A funny story in Memory of Amber

Funny story about a trip to Sedona with our nieces (Amber and Brittany).

Well a few years ago my sister-in-law Lisa was in a terrible car accident. She was in the hospital  and rehab for about 9 months. Brian and I went to Arizona to help the girls (Amber & Brittany) while Nanny and Poppy had to go back to NC. We visited with the girls and Lisa. We thought that one day we would take the girls to Sedona. They said they had never been. Brian and I had been once before and it was beautiful. We wanted the girls to get away for a day and have some fun with us.

Amber said her car would be fine. We gassed up the car, checked the water and oil and off to Sedona. It was about a 2.5 hours to drive. Well it was going along great. We were about 30 miles outside of Sedona when Brian said, "Jeanne look out the back window." Plumes of black smoke and my first thought was Amber why didn't you say there might be a problem. So I told Brian to pull over at the next exit. He went by. He said,"we can make it." Famous last words. Sputter, sputter, clunk, clunk. He pulled off the highway about 1 mile too late. He goes to the front of the car and lifts the hood. The next thing we all see is flames shooting up the windshield. I told the girls, grab whatever you can and go up the hill. Brian wanted me to pull the hood release again after he dropped the hood at the suprize of flames. I pulled alright. I pulled the hood release and about 4 feet of cable. Either it had already melted or I did't know my own stregnth. Either way we could not get the hood up. The car was on fire and the windshield wipers started going, winshield fluid was spraying on its own, both front and back. It was so scary, it was funny.

Now here comes a guy with a radio and a gun on his hip. God I hope he is a cop? I sat with the girls up the hill in the shadow of a cactus, with all the worldly belongings of an 18 year old in a couple black garbage bags. The fire department came, a state trooper came. Once the fire was no longer a worry, I thought hmmm. How to we get anywhere from here. We are in the middle of the desert with 2 black garbage bags full of belongings and 2 hours away from anyone we know.  Did I mention a 1 liter bottle of water between the 4 of us. Not my brightest move. Which I was holding onto for dear life.

Well the State Trooper, Thank God had been through this a time or two before. He gave me a number for the closest rental car agent. Told me to explain what happened and even though they close early on the weekend they would wait for us to get there. Great but how are we getting there. The Trooper said that he would take me and 1 girl in his car to the rental agency and the tow truck driver would take Brian and the other to next exit back. There was a Denny's and they could wait there for me to pick them up.

So after the fire department hosed down the car it was put on a flat bed. The trooper explained if they don't get the fire completely out that as the tow truck drives away the wind will fan the smoldering flames underneath the hood and the whole car could catch on fire cruising down the interstate. (Of course it had just happened last week.)

Brittany and I got in the car with the trooper and now I am feeling faint. I am trying to hold everything together but I have finished off the bottle of water. The trooper said he would stop at a store so we could get more. But before we went anywhere and after Brittany and I were securely in the back seat of the cruiser he asked for my id. I laughed and said, "Wouldn't that be funny you already have me in the back seat and find out that I am wanted." He said, "I have had it happen before." So once convinced that I am not wanted and a pit stop for water. The State Trooper drives us to Sedona. Brittany and I admired the scenery along the way. The trooper was a regular tour guide. He knew everything about the area and shared stories as we drove. He waited until we came out to make sure we were ok and able to get a car. (The guy was awesome. And yes, I mailed a thank you note when we got back to Florida.)

Brittany and I hopped into the rental car and off we were to get Brian and Amber back at Denny's. So there they sit in a booth. In the middle of the afternoon with 2 black garbage bags of belongings. Brian said everyone looked at them when they walked in the door. He actually showed the waitress he had money because she looked at them like a couple homeless people.

We all got a bite to eat and then we finished our trip to Sedona.  The scenery along the way was beautiful. Red rock everywhere. My favorite view of Snoopy mountain that looks like Snoopy laying on top of the dog house. The town itself had lots of shops. We walked around took some pictures. We had a great time. As we drove back towards home we were not sure how Lisa was going to take the news of the car fire but I said, it will be ok. She will see that everyone is fine and we will have to wait to find out how the car will be.

Just to finish off the story. Lisa was concerned but happy we were all ok. The car did not make it. Hugo and Amber went back to see the car after the insurance adjusted said it was totalled.

We now have memories to last a lifetime with our 2 nieces we don't get to see often.  

I tell this story today because September 14 would be Amber's 24th birthday and I miss her and her mom and Lilly. I did not ever meet Jim but feel sad for the loss. And to send a Hug to Brit. So we all remember sometimes even hard times become great memories when you are looking through the rearview mirror of life. 

Happy Birthday Amber!