WALKING ROUTE 66
How Does it Get Any Better than This?
When angels come out of nowhere wanting to help you.
Four years ago, I walked Route 66 — from Chicago to Santa Monica and blogged about it daily. Now, I am reflecting on the lessons learned along the way.
(Read from the start) The saga continues…
After freshening up and changing clothes in the outdoors restroom that the restaurant had left unlocked, I waited for them to open at 7 AM. I wanted to cash in on the pre-paid breakfast, compliments of the couple who wanted to pay for the balloon heart with lovebirds I had made for them the night before.
It was Saturday morning, and while I was having breakfast, a few families with children came, and I made balloons for the little ones. Before I knew, it was 11 o’clock. I better get on the road if I wanted to get to Chandler before sunset. One of the waitresses recommended stopping at Jimmy’s Route 66 Round-Up in Davenport for lunch. Gorgeous horses next door to the restaurant.
The food was excellent, and I got to meet the owner who was in Town. She and her husband Jimmy were opening up another restaurant in OKC. I left at 3 PM and headed for Chandler. The fireman in Kellyville had told me that he used to work at the Chandler FD, and they were friendly folks.
Right next to Wal-Mart at the edge of town, I saw a curious building. It looked like something old with wood shingle siding, but it was a modern construction. There was a mobile home nearby with Solar panels, and a small helicopter mounted atop a tower. (hard to see in the picture)
I had to stop and take the picture and a good thing that I did. I must have gone a block or so when an older couple was approaching the Route 66 from another street, waving their arms trying to get my attention.
Jerry and Martha Starling, who call themselves Cat and Zella, introduced themselves. Jerry was coming out of Wal-Mart and saw me taking pictures. He quickly drove home and got his wife to come out and meet me. They were curious and wanted to know all about my trip. They asked me if I had a place to spend the night and invited me to stay with them.
I told them I was planning on checking out the fire station. They have been a good source of connections down the road for me. The man at the fire station said that the chief was out of town, and he is the only one who can authorize the stay. Before I could turn around, Jerry was there in his pickup.
We had dinner on the patio, and afterward sat and talked about life and life philosophy. They were both 72 college sweethearts that had been together for 50+ years. We had a lot in common about how we looked at life and the Universe in which we make our home. There is something special about sitting outdoors under the stars and talk about life and living.
If I didn’t have to get back to Houston to make my speaking engagement, I would have stayed an extra day with them as they asked me to. They came out to meet me a couple of days later and then again to OKC twice, once to take my stroller home for safekeeping while I was in Houston, and then again to bring it back when I returned.
How does it get any better than this?
As I think back and ponder.
One of the things people who know me find difficult to accept is how introverted I am. I would rather be alone than with people. When Cat and Zella offered their home for me to stay, I preferred to go to the fire station I the hope that I can be alone, even though I didn’t have any guarantee that I will have a place.
But it is times like these that I can’t help but acknowledge an unseen hand behind all this. I had an OKC connection who had agreed to store my stroller while I visited Houston, but he was out of town when I got to OKC. The Universe knew and had arranged for me to meet Cat and Zella, who not only sheltered me for a night but went out of their way to safeguard my stroller.
I have often said that a woman is lactating in the fifth month of pregnancy, long before the baby is born, is the proof that the Universe prepares for what is needed in advance.
If you ever find yourself worried or stressed out about how you’ll take care of something, release the fear in knowing that God had you covered before you were born.
Stay blessed and be happy, my friends.
Day 74: Got You Covered (Original blog post).
Just for fun.
I invite you to tag along if you’re up to it. I am mentioning a few friends who may be interested in it. If you are tagged but don’t want to read my stories daily, let me know in the comments, and I will remove your name moving forward. If you are reading this and aren’t included in the list below, but you’d like to come along, let me know so that I can add you.
Michele Amy Trista Henery Timothy Tim P.G. Sherry Saloni Indra B. A. Linda Sharon Tree Linda Britni Desiree Elisabeth Simona Kristin Helen Julia Chris Rosennab Tom Truenorth Agnes Aurora LauraRaduenz Catherine Joe Stuart Gurpreet BFoundAPen Margie Bob NaNa’sworld Wolfie Rebecca Susannah Paul
As always, thank you for reading and responding.
Here are some of my other stories:
Rasheed Hooda is a published author who has contributed to many of Medium’s top Publications; The Startup, The Ascent, P.S. I Love You, Rogues’ Gallery, and ILLUMINATION, to name a few. He is also a Top Writer for several topics. If you like his work, buy him a cup of coffee, he drinks a lot of it.
