I've been gone a while haven't I? If anyone is still left who has any interest in what I have to say, well then, thanks for hanging in there.
I will get into why I've been gone in another post. It's not a particularly interesting story. It begins with I have eight kids and ends with the end of soccer, dance, and Shakespeare play season. You can probably fill in the blanks.
So in the meantime I have a nice story for you. I am writing from Savannah, my parents home to be specific. My older boys, Ryan and Kevin, came down for a visit about ten days ago. So the three big girls, the twins, Brendan and I hopped into the car Monday and drove down here. David is flying down tomorrow to join us (hey, he's no dummy).
Sounds simple right? You gullible reader. It was a flippin' nightmare. I hit traffic in every single state we drove through. Erin was horrendously car sick, Brendan decided his love affair with the car was over and I was a might frazzled. The worst was North Carolina. Do you live in North Carolina? What is going on in that state? they have about 50 miles of I95 down to one lane. It opens to two lanes for a mile or two and then back to one lane. It took me three hours to go half a mile at one point.
After that I decided to stop for dinner. We were still a good three hours from our hotel and the kids were fried. So I find their favorite roadside stop, Cracker Barrel, and we stop for dinner. The people at CB were courteous as always and sat us at the big round table in the very front of the restaurant. I always request this table because there is a lot of room and a good avenue for escape should the natives get restless. So we are sitting there waiting for our food, grateful to be out of the stinky van and a jolly elderly man walks past the table and compliments the children for their good behavior. They really were being very good. I thanked him (calling him "sir") and he left. A few minutes later the waitress came over to tell me that Mr. Spivey had paid my bill.
Wha huh?
He was so impressed with my children and their behavior he wanted to do something nice for us. She went on to tell me that he has lung cancer and the chemo was not helping. The children and I immediately said a Hail Mary for dear Mr. Spivey. Yes, we are the kind of people that pray out loud in restaurants.
What a kind man. I have to tell you I was running on empty at that point. Dreading the car ride and checking six cranky (and gross smelling) kids into a hotel late at night. Mr. Spivey's act of kindness bolstered my strength and called my mind to the suffering of others. What I was going through was absolutely nothing compared to the suffering of many. Here in the midst of an awful illness this wonderful man saw something in us and wanted to be kind. I wept a little for him and for those that love him. If he does not recover their loss will be great.
May I ask you all to say an Ave for Mr. Spivey. Perhaps Our Lady can ask for a miraculous cure for him.
As for the rest of our trip, it was fairly uneventful. We arrived at the hotel at 10:00p.m. Five hours later than usual. But there was 24 hour room service so Erin, Katie and I put the littles to bed and ordered fudge brownie sundaes. There was a DIY car wash in front of the hotel so I was able to de-stinkify the van and in general make everyone more comfortable. There was no more construction and South Carolina flew by. So quickly that toward the end of the trip I made the aquaintance of a certain member of South Carolina law enforcement. I am now poorer $81 and two points on my license.
Next time I'm flying.
Oh how sweet and sad! We will pray for him tonight.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 24, 2009 at 07:22 PM
A beautiful reminder of the kindness of strangers. There are beautiful people left in the world. Thanks.
Posted by: Barbara | June 25, 2009 at 06:49 AM
That is just so nice of Mr. Spivey! Praying for him!
Those CB restaurants must be the hsers' preferred stop for road trips! That's how we mark our journey -- Sheetz and CB.
We drove to FL and I had the same decision after the trip -- we're flying the next time. And my family is much smaller!
Wish I could have offered rest and a cuppa on your journey!
Posted by: Jennifer G. Miller | June 25, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Ohmigosh - I fell in love with Mr. Spivey - praying for that dear, dear man!
And your story abput SC flying by just cracked me up! Sorry about your loss but you sure wrote about it well!
Posted by: Maria P | June 25, 2009 at 12:05 PM
I'm sorry about the ticket dear. Praying for your Mr. Spivey. I'm not at all surprised that he saw something good in your beautiful children.
I'm glad your blogging!
Posted by: Bridget | June 25, 2009 at 02:33 PM
How wonderfully sweet!
You're in South Carolina? We just left the deep south on Sunday.
Posted by: KC | June 25, 2009 at 05:52 PM
Dear Maryellen,
I have missed your posts you always manage to portray the things that go not as well as we would like as, so hum hum, we mangaged to get through that. I love your style of writing it always makes me feel like I am talking to a kindred spirit.
How lovely of My Spivey to do that for you. It makes me think how we must always believe God is looking after us and Is in control. Somethting I am tryiing to hang on to myself in our present circumstances.
I pray you enjoy your time with your parents and I can't wait to have you writing again.
God Bless
Posted by: Gae | June 26, 2009 at 05:57 AM
Thank you for sharing that story...I needed that reality check today...and we have all prayed a good Hail Mary for your Mr. Spivey! God love him!
Posted by: Donna Marie | June 26, 2009 at 10:15 AM
I would like to email you something, but can't find your email address.
Could you email me at mercer@catholicvote.org?
You can delete this comment obviously.
Posted by: Joshua Mercer | June 26, 2009 at 12:27 PM