Life is a song-sing it.  Life is a game–play it.

Life is a challenge–meeet it.  Life is dream–realize it.  

Life is a sacrifice–offer it.  Life is love–enjoy it. 

                                                          — Sai Baba

According to our plans, we should have been out of New Jersey five hours ago. Instead as I’m writing this, we’re about 5 miles from the Delaware Memorial Bridge.  

4:30 yesterday afternoon, we went to pick up the rental car.

…it didn’t happen.

“We are expecting your car around 8 p.m., we’ll call you when it arrives.” 

Seven-thirty the phone rings.  Yay!! The car is ready!!  :0) 

WRONG!!

“Your car won’t be availalbe until tomorrow at noon.  The person who rented it was suppose to return the car today, but they did not bring it back.”

At 8 p.m., we start a new search for a similar vehicle but with a different company.  

….found one in Philadelphia.  We’re set! 

We leave the house close to 4 a.m., pick up my cuz and head an hour away to philly.

Around 6 a.m., we arrive at car rental agency.

“I’m sorry, the vehicle you requested is no longer available.” :o(

They  show us another vehicle, which is the same size of what we drove up in.  Well that ain’t gonna work.

….get back in the car and drive about 45 minutes away to Vineland, NJ.  We’re back tracking now.  Lol!!

…pull up at rental car agency at 7 a.m., but they don’t open until 8 a.m., but we spot a handful of cars and only ONE shiny and new SUV (Tahoe)  in the parking lot.  Finally!  Light at the end of the tunnel.

An agent from the original company (who screwed up our reservation)  supposedly called, faxed, and reserved a a large SUV that we requested.

To kill time, we drive to Walmart.

…7:45 a.m., we greet the regional manager, store manager, and two other workers.

“I’m sorry, ALL of the vehicles in the parking lot are already reserved.”

WTH!!!  Is this some kind of joke?  Are we on some kind of hidden camera show?  

Sigh!

Once again, we explain the culminating mishaps…

He has a minivan available.  We’re all looking like, we don’t want no damn minivan!

We walk out to the van.  It has two rows of seats–but there are 5 of us. One look at the small rear comparment confirmed it was too small and would never fit our luggage.  Ugh!  

I instruct the manger to follow me to our vehicle and I pop the trunk.  Lol!!  He looks at our bags, eyes widen, and he realizes we need a larger vehicle and promises to figure something out.

We’re pissed off, disappointed (again), exasperated, tired of looking for a vehicle and just want to get on the road.

Back inside the office, the manager quietly speaks to the regional manager… we anticipation, we helplessly wait.

“We have a 2015 Expedition that a representative is driving over.  We just have to clean it up and it should be ready for you in 15 minutes.”

Finally!!!!  :0)   

 Because of our situatiton, the manager (Tom) decided to honor the rate of the original agency. Tom also waived the fee for filling the vehicle.  His nickname is “Terrific Tom.”

So last night, initially I was angry with the agency and wanted to give them a down home cussin out.. because this is the second time they messed up our reservations.

But after blowing off my frustration, I felt like it wasn’t meant for us to be on the road as we planned.

After this morning’s circus, I’m CONVINCED that God had a plan to delay our road trip.  No matter what we tried to do to leave early, the road blocks kept coming–one after another.

I couldn’t even get mad.  I only knew that it was time to go with the flow.

God and the universe’s energy guides us.  Sometimes we listen; other times we don’t.  

We secured a car at the time it was okay for us go.  We just cleared the Harbor Tunnell with 653 miles to go.  We’re all in a good place, no tension, relaxed, talking, laughing, and enjoying an easy breezy ride.  🙂 There is no way we would allow a series of hiccups to destroy the blessing and joy of our family trip.

This morning, we sang the song, met the challenge, played the game, made the sacrafice, and we’re still loving life.

Regardless of the challenges we face in life, it is important to remember that life is a journey. The highs lows, the peaks and  the valleys are part of the journey, and can make us stronger and wiser.   The choice is ours; which do you choose?

Life is good.  Stay fit, be blessed, and enjoy every day.  

  
Make it a good one!