A Slice of Life
Bill Lites
Day 7 – July 21: This morning after an early breakfast, I headed north in my rented pickup truck, for 6 miles to meet Glenn at the Chrysler Dealership in Wausau, WI. I wanted to see what kind of used vans he had available. Glenn met me at the door and already had a red 2013 Chrysler Town & Country van out front for me to inspect. We took it for a test drive, and I was satisfied that this van would suit my needs. We settled in his office to do the necessary paperwork and he told me they had just recently received the van in a trade and had processed it thru their service shop with everything for resale, except it had not yet been detailed. Since that would usually take about two days (for the carpets to dry) he would take $600 off the price for that not being done. I was okay with that!
Photo Credit: https://images.search.yahoo.com/chrysler+town+%26+countryntry+touring
I told Glenn that Clayton (the mechanic) had told me he might be interested in buying my 2006 Dodge van if I decided to sell it. I told him I wanted to add that money as a down payment on the 2013 van. I called Clayton and we struck a deal for him to buy my van. Then I said, “Okay Clayton, now you have my van, and you have the money for my van, how do I get the money to Glenn for my down payment? “ He said, “Let me talk to Glenn.” He told Glenn, “I’m out hunting this weekend, but you know I’m good for it (friends for 25 years), I’ll bring the money to your office Monday morning.” Well, Glenn was okay with that (I was amazed!) and he said, “Well that settles that, you are good to go. All we need to do now is run this by the financial office.”
image Credit: https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/auto+sale+with+dealer
That done, Glenn said, “The final paperwork will take a while to put together, so why don’t you return your rental truck and then we’ll drive this van up to Clayton’s shop and I’ll help you transfer everything from your 2006 van to this 2013 van so you will be ready to continue your road trip as soon as possible.” That worked for me. He followed me the 8 miles to the Mosinee Airport, where I returned the pickup truck to the National Car Rental office. When the agent handed me the receipt, he said, “I don’t understand this, but you only owe $2.53 for your rental.” I was shocked! And I said, “How can that be?” He said, “I don’t know, but that is what it says here on your receipt.” I told him I wanted a paper receipt showing the balance of the $750 I had paid for the week’s truck rental had been credited back to my credit card account. He did that, and I was happy with that. All I could say was, “Thank you Lord, for the miracles you work in our lives every day!”
Photo Credit: https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/national-car-rental
We drove the van over to Clayton’s Auto Repair shop there in Mosinee, and the transfer of my things, that would have taken me 2-3 hours, only took about 30 minutes with Glenn’s help. That was a huge thing for him to do for me! That done, I left my key and vehicle registration to the 2006 van in Clayton’s drop box with a note promising to send the van title to him as soon as I returned to Florida. Another example of small-town trust on Clayton’s part. By the time we got back to the dealership in Wausau, all the paperwork was ready for my signature. That didn’t take long. I thanked everyone for helping me through one of the most intense 24-hours I could remember. I said my goodbyes and was on my way north on I-39 in new wheels by 1:00 pm.
Image Credit: https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/leaving+in+car+on+trip
In order to arrive at this evening’s destination without losing my room reservation, I had to pass up the Chippewa Falls Museum, the Thorp Telephone Museum, the Wisconsin Logging Museum, and the Wisconsin Canoe Museum. I’ll just have to visit them on another one of my road trips. It was late by the time I arrived in Superior, WI and all the museums were closed. I drove across the John A. Blatnik Bridge into Duluth, MN and Greta (my Garmin) took me to the motel there. After I checked into the motel, I asked the desk clerk for a good place to eat, and he said he liked the Buffalo House Restaurant not far from the motel. I found it and had their Seafood Enchiladas plate (Never had that dish before) and they were wonderful. After that delicious meal, it was back to the motel, and right to bed for me. As you might imagine, I was a tired puppy and the bed felt great.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
—–To Be Continued—–
Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 65 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing. He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville. Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.
One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is: John 10:10
Old Things R New 