids and getting ready. See, my daughter was singing last night at Brittany Pointe accompanied by a good friend and wonderful pianist. So I spent the afternoon listening to the two of them rehearse and playing with two of my grandkids.
Even a plumber, who happened to be there yesterday, commented on how much fun we were having. Yes, it was a fun day. Midafternoon, I went home to get cleaned up and ready for a fun-filled evening. This duo, for obvious reasons, was my favorite act at Brittany Pointe! Add to that, my birthday was the next day, and I knew it would be special.
I did not plan on a Nor’easter hitting our area late afternoon. It was a very stormy drive that evening, but we were doing OK. That is until we encountered the pothole paradise of a road. Normally we can avoid these abundant asphalt abysses, but with low visibility, pelting rain and the fact that all potholes were filled with water, we fell victim to the mother of all holes. Bam! Our front tire could not withstand the jolt. It was as flat as a pancake.
We pulled over at the first place we could find a safe shoulder. It happened to be on a bridge over a stream. OK, we can do this. My husband and I started the process of changing the tire. Unfortunately, this was a new car, and all tire-changing equipment was still in its original packaging.
Armed only with one umbrella, which did little to help against the rain coming not only straight down but sideways with the increasing wind, we attempted to jack the car up. It didn’t take long to realize we were not in the right spot with this jack, which was still rather hard to turn, being brand new. Compound that with the fact that the car is very low, and we could not see where the jack should have been.
And, we were only 45 minutes from missing my daughter’s performance. Nothing was going right. Finally, we decided we would call AAA. Their
ETA was 8 p.m. It was 6:15 p.m. Great. Desperation was starting to set in.
Then it happened. A man emerged, climbing up the steep incline from the stream, coming out from under the bridge in the pouring rain. He was carrying fishing gear. Who fishes in a Nor’easter? Only an angel.
He came over and immediately set to work repositioning the jack, lifting the car, removing the old tire and replacing it with the donut. Turns out, he was a plumber and very familiar with all things mechanical. He showed me exactly how to determine where to put the jack on this particular model of car, very low to the ground. He stayed to make sure we got it all working and asked if there was anything else he could do. We thanked him profusely.
It was 6:40 p.m., and after we tightened the lug nuts, we looked up and he was gone. Most likely he had a car around the corner from where we were, but I like to think he returned to heaven, from whence he came.
We arrived literally just in time. I ran from the car and down to our auditorium, just in time to introduce my daughter and her friend to a full audience. Out of breath, and cradling my youngest granddaughter, still soaking wet and filthy, I made it and was able to enjoy one of the best shows that stage has ever seen (says a completely unbiased mother!).
No, I cannot prove we encountered an angel yesterday, but I believe it wholeheartedly. Angels on Earth? They can come in any form, even as a plumber, out fishing on the coldest and rainiest of days, all alone, late in the day. I am so very grateful to him and also to the One who sent him to us. And today, on my birthday, I want to publicly thank that angel, wherever he may be.
We all have the ability to be an angel to other people. I may not be mechanically inclined, but I am a good listener, creative thinker and compassionate. We all have talents, we all have ways to help others. You may think your actions may not make a huge difference to someone else, but trust me, they do. I will never forget the kind face that emerged from the storm in my time of need.