Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, and sometimes, those twists can be as literal as a blown tyre on a cross-border shopping expedition. Let me take you on a journey through a recent escapade of mine that left me pondering the age-old adage: "Everything happens for a reason."
My mum's visit from London is always a highlight for my boys and me. It's an opportunity for them to reconnect with their beloved Nanima, and these bonds become even more precious when you live miles apart. Due to the notorious uninvited guest, COVID-19, the last time we had the pleasure of her company was back in 2019. And every time she visits, we always go on a cross-border shopping adventure, we laugh, joke, have fun and create memories.
Our bags were packed, shopping lists created, and the excitement was palpable as we set off for the border. But little did we know that the Universe had a quirky twist in store for us. You see, my mum, with her trusty UK passport, used to breeze through the border with a mere $6 fee and a stamp in her passport. Ah, the good old days. But alas, times had changed. Thanks to the pandemic, we were now required to apply for an Esta visa online and still make the obligatory stop at the border to get her passport stamped. Not exactly the efficient process we were used to.
Picture this: there we were, standing at the border with my 76-year-old mum, who had to undergo electronic fingerprinting like a seasoned criminal. The border officer, to his credit, made light of the situation with lots of humour as he told us we had to return to Canada with a grandma as a criminal - lol. He suggested we simply come back the next day once the application went through. Spoiler alert: it didn't. We ended up waiting a full 72 hours for authorization, postponing our shopping extravaganza to the following weekend.
Fast forward to the following Friday, and we were back at the border (with only one kid in tow this time). Luck was on our side, for the same officer who had previously poked fun at our situation welcomed us. This time, it was a brisk 10-minute stop, and we were on our way to Erie, Pennsylvania, where the shopping spree would commence.
Our journey took us to the familiar haunts on Peach Street and further up to Grove City, PA. Now, I have a son with size 13 shoes, and anyone who's ventured into the world of shopping for large-sized shoes and socks knows that outlet stores are the promised land. We found him running shoes for $20 & $15, and I couldn't help but pat myself on the back for the financial wizardry I was pulling off.
Shopping commenced at 8:30 am sharp, with the promise of an early return to ensure we'd be well-rested for a family wedding on Sunday morning. Everything was going according to plan until, well, the Universe decided it was time for another plot twist.
About 1.5 hours away from home, a deafening thud and an awful scratching noise pierced the air. My car seemed to have developed a sudden dislike for one of its tyres, and the right front passenger tyre had blown to shreds. You know those bits of tyre strewn across the highway? I had always wondered how they got there. Now I knew, firsthand.
I am so fortunate that I don’t panic in moments like these. I took a deep breath, pulled over to the shoulder with ease, and assessed the situation. Fortunately, my eldest was with us, and together we changed the tyre. However, it wasn't your everyday spare tyre; it was one of those doughnuts that demand a reduced speed and a prayer that you make it home in one piece. You are only supposed to drive on the doughnut for no more than 70 km and we still had 157 km before we reached home. To be on the safe side, I drove slower with hazards and our 1.5-hour trip magically transformed into a nearly 3-hour odyssey.
As dawn broke on the following morning, I found myself facing a dilemma. We were all set to attend a family wedding, and my 9am stop at the local tyre store informed me that my car's alignment was woefully out of whack, and the front driver's tyre was on the brink of a similar explosion. Could this be the Universe's doing? Was it a cosmic plot to ensure we didn't cross the border the week before, saving us from a tyre disaster while driving to Ottawa for a show, a gruelling 5.5/6-hour journey?
The truth is, I have no definitive answers. What I do know, though, is that we were spared from the harrowing experience of tyre blowouts on the highway, thanks to the timely intervention of fate. This escapade left me with a newfound appreciation for the saying, "Everything has a time, and things happen for a reason."
Life has a way of throwing curveballs when we least expect them, but perhaps these curveballs are simply cosmic nudges to remind us that there's a grander plan at play. So, the next time you find yourself in a sticky situation, take a deep breath, embrace the chaos, and remember, there's a reason for everything – even blown tyres on a cross-border shopping adventure.
