Angels in Trucker's Clothing

I was so blessed today. I decided to go into the city a little late in the day, and the health food store is open until 8. I needed some things, hadn't been in a while, and had some other errands I could run besides. We live in a little town, outside another small town, which neighbors many small and little towns, so the city is about 45 miles away.

Well, I had just gotten passed a ramp, it started to rain, pour really. And, when I went to turn on my wipers, nothing!! I am panicked now, I have five children in the van, and knowing rain in MO as I do, it would be a long time before it stopped. So, when I just about can't see, I pull over on the side of the highway. I am too far away from the next exit. So, I try a few things, and it doesn't move them, but I can tell that the motor is still running, as it is clicking, and my son said the parts at the bottom were spinning. So, it stops raining. I had first called my husband who is trucking in Chicago, about what I might be able to do. He has no clue, even though he is very mechanically inclined. So, I say, "I might have to call my friend for help," but we were already halfway to the store.

It had stopped raining, so I have my son manually move the wipers and hop in, and off we go. Well, then, of course, a big truck passes me and kicks a bunch of water on me, so I have to pull over again and repeat. I get off the side of the highway again, and see I have 2 miles until the next exit. It starts raining lightly again, but I am fortunate enough to get there with no problems. It is a truck stop just off Hwy 70. I figure there should be some men there that can help a very pregnant woman with five small children. I had no clue what to do about it.

My three year old decides she has to use the bathroom, and it is raining cats and dogs at this point. I get her taken care of, and ask a cashier what I could do. She points me in the direction of the diesel mechanics. I didn't even know that they had them at all truck stops. I went in there and there were four men standing around. I tell them what had happened, that I lived far away, and didn't know how long it might rain. One gentleman says that he would wait for me to be cared for, because he doesn't have to go anywhere until morning, and he can't stand the idea of a woman being stranded with small children. He and one other guys say they will take a look. I am assuming that the mechanics were working on their trucks, as they mentioned that the other one had a broken fuel pump, etc. Yet, these gentlemen were going to help me.

So, we go out to the van, it stops raining after a little bit. An hour and half later, with someone buying washers to rig it up so that the wipers would work, even though they didn't have the exactly right part that was needed. But, they fixed it to work for good. I tell them, as it was getting sunny, that they would get it fixed, and it wouldn't rain the whole time I go to the store and go home. They said that was okay. The one guy who said he would wait, had also bought me some Rainex, in case I had the problem again. Such nice men. I asked them if I could give them anything for the parts, and they said no. I asked them their names, at least, so I knew them. If I can remember right (my pregnant brain isn't very good) they are Joe, John, Steve, and Carl.

Another thing too, is that we didn't have any cash, or even change, and the children were getting very thirsty when the sun had come out. I went in with them to look for a water fountain. The cashier said to take their TA cups to the Popeye's to get ice and water. I said, "I don't have any change", and she said that was okay, it was free. I know that is a rare thing in most gas stations in this day and age. I was sooo thankful!!

So, if any of your husbands were at the TA in Oak Grove, MO on Hwy 70 on Sept 19, 2005(my husband's 33rd birthday), and helped a young desperate pregnant woman with five children, while her husband was away and new to trucking, PLEASE tell them how grateful she is to have 'Angels in Trucker's Clothing' come to her rescue!!

â°°5 Kymberli.