Driving Alone

     Several years ago Jerry and I were selling and delivering our car to one of our sons. It was a trip that would take three days for us to drive. Jerry drove our pick-up truck pulling our 5th wheel trailer. I drove our Buick. 
     I wasn't quite ready to go and he was chomping at the bit. Finally Jerry said he'd go on ahead because he drives slower with the 5th wheel and I'd surely catch up to him before too long. 
     I finished whatever I was doing, probably last minute house cleaning. (I never go on a trip leaving the house messy!) I was driving right along wondering when I would see our camper up ahead of me.   
     Driving north in Michigan is beautiful. There are sections of highway where there are so many trees you can't even see the other highway. I was driving along admiring the scenery when I saw, kind of hidden between the highways, a patrol car! Oh no. I glanced down at my speedometer...85 mph! Oh no... Then I saw the car pull out onto the highway. Oh no... I slowed down, of course. Oh, Jerry was going to be so mad at me... When the patrol car caught up to me...low and behold...he went around me!!! I couldn't believe it. I was guilty. He was after someone, several cars, ahead of me! I wondered if he would stop me too?
     Oh, what should I do? I was guilty and I felt so guilty! I decided as I drove past them that if the patrolman looked at me I would stop. I drove past slowly and kept my eyes on the patrolman. He never looked my way...I kept going. I kept my car at the speed limit from then on. 
     I reached the Mackinaw bridge and still hadn't seen our 5th wheel camper ahead of me. Jerry had told me he would stop for lunch at a certain park, in the Upper Peninsula, so if, for some reason, I hadn't caught up with him yet he would be in the little park. 
     I kept driving... We always go north, from highway 2 to highway 28, to save time and miles. There are two different highways going north. Sometimes we take one and sometimes we take the other. Well, I never did see Jerry or the little park! I guess I took the other highway north! Oh dear. Well, we'd both end up on highway 28 so it'd be okay. 
     I kept driving... I was always straining ahead to see if I could see the back of our 5th wheel camper. How could he have gotten so far ahead of me? 
     I love driving across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Highway 28 is a two lane highway but there's not a lot of traffic. We'd gone this way so many times I knew my way...
     Around the middle of the afternoon I was admiring the lake I kept seeing. It was so beautiful...until I suddenly realized on highway 28 there's no lake! At least not a big lake like I was seeing! I drove on wondering where I was and what I should do. I finally turned around and started back. I came to a gas station with lots of cars and trucks so I pulled in. I had to stand in line to get up to the cash register person. Finally it was my turn. "May I help you?" the pretty young woman asked. I couldn't talk. I stood there. "Mam, may I help you?" I still couldn't talk. "Mam? Is something wrong?" she asked. 
     I burst out crying! The man behind me moved up to see if he could help. Finally I managed to say, "I don't know where I am." 
     The woman asked, "Well, where do you want to be?"
     "I'm supposed to be on highway 28. My husband is waiting for me. Where am I?" 
     She smiled and said, "Oh, that's easy. Lot's of folks make this mistake. Just keep going south and you'll come to a fork. You missed the sign that told you to make a turn, you kept going straight and, so, changed highways. Now you need to go back and make that turn to get back on # 28." 
     I was so relieved. As I was driving back down to #28 I was reminded of a trip we were on a few years earlier with three of our children. Tim was driving, I was sitting in front with him. Jerry was taking a nap in the back seat. We were driving along and all of a sudden saw a sign that made us know we weren't on #28. Jerry woke up and we looked at the map to see where we were. Porcupine Mountain State Park was not too far ahead! We decided to keep going and stop off at the state park. We've never forgotten the beautiful mountains and views in that park! 
     But on this day I just needed to find Jerry. When we make this trip we always stay in a nice campground on a nice little lake close to the western border of the U P of Michigan. I was sure he'd be there. 
     It was getting close to supper time and I hadn't had anything to eat, except a candy bar, since breakfast. I was sure he was wondering what had happened to me, or at least, when I'd be arriving.
     I finally saw the little lake and campground. Oh such relief I felt. "Thank You, Lord. I'm here." Oh, but is Jerry here? Or is he out looking for me? 
     Sure enough I could see our 5th wheel camper across the lake! I had almost arrived. I drove around the lake, into the park, got out of the car and ran to the camper. It had never looked so good...and neither had Jerry! 
     Jerry had supper all ready! Steak, baked potatoes, vegetables, etc. Wow! My timing was perfect!