A true story...

*WARNING: LONG BLOG, COMPLETELY TRUE, HUMOR INTENDED TO LIGHTEN MOOD

Last Thursday evening, Andy & Lyndsay  ventured on a (planned) trip to Chicago.  All was merry as they headed northwest toward Detroit to stay with Lyndsay's amazing cousin Rachel & her hubby Doug.  All of a sudden, Andy & Lyndsay felt this bump, followed by a very wobbly odd sensation in the car.  They immediately knew they had a flat tire caused by the "imbedded road sign in the pavement" (as Andy calls it).  Upon pulling over the side of the road, it is confirmed that the back drivers side tire had been punctured.  Andy began taking off the bad tire and replaced it with the only option - a donut.  This was done in VERY cold weather with only the glow of a cell phone (lesson learned, I will put a flashlight in my car) on the edge of a very busy highway.  After 30ish minutes, Paco Sanford (yes, that's the name of my vehicle) is ready to ride again.    Lyndsay becomes Paco's secretary and calls Rachel to inform her of the setback and Manda to find out a) how long you can drive on a donut and b) what tire fixing places were nearby.  Then said secretary calls Walmart, Sears, and a few other options - all of which are closed for the night.  This made Andy and Lyndsay feel like this......as they realize they could not go to Detroit since it was further than the recommended mileage on a donut and would take quite a long time at the recommended 45mph.  So said couple ends up at Travelodge thanks to the wisdom and research of Manda and Andy's brother Chris who was excited that the rooms offered  yes, a recliner.  Said couple immediately goes to sleep with a planned wake-up time of 6:30am to get to the first opened tire place at 7:30am, Smiley Tire.  Along the drive, they stop at a tire place who (even after explaining I was in a wedding and needed to get to Chicago ASAP) said he might be able to have the tire done by 5pm (seriously?? it's a tire!).  So, Andy and Lyndsay continue on to their original destination, Smiley Tire, to discover that the employees were indeed smiley people - not kidding...they were very happy to be there and to give us service.  They were able to give us a used tire ("all the better", says Paco) at a very reasonable rate and left us in a smiley mood (which earned them a thank-you card sent especially by said couple).  

By 9am Andy and Lyndsay were back on the highway and arrived in Wheaton, IL around 1pm.  While they were still very sad that they didn't get to see Rachel and Doug, it was nice to be re-united with at least one of the three couples they looked forward to seeing that weekend - Michelle & Danny (Lyndsay's best friend whom she hadn't seen in two years).  The festivities began with the rehearsal , followed by the rehearsal dinner at a local pizza place.  Those in the wedding party had much fun conversing over dinner.  And Michelle & Danny were so cute together!.  After a late night of pampering nails with Lyndsay and Janelle (Michelle's sister) figuring out how they wanted to do their hair for the wedding, all were fast asleep.  The morning came early but cheerfully as Michelle had her hair and make-up done at her apartment.  Then it was off to the Chapel to get the dresses on - isn't she pretty?.  After the elegant ceremony and a wonderful reception, Lyndsay and groomsman Nate made the event official by signing the marriage certificate.  Lyndsay and Andy were excited to also spend time with the third couple of the weekend......Lyndsay's parents!  Andy was especially grateful to have comrades for conversation at the reception.  Lyndsay had much fun with two fantastic friends  that she was able to spend lots of time with over the two days.  It was a beautiful wedding!  

Then Andy & Lyndsay embarked on the second portion of their journey - celebrating their anniversary (intentionally late) in Chicago.  They arrived at their hotel  and then explored Chicago for a place for dinner.  They came across an ethnic restaurant that served Armenian food (cool beans!) And then stumbled upon a Ghiradelli store which served drinkable chocolate beverages (a-ma-zing!)

.  The evening turned into night and then morning (as it always does) and the couple ventured to a fun breakfast joint and then on to some more Chicago touring.  They walked out on Navy Pier  and found a neat food market that sold lots of unique items.  They also found some fun statues - a moose, a bull, and few humans, and this:.  And of course, you can't go to Chicago without visiting Millenium Park and "The Bean:.  On the drive home, Andy and Lyndsay stopped to get famous Chicago Deep Dish Pizza.  They were happily on their way on that beautiful Sunday afternoon enjoying the scenery around them (including, but not limited to, a trailer pulling large white moose ).  All was swell for several hours until they reached the Cleveland area and began to see snowflakes falling....and falling...and falling.  Soon, said couple found themselves going roughly 30mph on the highway.  It's okay "slow and steady wins the race", right?  -One clause forgotten though - unless there are cars who think they are stronger than the forces of snow and ice and try to zoom past you ...only to wipe out, taking out the truck in front of you (who was also driving cautiously) and scare the other car zooming past you who freaks out, pulls directly in front of you and also wipes out in the ditch...scary! - end clause.  While hearts are racing, Paco, Andy and Lyndsay are untouched and press on (since there was already a police car nearby) at a 30mph speed.  Trying to figure out if there is another route home, Lyndsay calls her mom to navigate some options.  Mom says there is a route that heads due South which will help to get away from the lake and thus (hopefully) lessen the amount of snow.  Andy and Lyndsay take this new route and inform Mom that the roads are better plowed with less traffic than the other.  Mom stays on the line to be sure said couple does not need another re-routing.  In the meantime, yet again another car zooms past Paco and passengers only to wipe out, spin around so it is FACING Paco, slams into the guardrail and bounces back into Paco's lane - all the while Mom is on the phone hearing Lyndsay and Andy attempting to remain calm as said truck is just feet in front of them.  Andy (being the amazing driver that he is) somehow avoids an accident for the second time thanks to his fast but calm reaction.  At the request of Mom and the heart beats of Andy and Lyndsay, said couple decides to get off the very dangerous interstate and look for a motel.  With not much direction for finding a place to stay, Andy and Lyndsay decide to begin heading south (as that is the direction toward Geneva) via back roads.  All is swell for a few minutes until a very steep, windy hill which is unavoidable.  Going down the hill at 3mph, Paco (although sliding quite a bit) manages to safely get Andy and Lyndsay to the bottom.  Phew, now we can get a motel, right? Wrong!  Where are Andy and Lyndsay now?  In a National Reserve!!!  So upon meandering through the park, it is impossible to know which direction to go.  Andy and Lyndsay decide to find a safe place to pull over, look at the Atlas (which isn't much help) and attempt to determine where to go from there...when suddenly, out of nowhere, two Angels appear (no this is not a Bible story).  It is a young couple in a vehicle who pull up to Paco and ask if they can help Andy and Lyndsay who explain that they were driving from Chicago to Pittsburgh until the weather got bad and are simply looking for a motel.  Angelic couple (I truly believe Jesus was watching out for us) tells Paco's passengers to follow them and they will lead them to lodging- Amazing!  So, Paco and passengers follow them and safely arrive at Economy Inn for their third hotel/motel experience of the weekend (it was only supposed to be the one in Chicago).    Hearts calm, nerves relaxed, the couple sleeps hard and fast and drives the remaining 1.5 hours home in the morning.

Throughout this week, Lyndsay has thanked God many times for being alive and keeping Paco in one piece!  She is thankful for her amazing husband and his driving skills and they both thank Rachel & Doug, Manda, Chris, Smiley Tire, Michelle & Danny, Janelle, Mom & Dad, & angelic couple (& Jesus) for bringing them home safely and giving them an unforgettable (literally) weekend!  -This is meant in all seriousness...thanks!-

THE END....