07/13/2025
Logistically speaking, I knew this was going to be a rough stint. On Tuesday, it was a quick jaunt up into the mountains for a visit at Camp Greystone in Zirconia, NC. Since this was the first program of a three-day trip with ten programs, I took several changes of clothes. But I couldn’t dally, because that was followed by a not-so-quick trip to Cleveland, NC (2 1/2 hours away) for a Rowan County library program, followed by an evening library program in Salisbury. Of course, after the Camp Greystone show, my first shirt of the trip was soaked in sweat, threatened by blood from a lizard scratch, and anointed with lizard excrement. The only thing it was missing was a coffee stain. I cleaned up as best as I could during the drive to Cleveland using wet wipes.
After the show in Salisbury, it was off to my motel room back in Statesville. The critters and I staggered into there about 9:30 that evening.
On Wednesday, it was four programs. Two were back-to-back at Rockwell, and the other two were in China Grove. I was excited about getting the animals into the room at the end of the day and heading over to the nearby Mexican restaurant that had the five star reviews.
The head children’s librarian informed me that she’d like me back next year for eight shows instead of six. Well, okay and thanks, but let me get these done first.
On Thursday, the plan was to check out of the motel, and head over to Catawba County for library programs in Conover, Claremont, and Sherrill’s Ford. I planned to get home in South Carolina about 9 pm that evening.
What’s the saying? If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans?
My program in Conover was at 11 am, it was 30 minutes away, and I just decided to get there very early to set up. They would open at nine, and I’d be there waiting on them. I always try to arrive at least an hour early for libraries. I get a prime parking spot, and the librarians won’t be stressed out like they would if say, I showed up ten minutes before show time.
Ten minutes into my drive on I-40, with very little warning, my transmission went out. I mean, immediately into first gear, jerking, and sudden drop in speed.
It’s a nightmarish scenario for anybody, but when you have to be somewhere in about two hours, and you have a dozen animals in the back, things become stressful in a hurry.
AAA was awesome. They immediately sent a tow truck my way. Unfortunately, the tow truck driver was an hour away at an accident scene. He wouldn’t arrive until 09:45 or so.
Meanwhile, I went to work informing the libraries of my inevitable delay for the 11:00 am show. They were gracious and understanding, and agreed to postpone the show until noon. Deep down, I don’t think they thought that given the circumstances, that I would be able to make it by even then.
I honestly felt some doubt creep in, but I was keeping a good attitude, and trying to muster every bit of faith that we could make this work. I still had to arrange for a rental car, and get a ride from wherever my car was towed to, to wherever I could rent a car.
Not just any car mind you. I would need at least a mid-size SUV. I would eventually rent a Toyota RAV4 from a dealership about 10 miles away from the shop that would diagnose my car.
At the shop, my critters would have to remain in my car, someone would give me a ride to the dealership, I’d rent the car, double back to the shop, pray to God my animals would fit, and try to get set up in time for the noon program.
Things that don’t help my stress:
Having the shop cat bust into the bathroom while you’re trying to freshen up.
The huge gentleman driving me to the dealership in an old Plymouth sedan SNORING with his eyes open while going down the freeway.
Explaining to the rental agent why I, the Critter Keeper, should be exempt from the “No Pets” clause of the rental agreement.
And, of course, the inevitable ticking of the clock.
It’s kind of weird. You have faith it’s going to work, you pray that it’ll work, and then you’re somehow surprised when you arrive at the library with your critters in a rental car 45 minutes before showtime. A mere three hours before, my car was dead on the highway, 30 miles from my destination. I’m still amazed.
Probably not as amazed as the library staff was, though. They had done a phenomenal job entertaining the kids that arrived for the 11 am show; there was a large crowd there when I arrived, and there was no parking left. I felt more confident now, so I jumped the curb and parked on a fancy sidewalk outside the back of the library.
There may have been a collective gasp from the librarians, as they were worried about “being dinged by the City,” but I told them that what the City don’t know isn’t going to hurt them, and I’d be gone inside of two hours, off to the next program at 2 pm, a mere 10 minutes away.
These were pretty good programs in North Carolina as well. I’ve been assured I’ll be spending more time up there next year.
I even got home around 8:15 pm on Thursday, earlier than expected.
Unfortunately, I felt I had to cancel the two daycare/after school events that were scheduled for Friday. I just needed a personal day, to work out various details involving getting a new transmission. Today (Saturday) was pretty busy with a church program and two birthday parties for Willie and Parker.
In fact, I won’t have another day off until the end of the month, so yes, I’ve been busy. I even have yet another trip to North Carolina on Monday, when I do the libraries at Spruce Pine and Newland. That’s my story why I haven’t posted much of late. I actually have several things I’ve begun writing about; I simply haven’t finished them.
But stay tuned, I might get to those eventually.
