As the hours turned into multiple days, it was looking as though we would not get our power back in time to attend the wedding for which my son came home. The hotel and reception hall had also lost power.....and then right around noon on Friday, on came the power!!! We still had no hot water, but word was that the hotel had gotten their power back as well, and another reception location had been secured!!! We could leave early enough and have out first hot shower in a week!
With the power restored to our street, we would no longer need to tend the generator. And so we went, knowingly heading into an area harder hit, in someways, than our own, keeping fingers crossed that we would be able to find gas once up there.....
As we headed North through New Jersey we came to the Mahwah hotel. It's like a huge glass palace/tower seemingly out in the middle of nowhere!!! I suppose it's proximity to the "city" and "no where" makes it a desirable location for conventions for city people wishing to escape. And so there it was, this monstrous hotel tower .... mirrored exterior reflecting the light and bits of blue sky finally breaking through parting clouds.....and at its base.....hundreds of utility trucks, bumper to bumper who have come to help and were finally getting a bit of rest! I wish I had had time to stop for a photo. (we were on a road ramping up over and around...not a good time to stop or take eyes off the road) It was awe inspiring!!! All those people leaving their families to help us!
It's difficult to describe the depth of gratitude that overcomes you having struggled for what feels like forever with no power, downed trees, and much to be cleaned up. It nearly washes the overwhelmed feelings from your soul to know that you are not alone and people are giving of themselves to help you.
A bit further into the trip we came upon a convoy from Texas heading in our direction. I told my son I wanted to beep for them and give them a thumbs up to let them know we appreciated them. He had been up exceptionally late the night before and was more in the mood to sleep and keep things quiet than to play and be loud....and so we passed in silence.
It bothered me the entire day. I felt as though I had talked the talk, but hadn't walked the walk. I regretted not expressing my appreciation.....and it weighed heavily on my heart.
We arrived at the hotel just in time for a well deserved, non-rushed HOT shower!!! The wedding was delightful and the reception LOTS of fun....even if all thrown together the day before!!! It really was fantastic!!
When we arrived back at the hotel a 16 truck convoy was parked outside, from Texas. I knew exactly what I wanted to do!!! I went up to my room, kicked off my heels and wrote a thank you note for each truck. Barefooted I went back down to the parking lot and climbed each truck to tuck a note under their windshield wipers. Some of those trucks are really big!!! A couple of security guards thought me a bit crazy....or maybe intoxicated....but they don't know me!
I slept rather well that night, content that I had stated my thanks...
Never expecting to actually see the truckers I received a special treat. We were on our way down to breakfast and I glanced out the window. The convoy was pulling out. Apparently one of the gentlemen hadn't noticed the note right away, stopped his truck, retrieved it, read it, smiled and tucked it up into his visor. My son couldn't understand why I had stopped and was looking out the window. I got to be the proverbial fly on the wall....what a gift getting to watch him enjoy his surprise.
After a leisurely breakfast, we packed up and headed out to the car. When we got to the lot two of the trucks were still there, one apparently having some mechanical difficulties.
I told my son to hang on a minute and went over to thank the men in person. They seemed genuinely grateful that I would take the time to say, "thank you." Really? Less than five minutes out of my life to show gratitude for the weeks they may be away from their own families?
Slightly blushing, I admitted that I was the one who put the notes on their trucks. I wanted them to be able to put a face to the gesture...but also secretly wished I had taken more time and written neater....maybe there was a little too much wine in me afterall!!!!
They grinned from ear to ear and told me how it really made their morning coming out to find them!!!! They truly sounded excited. And it made my day that I made their day!
Energy is contagious.... pass on some of the good stuff!
With the power restored to our street, we would no longer need to tend the generator. And so we went, knowingly heading into an area harder hit, in someways, than our own, keeping fingers crossed that we would be able to find gas once up there.....
As we headed North through New Jersey we came to the Mahwah hotel. It's like a huge glass palace/tower seemingly out in the middle of nowhere!!! I suppose it's proximity to the "city" and "no where" makes it a desirable location for conventions for city people wishing to escape. And so there it was, this monstrous hotel tower .... mirrored exterior reflecting the light and bits of blue sky finally breaking through parting clouds.....and at its base.....hundreds of utility trucks, bumper to bumper who have come to help and were finally getting a bit of rest! I wish I had had time to stop for a photo. (we were on a road ramping up over and around...not a good time to stop or take eyes off the road) It was awe inspiring!!! All those people leaving their families to help us!
It's difficult to describe the depth of gratitude that overcomes you having struggled for what feels like forever with no power, downed trees, and much to be cleaned up. It nearly washes the overwhelmed feelings from your soul to know that you are not alone and people are giving of themselves to help you.
A bit further into the trip we came upon a convoy from Texas heading in our direction. I told my son I wanted to beep for them and give them a thumbs up to let them know we appreciated them. He had been up exceptionally late the night before and was more in the mood to sleep and keep things quiet than to play and be loud....and so we passed in silence.
It bothered me the entire day. I felt as though I had talked the talk, but hadn't walked the walk. I regretted not expressing my appreciation.....and it weighed heavily on my heart.
We arrived at the hotel just in time for a well deserved, non-rushed HOT shower!!! The wedding was delightful and the reception LOTS of fun....even if all thrown together the day before!!! It really was fantastic!!
When we arrived back at the hotel a 16 truck convoy was parked outside, from Texas. I knew exactly what I wanted to do!!! I went up to my room, kicked off my heels and wrote a thank you note for each truck. Barefooted I went back down to the parking lot and climbed each truck to tuck a note under their windshield wipers. Some of those trucks are really big!!! A couple of security guards thought me a bit crazy....or maybe intoxicated....but they don't know me!
I slept rather well that night, content that I had stated my thanks...
Never expecting to actually see the truckers I received a special treat. We were on our way down to breakfast and I glanced out the window. The convoy was pulling out. Apparently one of the gentlemen hadn't noticed the note right away, stopped his truck, retrieved it, read it, smiled and tucked it up into his visor. My son couldn't understand why I had stopped and was looking out the window. I got to be the proverbial fly on the wall....what a gift getting to watch him enjoy his surprise.
After a leisurely breakfast, we packed up and headed out to the car. When we got to the lot two of the trucks were still there, one apparently having some mechanical difficulties.
I told my son to hang on a minute and went over to thank the men in person. They seemed genuinely grateful that I would take the time to say, "thank you." Really? Less than five minutes out of my life to show gratitude for the weeks they may be away from their own families?
Slightly blushing, I admitted that I was the one who put the notes on their trucks. I wanted them to be able to put a face to the gesture...but also secretly wished I had taken more time and written neater....maybe there was a little too much wine in me afterall!!!!
They grinned from ear to ear and told me how it really made their morning coming out to find them!!!! They truly sounded excited. And it made my day that I made their day!
Energy is contagious.... pass on some of the good stuff!
3 comments:
excellent and well done! a simple expression of genuine gratitude at someone's effort can go such a long distance. :)
.....and their efforts CAME a long distance!
I've told you this before, Dragonfly, but I am so very privileged to know you. What you did may not seem like a big deal - Less than 5 minutes of your life - but it is. There are very few people who would even think about saying thanks. Fewer still who would take the time to write. None but you who would write 16 notes, crawl up on trucks to post them and then feel that was not enough and hang around to thank them in person. You are truly one of a kind - one of an exceptional kind!! Thank you so much for posting that inspiring story. I know it meant a lot to those men.
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