It started with a BANG!
Literally.
Get up at 5am, so as to kick start the vacation. If we leave early, we can be on the beach by early afternoon – and the weather looks fantastic! Great plan – because we could really use some R&R!
And then – as Chicken Little squawked – the sky is falling.
Well, figuratively, the sky was falling. Literally, a chunk of one of Montreal’s crumbling overpasses landed on our windshield, creating a softball size crater, with cracks down to the windshield wipers. The impact sent shards of glass all over us.
Shock and disbelief quickly succumbed to anger and frustration. I mean what are the odds? If packing the car has taken five more minutes…if the line-up at Starbucks had been as long as it usually is…if I had hit snooze on the alarm. Timing is everything, right? Even when it is bad timing.
Things get real, really fast. Realize and react.
What are the options?
We tried the quickest (and most expensive) fix first: rent a SUV with a sports rack, in order to maintain the status quo with our plans. Nice try! The summer of 2022 is marred with the drama surrounding Covid travel; including the passport debacle and the airport chaos – everyone is now trying to travel by land. End result: there is not a SUV rental to be found on the island of Montreal, especially not at the drop of a hat.
Well then, I could stay home, cancel my plans and have an all-around pity party. Or I could stay home and try to fix things quickly and rearrange my vacation plans. But everything is booked and we have some unwavering obligations mid-week at our vacation destination.
So, behind door number 3: adapt and accept.
In the end, we left half our stuff behind in order to fit into our other much smaller vehicle. We hit the road (again) less than 2 hours after the accident. I can handle a road trip in a baseball cap with the windows down, with a few less things in tow, right?
Writing that down seems so small. I mean, really – is that all?
In the grand scheme of things, this was just a bump in the road – not the earthquake it felt like as it happened.
The only damage was to the car, which is replaceable. Insurance will cover most of the damages. We are all safe – no one was injured.
This mountain, was but a molehill.
And my bad for trying to turn it into something it wasn’t.
Sending love those of you who are currently moving mountains and have graced me with your wisdom through your stories of love, strength and courage. I am grateful for the grounding effect and the powerful perspective.
Life is beautiful, but short. Buckle up and enjoy the ride (even the bumpy parts).
Grit&Grace 
Ruth and Jean, I am glad you are now at your destination. All is well here! Leo and I are about to take our walk. Like I have said so often; “life is a rollercoaster, so you might as well enjoy the ride”! Have a wonderful vacation. Your reward will be embracing Olivia after a long month. Love, peace and joy. Mom 💕🌺🥰
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Great perspective! We’re lucky to have another car to switch to, to have other options and to have others to count on… & to have our health! Glass half full… & I think you found a glass that was 3/4 full as you started on your second try! Enjoy the sand & the mid-week obligation! 💙
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Ruth! I’m hoping you’re having coffee on the beach this morning. Your story rings a bell.
Last Friday, I went to pick up my brand new truck! A beautiful beast. After driving my CRV for 14 years, it was time. About 30 minutes into my drive back home from the dealership, a huge rock hit my windshield. Fuck. No way this was going to ruin my excitement. So I put those 14 speakers to good use and turned on the music so I wouldn’t hear that voice in my head…why me? Why now?
Now, for the vacation part of it…
Our planned departure to Orlando was the next Tuesday. A winter vacation mid-July. Hockey season doesn’t permit otherwise. This is where I would of cracked had something happened. I wouldn’t of had your strength if my vacation was delayed. I was so scared with all those airports stories that everyone is talking about. I so needed a vacation that I think a delay would have broke me. Maybe not.? Well I’m here writing from my hotel balcony, enjoying the high humidity that Florida offers at this time of year. I’m here now and staying in the moment!
I wish you a great vacation!!! Love your blog. Xx
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Wishing you an amazing in the here and now vacation Minou! I think we are long overdue for a glass of vino together! ❤️
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Don’t admonish yourself, Ruth; that incident must have been scary when it happened. Yes the car is repairable and you and Jean were not injured; but it was a bad surprise to the beginning of a trip you were looking forward to (bad me, ending a sentence with a preposition!!). Then you regrouped, reevaluated and found that you could make adjustments that would allow you to continue/restart your journey. Bravo to you both for not letting this incident ruin your day and vacation. Enjoy and return rejuvenated! Love, N.
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Thanks for sharing – Ruth and Jean: Your determination to enjoy your vacation is an inspiration! – Steen
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Glad to have been part of your team on that journey.. The timing was perfect (in a way..) for us to realize that there is always a bright side.. Your beautiful writing makes me forget how stunned I was by this extraordinary timing..
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