As more people are running out of gas because they are waiting longer to stop for gas because of the high prices, I am reminded of my own woeful tale. For any of you who are getting married in a town where you don’t live, consider yourself warned.
For some reason I thought it would be a grand idea to get married in my grandparents’ church in northern Kentucky. I didn’t realize that the network of highways and bridges leading from Cincinnati to northern Kentucky can be a confusing mess if a person is not from there. Otherwise, I never would have been one of the major drivers before my wedding day.
Instead, there I was driving to pick up friends at the greater Cincinnati airport, taking them to the motel, and then hopping over to my aunt’s house in Florence, Kentucky for who can remember what for? With each trip from my grandparents’ house, where I was staying, I got lost. Before I knew it, I was in Cincinnati, trying to figure out how to get back over the Ohio River to Kentucky.
Each time, I found my way back, but it was like I kept getting amnesia because there I was heading over to Ohio again, shooting past the stadium where the Cincinnati Reds play, cursing under my breath while I figured out where to turn around—again.
All the while, I’m driving, I’m visiting and catching up with my passengers–all friends of mine. None of them are helping me navigate since they are yaking away as well. Not once did my eye glance to the gas gauge until I was heading to the rehearsal with my collection of brides’ maids. When the car starting the bucking and sputtering business, I knew that wasn’t a good sign at all, but thanked my luck that I was next to a gas station and pulled in next to a pump just in time.
Except the station was closed. One friend hopped out of the car to run through Bellevue in search for a phone, a gas can, and some gas. The bowling alley was open and the proprietors were only too happy to help a distressed bride by lending my friend a gas can and their phone.
By this time, my mom, who was driving through town with my brother, saw my friend after she had left the bowling alley and wondered what she was doing running through town. They had the presence of mind to stop, found a gas station and returned to rescue me and my entourage. Although I was late for the rehearsal, I made sure I was at the wedding on time.
Moral of the story: If you are getting married, do take time for a fill up first. Also, keep your cell phone charged. My mishap was before cell phone days.