Author's note: You cannot make this stuff up.
Have any of you ever been through an experience where you sit there and wonder how in the hell you even got to that point? An experience that you look back at and just can’t help but laugh at the situation? Because after last Friday, I can definitely say I have. Get ready for storytime.
I don’t know about any of you, but I’m the type of person that can only stick to a specific routine for so long before I get bored out of my mind and need a change. Earlier this week, I had one of these epiphanies. I began going through funny photos of my friends and family on my phone and decided that I was going to take a spontaneous weekend trip back home to Michigan. Little did I know, this trip would end up being a story that I would be telling my grandchildren years from now.
Friday comes, I’m up at the crack of dawn so excited to begin my journey back home. I had made so many plans to catch up with family and friends throughout the weekend, I couldn’t wait! About an hour and a half into my drive, I went to take an exit and my steering wheel completely locked, forcing my car over a curb and into a ditch (don’t worry, I’m fine. I’m not saying this for pity, it’s all a part of the ridiculousness of this experience). I made it maybe halfway down the highway before my car completely shut down, leaving me stranded on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere Maryland, or so I thought.
I had never been in any type of accident before, so you can only imagine what type of mental breakdown I was having internally. Luckily, behind me there were two tractor mechanics. They immediately rushed out of their cars to help me out. They took me back to their repair shop where I was able to get a tow truck to take my car and I to the nearest automotive repair shop. Here I found out that I was stranded in a small town called Frederick, Maryland.
As soon as I walked into this repair shop, there was Washington Redskins memorabilia everywhere. Since I’m currently working for the Redskins, I immediately felt a little at ease. The repair shop was called R and R, run by a man named Ron. Ron took one look at me and must have known he was dealing with a borderline basket case because he made sure to go out of his way to make me feel at home. He began asking me everything under the sun about my background to help distract me from the sure to come terrible news about my car. As soon as I told him I worked for the Redskins, his eyes completely lit up. We talked for hours about the Redskins organization, the work I do and the history the Redskins have within his family.
His son was also sitting in the main office with us. Ron was quick to tell me that his son was in a band called More to Monroe (check them out!), and that they were signed to a record label and would be performing on the Vans Warped Tour later this month. How cool, right?
Hours went on and we continued the small talk. I learned all about his business, his family, the mechanics that work there, etc. It’s funny, one of the first things I said to Ron was, “You’re not going to take advantage of a young female who knows nothing about cars and make me have to sell an arm and a leg on the side of the road to pay for these damages, are you?” He looked at me and laughed so hard. He told me that the main reason he actually went into the auto repair business was because he grew up in a household with just his mother. He said he witnessed how mechanics and people of that nature would try and take advantage of his mother and her lack of knowledge about cars to try and get more money out of her than necessary.
At this point I had been at R and R for about six hours. Two mechanics walked into the main office, gave me one look and I automatically knew my engine was done for. All I could think to myself was, “What the hell am I going to do? I’m stuck in the middle of nowhere Maryland with no car and am two hours away from Virginia.”
My facial expression must’ve been pretty easy to read because Ron took one look at me and says, “Kelsie, have you ever tried Jim Beam Red Stag?” Long story short, here I was, stranded in the middle of nowhere Maryland at a mechanic shop taking shots with three mechanics because why not, right? I obviously wasn’t driving anywhere anytime soon anyways.
Ironically, this same day R and R was having a party to celebrate their 10th anniversary. All throughout the day members of Ron’s family and his friends all stopped in. It was so funny because every time someone new came in, Ron made sure to introduce me as if I were a part of their family. Telling them my name, my story of why I was there and, of course that I work for the Washington Redskins.
Here I am. I’ve been at this repair shop since 8 a.m. It was now 3:30 p.m. and their party started at 4 p.m. As I sit and wait trying to find a cab, all of Ron's family begins filtering in, setting up for the party. All of them recognize me from stopping in earlier in the day and couldn’t believe I was still there. Eventually they all came up to me and said, “Honey, why don’t you just stay for the party, at least for an hour. If you aren’t having fun, we’ll get you a ride home.” So obviously I said what the hell, why not at this point, right? Not like I was in a rush to go anywhere any time soon.
Let me tell you what, I didn’t stay for an hour, I stayed for three and I had some of the best time with these people. They were all so genuine and so nice to welcome me with open arms and let me join their celebration. They offered me food, beverages and the best of company.
I know this is a long story, so if you’ve made it this far, bravo, you rock. But overall I guess my main points of this entire story are as follows:
1. I know we’re not raised to think so and society tries to give us every reason not to, but there are genuinely nice human beings out there. You may not come across them often, but there are genuine people out there that are willing to help a stranger like Ron and his family did for me. Life is all about the energy that you put out towards other people. It’s about making those positive human connections and taking time to learn about other people and their stories, even if they may be way different than yours.
2. Every situation, no matter how shitty, has a positive. As crazy as this sounds, there I was, my oil pan completely busted and my engine done for, stranded in the middle of nowhere Maryland, but yet I had such a great day with these people. I felt like I was living more in the moment than I have in an extremely long time. There's not a doubt in my mind that I was meant to end up where I did, with those people that day. Not to mention when I got home, I cleaned out my backpack and saw that Ron had stocked me up with some Miller High Life, which I had said earlier in the day that I had never tried before.
