Waiting and watching

The night was breathtaking. A bright moon played hide and seek behind rapidly moving clouds, and the tall silhouettes of pine trees held her gaze. The air was cold, so she buttoned up her red and black checked coat and shivered as she watched the clouds and moon. Watching and waiting; waiting and watching. At last, the scene was colored by flashing blue and yellow lights, and the reverie with moon and silhouettes was broken. The three cars, scattered in disorderly fashion on the side of the road, had been noticed, and the parade of highway patrolmen and tow trucks arrived.

Yes, tonight's adventure included a flat tire for the "take Gram to her meeting" crew. Some large rock or brick or piece of wood was the culprit for three different cars. We are home safely now, and all are bundled into bed. I am deeply grateful for the friends of the traveler - the civil servants and tow company employees that answered our cry for help. I am thankful for my oldest son who told stories to his two young siblings as they waited in the tow truck. The cell phone, of course, was nestled cozily on the computer table at home, but our needs were met anyway. Amidst it all, I kept thinking, "It could be worse. It could be raining." And, for the first time in days, it wasn't. In its place, the dance of moon and clouds moved gracefully across the night sky.