Frozen Shocks

I know for sure that her shocks were frozen and completely worn out. Riding in an ’84 Audi 80 on snow-covered roads with a sixty four year old Romanian woman driving only assures me this is not a normal life. Not that I want it to be either.

We met her near her home, right at the corner where the trams follow a lazy turn. I vouched for us to cross the street to stand in the sun; it’s still cold here. As we waited I looked to see this older woman approaching us, not being sure it was her I half- smiled as she walked up. “Pace” She says. I return the greeting. Except now I know it’s her. Pace (pronounced pah-che) means Peace in Romanian, a traditional greeting that church people use with each other. I’ve heard that after Jesus rose, he greeted everyone this way, although I haven’t confirmed that, I’ll do my best to be appropriate to the right people.

As I exchange the greeting with her she says in broken English “Good to meet you”. Leave it to everyone else to out- do us in knowing other languages. Here she stands with her white fur coat and jet black curly hair exploring the world from under the brim of her brown fur hat. She points towards a vehicle parked by the road. I can’t tell if the car is white or it’s just all the snow. Dora explains that it will be easier to drive to the church than to walk. As I make the hand sign for shoveling snow, I think to myself that maybe that’s not true.

So we traverse the piles of snow nearly consuming her car from all sides. She gets in and attempts to start the car at least twelve times, finally as the car clunks and sputters, she heads it out onto the street, as Steve goes for one door and I go for the other she motions that only Steve’s door works. Hmmm, should I ask about the brakes?

So the story goes, and we go, down the street, the back shocks or something making quite a bit of noise the entire time. Sounding like someone is being dragged under the car and only hits the bottom of the trunk when we go over bumps, yah, something like that.

Well we made it, she had to get out a couple times and clean off her windshield. At one point spraying some imitation Windex onto the front and back. I would’ve been glad to get out and help, but I was between Steve and the non- working door. I guess I could’ve climbed over Steve but the fact that her grand- daughter sitting on her brother’s lap between the door and Steve somewhat blocked my pathway. Yes indeed, this is the life I choose to live, a life of interesting times, people, places and strange events.

But it’s the life I love. Investing time in something that will never fade away. Giving your life to children and giving them Hope. This is the work that will truly make a difference and will really matter. A life of simple adventure and the unknown, challenges waiting at every corner. Even when you really think that everything is planned and prepared, someone asks you to speak at a Baptist Pastor’s meeting. Yes, just when you think it’s all planned out.

Well, thanks for reading to this part.

That’s it.