It Takes a Village to Move a Mom

Every since Terry's 92 year old mother purchased a home in a small Oklahoma panhandle town, we have been in high gear. We are happy that she is healthy enough to still live on her own and able to make the move and stay independent. (Terry's sister lives a few blocks away.) The town has a population of a few hundred and has a country feel to it. With that said, it is still a big adjustment for Viola. We were sitting on the porch and she said, "I wonder if I will hear the people next door talking to each other when they are home." She lives on the corner and the closest house is probably 100 feet away. I don't think there will be a problem.

She hired painters and carpet & flooring installers to come in and work over the house. Terry and his brother from Oregon have spent 10 days working on the plumbing and installing new cabinets and such. New drapes, furniture, and appliances have been purchased also. It will be a nice cozy home for her.

After we picked up the appliances from a Lowes store in Enid, OK, we had them tied and fastened in the back of our pickup and flat-bed trailer. We were about 5 minutes out of the parking lot and on the freeway when the new boxed refrigerator became a flying missile! It launched from the middle of the washer, dryer, dishwasher, and gas stove! We watched in the rear view mirror as it flew across 2 lanes of traffic on the interstate and bumped every corner of the box, broke open, and smashed the doors until they flew off into a contorted heap!!! Terry's brother and mother were following us in a car about 20 feet away. Viola screamed! (I would have too!) Miraculously, even though there was a lot of traffic, not one car came close to the incident until it was in the median grassy area. Others stopped to check on us to be sure no one was hurt.

The only thing salvageable was the ice-maker. We stood in stunned amazement as we surveyed the damage. I honestly could not believe my eyes. We got back into the pickup and decided that we were truly blessed. Blessed because no one had the misery of having a big refrigerator land on their windshield causing a terrible wreck. We decided that money comes and goes, but damage to a human body sometimes lasts a lifetime even if it doesn't result in death.

(Yes, Terry and I went to Amarillo on Monday and picked up another frig at the Lowes there. Viola is set!)