Winter coming on, I had HEARD it gets Cold up north, but I never knew CCCCCCOLD until 1959-60. We were stationed in Biloxi Mississippi, it was March, 80 degrees. I received orders to Kirksville, MO. We had a 1955 Ford and rigged it to tow our home, a 42x8 foot house trailer.
Inside our trailer
Jack Jr. in the ‘55 in Missouri
My dad and my BIL Dick came down to make sure I could get the trailer to Missouri. We were having a great trip. Dick and I driving the Ford; Dad, Sherry and Jack. Jr. following.
All went well until we reached Kentucky and it started to snow. Whoa, this is March, it cannot last long. Finally Dick’s common sense ruled, we had better stop. We pulled into a country store/gas station. Imma tell you I have never met a Kentuckian who was not congenial. He ran electric to the trailer, sold us supper and Sherry cooked it. We sat there two nights and a day. Until the roads were safe enough to travel.
Shucks, Missouri and more snow. North of Cape Gerardo(?), one hill too many for the Ford, seeing the crest of the hill it began to spin, sliding toward the ditch. I jumped out and grabbed a concrete block and put it under a trailer wheel, and it slowly stopped. We blocked traffic. Country folk showed up with shovels, knowing a pile of sand was there for that purpose started shoveling. THEN the ANGEL arrived in 3/4ton pickup with two big motorcycles on the back.
He pulled down facing the Ford, jumped out got a chain, (still hasn’t said a word) hit the ground with a slide he reached under the Ford and hooked the chain he then got up hooked to his bumper, yelled, “When I hit my horn, giver her the juice.”
I did and that pickup towed us up over the crest. Driver jumped out unhooked the chain threw it in the back of the truck, “Hey man you saved my life, how much do I owe you?”
“You don’t owe me nothing man, glad I could help.” Of course I never saw him again, but I have thought of him and his generosity hundreds of times.
We started up the road, “Jack, it is 13 degrees below zero, did you know that?”
Our trailer in the background in Missouri
Probably the coldest I had ever experienced was 18-20above, for a brief period in NC. below zero was for Alaska and the North Pole I thought.
We met many Missourians, city folk and farmers who were all, very nice, gracious folk.
Missouri! Some of our fondest memories and dearest friends were met there. We still stay in contact and still admire their tenacity.
Nite Shipslog
PS:
All angels do not have wings.
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Santa comes in all shapes and sizes… sleighs are ok, but they still like cars…
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13 comments:
Wonderful displays of human kindness shared in this blog today.
Thank you for a heartwarming blog post, Jack.
You and Sherry look like kids in the first picture. Love the story.
Great story of how generous some people are.
Love this post!
I just love heart warming stories like this. I love to watch the Walton's in the morning when I am on the computer. Those were the days we were happy to help others. Now I am not so sure.
Glad you found some angels to help you.
sandie
Most people are kind and love to
help people. Dad and Dick always
wanted to help, I do wonder how
we all survived. The worse snow
we had to deal with was Bel Air,
Maryland. I was knee high. We are
having cold weather now by no ice
just rain. Dewey said it was cold
in LV. Glad you are in warm weather.
PS: Santa looks like he is riding
in an Isetta. We had a 57..
Random acts of kindness can make all the difference.
That was a wonderful man that stopped to help another wonderful man!
Hugs to my favorite couple!
You bought back many memories for me being that I lived in both Missouri and Alaska. I can say I don't miss the ice storms down south or the fifty some BELOW zero in the interior of Alaska. But this Upper Michigan weather has been harsh enough as these bones feel the dampness more and more! Stay safe and warm my friends.
'love & hugs from afar'
Liked the Santa car. So neat to read about people helping people without charging for it, but wanting to do it out of the goodness and kindness of their hearts.
betty
The graciousness of that "angel" that arrived with that chain is not unusual in that part of the country. Out here on the "left coast" - not so much... :-)
I can see how you'd never forget that adventure. What wonderful people you met along the way. The thermometer here says it is 16 degrees outside this morning. It is one of our colder ones for sure. Good day to stay in and keep warm. Hope you all are enjoying some beautiful weather there. I think about you often.
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