It all started the week before innocently enough. Matt, my son-in-law had mentioned the 97 Adventurer is for sale to a co-worker that is looking to buy a motorhome before retirement. Well while in Surfside Beach, we get a text from Matt and Rikki wanting to know if we would accept a lower price for the 97. I respond back with 'is this a firm offer or a fishing expedition?'. The answer: it is firm. Now mind you, the prospective buyer has not even seen the rig or asked for any pictures. Well we countered with a higher price that is lower than the original asking price and it was immediately accepted.
Now begins the back and forth directly with the buyer to make final arrangements to swap money for the title and the vehicle. It is determined we should be able to make a Friday work for both parties so we set our sights on that target. Now we have to get back home to get the rig to the shop to have a step motor replaced, buy a replacement microwave to install and clean it out completely for delivery. We announce to our co-travelers of the recent developments and invite them to make the trip back with us. When we left on our trip, they had sold their piano and the home fridge had quit working so there was incentive to take care of these outstanding items.
They decided to go with us and with the weather and traffic, the decision was made to leave on a Tuesday afternoon. This is the Tuesday before the designated Friday for making the swap with our buyer. If we do not make this deadline, the next earliest time to meet will be Tuesday following due to a bank holiday. All of this cutting into our play time down south at the beach. So the pressure is on to git 'r dun. The trip back is uneventful until we get to the Lufkin area and we run into the rain/freezing rain predicted this day. In Nacogdoches we pass a truck that has lost its load of pipe on the road, partially blocking traffic. Just outside of Nac, we see an accident where several vehicles have left the road and are in the ditch due to the rain/freezing rain. We see plenty of ice building on the trees and power lines.
When we finally make it home, we stop and grab a bite to eat. This is because there are no groceries at either couple's house and eating is mandatory before calling it a night. After we eat, the road and weather conditions have deteriorated further, making it a slower go to make it safely home. Thanks to God's watch care, we are all safe and sound but tired as we can be with a lot more to do this week.
Wednesday starts with delivery of rig to repair shop and getting a call later that the replacement part had to be ordered and will be shipped in the next day (Thursday). So a call to the banker, the buyer and our co-travelers to coordinate the trip to DFW on Friday ensues. Of course this delicate balance of timing is totally dependent on getting the frig fixed, piano delivered, steps repaired, microwave replaced, rig cleaned out and banker making its final inspection before delivery. There is nothing anybody can do to speed up, change or affect these variables except live through them and be flexible to make last minute changes.
The good news is that everything and everybody worked well together and we made it to the DFW area on Friday to complete the transaction. A special shout-out to my father-in-law and mother-in-law for making it happen. We delivered the rig and made our escape from the DFW traffic during rush hour to make our way back to Surfside Beach just in time for improved temperatures and sunny skies. Now comes the kicker to this entire episode.
I have already apologized to my valentine for the hectic valentine week, lack of card and flowers and no valentine dinner missed because of trying to put all these pieces together to meet this deadline. I thought she was okay with it and fine that we agreed on a rain check, but obviously I missed some sign that this is not the case. For on our way back my bride asked me for some chapstick. Unfortunately, the tube is in my pocket, I am driving and cannot retrieve it for her. Since I have already greased up, I offer her a kiss that will allow her to share some of my chapstick. To my surprise, she REFUSED to kiss me on Valentines day to get some chapstick. Now to hear her tell it, I was driving and it was not safe. This does not hold water for me because in the past I have received kisses while driving; I therefore, know there is something else at play here. Needless to say, I am still in shock at this recent turn of events.
Good news is the 97 Adventurer is sold and gone but the bad news is I am not feeling the love for such a sacrifice of time and effort, if you know what I mean. I will let you all draw your own conclusion from this tale and offer suggestions on how to extricate myself from such a quandary.
So this is how the week that was....., ended. Until next time, see you down the road.
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