A Little Delay and A Great Visit!

 We ordered our new car in December, but, due to the world-wide computer chip shortage, it finally arrived in the US for us to pick up only two weeks ago.  It was just in time to learn to pack it and head out on our six week trip.

Our first stop was to be in my home town of Waynesville.  From there we would travel to Morristown, Tennessee, for a visit with my 93-year-old Aunt Nancy.  Her husband, Uncle Jim, had died in July at age 95, and we were not able to travel to the funeral, so, we were looking forward very much to this visit.

We had just passed Old Fort and were  almost to Asheville when it happened.  I did not even see whatever we ran over in the road.  A tire picked up a “whocking” sound which lasted only seconds before something flew off into the air and all of air went out of the right rear tire.  

I tried to seal it, but the sealant went right out the big hole in the other side.

Attempts to seal and reinflate the tire failed, so, we ended up being hauled to the dealership in Asheville.  It was Saturday afternoon and everything was closed until Monday. So, no trip to Aunt Nancy’s and no weekend in Waynesville.  We were now in the motel near the car dealer, waiting for Monday for a new tire to be ordered and installed.

You can see the flat tire in the rear as we are loaded and ready to be hauled to the dealer.

Later that evening my Uncle Steve and Aunt Norma called.  Unknown to us they were in on the planned visit, so, the new plan was that they would pick us up at the motel on Sunday and take us to the dinner visit at Aunt Nancy’s house. It was so very nice; we got to visit with them going and coming. When we arrived there was another surprise: my cousin, Nancy Carol was there from Texas.  She and her husband, Gordon, are retiring and building their retirement home nearby.

My Aunt Nancy, age 93, and my cousin, Nancy Carol, age variable!

We had a wonderful dinner visit which included looking at loads of family photos and remembering so many things.  Trish got a whole new semester of my mother’s family.  It was worth a blown tire to have this fine time!

My Grandparents, Grady and Zephie Walker, in the early 1950’s.