April Fool’s weekend was a very busy and happy weekend. Sorry for the delay in sharing, but the headaches have made it hard for me to do much other than work. We started the weekend off on Friday, which was April 1, and one of my grandson’s 10th birthday. The party was great! We got him a really cute toy, basically a cardboard guitar called Paper Jamz. It was the hit of the party! The other 2 grandsons were wanting to play it bad, but the birthday boy wouldn’t lay it down. However he very generously shared his other presents with them, as long as they didn’t touch the guitar. 
It was an impulsive gift that paid off big dividends, let me tell you. He can really learn to play guitar with it if he wants to as well. It comes with instructions for that, as well as 2 or 3 demo songs he can strum along to. It also has a pretty decent volume button, so even though it was kinda loud I did get a couple of points with my son and daughter-in-law for NOT buying the amplifier to go with it. It was a very successful party as far as I could tell. We enjoyed it and so did the kids.
We got ready to go home around 9 or so, and I was gonna run to the bathroom before we left, but found it was occupied. Since the occupant was going to need it for a while, 
, we gave everyone quick hugs and kisses and headed to the gas station for a quick potty break before our 35 minute trip home. We get there and dash in, thinking we will be on the road in just a minute. Then, I met Shirley. Or kinda, well maybe not met her but heard her. Well, wait. Let me explain…..
I met Shirley last night in the bathroom of the gas station. She was talking on her cell phone explaining to whomever was on the other end: she knew she was slightly lost. She had passed Spartanburg, she was maybe in Landrum (yes, she was. She was in a bathroom in Landrum). She kept talking about places in the area, but not really like she knew where they were, I could tell they were just names to her. She wasn’t admitting it, but she was really lost and pretty confused, but she was trying to not worry her friend on the other end of the phone.
I was drying my hands when she came out of her stall. She had the most beautiful white head of curls I have ever seen. Lots and lots of fluffy curls. She was probably around 65 to 70. I’m not sure, but I’m almost 50 and as beautiful as she was, she was a good bit older than me. I stopped her as she was leaving, and told her I wasn’t trying to pry but I couldn’t help overhearing her phone conversation. Was she lost? Could I help? I told her I grew up in the area and knew a good bit about it.
Shirley started telling me her story. She was traveling to Boiling Springs. She had missed her exit, and wasn’t sure where she was. She knew she was past Spartanburg, and she needed to be. But now she wasn’t sure where she was and she needed to get to Boiling Springs. I smiled, and patted her hand. I knew exactly where she was headed and what she had done wrong. I tried to tell her, but she needed me to write it down for her. We stepped out to the gas station, and I got a pen and some paper from the attendant, and started writing the simple directions out for her. She was so happy, she was patting my arm and smiling. When Boyfriend came out, I introduced them and kept writing and explaining directions to her.
I could tell she was coherent, but she must have been tired. She was getting the directions confused. I told her to turn right out of the parking lot and take an immediate right onto the interstate. She kept pointing left. I told her to go 10 miles and take the exit and turn left to go to Boiling Springs. She kept pointing right. I let her read the directions and she would say the right thing, but point the wrong way. I got worried. She wasn’t going to be able to correct this herself. I looked at Boyfriend, then I looked at her. Sweet but tired face. I couldn’t throw her out into the night and not know where she was! I tell her we will lead her to the exit ramp of the interstate, then I will be sure she has her bearings and she can go on from there. Is that alright with her?
Beautiful smile! Oh, she just can’t believe we would do that for her! She is so thankful she stopped to use the bathroom here. I guess it worked out well for us to have to stop too. She and I exchanged phone numbers. She gets in her car, we get in ours and off we go down the interstate, with Shirley, goodness and mercy following close behind. I kept telling Boyfriend to not go too fast, she was having trouble keeping up, and when cars passed her she would swerve a little to the right. We didn’t lose her, and she stayed with us. It was a long 10 mile drive, but soon enough we got to the exit and at the top I got out to see if she was ok.
I told her this was where she would turn left and at the end of the road turn right and she would be in Boiling Springs. She pointed right again, and then I had her repeat it to me. She didn’t want us to go any further with her, she thought she could do it. I go over directions again, while a car passes by and she thanks me profusely and tells me she will call me if she gets confused again. We turn right to go the long way home, she turns left and heads toward Boiling Springs. Boyfriend and I talk about her all the way home. It takes us about 45 minutes to get there. I sit in the car looking at my phone. I haven’t heard form her. Is she ok? Should I call her? Will it confuse her, or cause her to miss a turn or something? I slowly put my phone away, thinking I will wait a while. Right as my phone touches the bottom of my purse, it rings! It’s Shirley! She is with her sister and they are so happy and thankful she ran into me. She calls me her guardian angel, and I tell her I am very glad she is safe with her sister and off the road for the night. She thanks me again for helping her, telling me she is thanking God for me. We say goodbye. I close my phone and we go into the house, happy and smiling at each other.
A psalm of David, number 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd. He gives me everything I need. 2 He lets me lie down in fields of green grass. He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths for the honor of his name. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid. You are with me. Your shepherd’s rod and staff comfort me. 5 You prepare a feast for me right in front of my enemies. You pour oil on my head. My cup runs over. 6 Surely (Shirley) goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And I will live in the house of the Lord forever…. my ‘translation’ of Shirley of course, but I think it fits very nicely with our adventure.
I had to go to the bathroom at the gas station. I am very glad indeed! I’m glad I was there to help. Hope you are having a wonderful day! Remembering this has brightened mine. Thanks for reading! Angela
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