When one of our family members called last week to tell us their vehicle stopped on the expressway on the way to work, we were worried.
Their vehicle had a number of issues this year.
We wondered if it could be fixed quickly and whether they would still join us for our Thanksgiving holiday celebration.
They assured us they had every intention of being here for Thanksgiving.
We were so happy when they arrived this afternoon, safely!
Despite the deep cold and strong westerly winds in southeast Michigan and throughout many Midwest states prompting wind advisories for the day.
But the story of how they arrived this afternoon was filled with all kinds of unexpected issues, delays, and a single person whose help made our family member’s trip memorable.
Their experience reminded me of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, the movie where the main characters were met with misadventures as they traveled home for Thanksgiving holiday.
Thankfully, our family member didn’t have to deal with plane diversions or train locomotives breaking down.
But they had their share of experiences over the past week, including:
- Getting rides from friends to and from work, since their vehicle no longer worked (bad transmission)
- Searching and finding several potential used vehicles to buy, only to find the one they wanted already sold
- Finding another used vehicle to buy, arranging for financing, having employees stay late to finish car selling paperwork, only to have the deal fall through at the last minute
- Trying to find a rental car the day before Thanksgiving (today), then being told the vehicle they reserved wouldn’t be available til mid-afternoon (They originally hoped to leave by 9AM, if their vehicle purchase had completed)
- Which had them really frustrated
You’d imagine some people would decide not to travel for Thanksgiving. Not our family member.
They finally had a stroke of good luck, when they called another car rental company this morning.
And discovered the employee who answered was someone they knew. A friend from the past!
Their friend said to come over and they would get them set up with a vehicle rental quickly so they could get on the road to our home.
What a blessing for our family member, especially after repeated troubles over their vehicle and trying to get here for Thanksgiving.
Thankfully, their driving journey to southeast Michigan was uneventful.
They arrived at our home as I took my homemade cornbread from the oven. As the cornbread cooled, they cut a small piece, ate it, and smiled with satisfaction.
“This is wonderful!”
We just finished eating our “night before Thanksgiving Day dinner” and are relaxing inside in the warmth, chatting about being grateful for small things, while the fierce winter winds blow snow flurries outside.
This year will definitely be a Thanksgiving celebration our family will remember!
If you’re celebrating Thanksgiving this week, I hope you, your family, and friends give thanks for the small things as you enjoy your time together.
