STRANGER THINGS do Happen
On the Thanksgiving Week of 2005
Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. – Proverbs 19:21
It has become a norm for Papa to always be prepared for whatever events, things, matters that may come. He is always ready for anything. So, about week before the church retreat date. I drove with Papa and Mama to Wrightwood, visited all the motels that we have google-researched the day before. One by one, we look at the rooms, the bathrooms, and even the scenery around. We finally booked for 3 rooms. One for Papa and Mama, one for Mei-San and group, and one for Rene, Matthew and John and myself. All set – all ready, one week in advance!
​That Thursday, Nov-24, 2005 started just like any Thursday. Papa and Mama hosted a lunch for the members joining at the Mei-Mei Restaurant in Arcadia. After lunch,, Papa and Mama took their White Cadillac Escalade, and saw us in the parking area with my BMW X3 with a flat tire with a large nail perfectly implanted. We quickly drive to home, Papa following, to switch to another car – a Honda Civic Silver-Gold. Papa and Mama had Mei-San and 2 other members in the Cadillac following. As we brought the boys in car-seats to the Honda Civic, and pulling out of the garage, I felt the wheel acting strangely. To my surprise — Alas, the Civic had not 1 but 2 flat tires. Of course, the tires were more than “bald” and totally worn-out. I gave up and told Papa to just go ahead, he reluctantly left with the group. We knew the church members would be waiting too long for him to get things in order if he waited for us to fix the tires.
​Mama as she always is, “will never leave you nor forsake you”. I knew Mama– for in a few minutes, I got a call from Mama telling me not wait to fix the tires and just wait for ChuChang to arrive. Indeed, in a few minutes, ChuChang arrived with his Lexus SUV and hand me the key. I hesitantly took the key and thank ChuChang. I know he loved the car so much, and I was reluctant. But between going late and reluctance, I choose the latter.
​We arrived Wrightwood late in the afternoon, took our rooms, and had dinner with the group. It was a long evening of Bible study, fellowship, sharing, and Pastor Matthew’s sermon. As we walked back to our car, I heard Papa called, “Flat Tire!” I thought it as a joke, but right then and there, a flat on the Right Rear Tire of the Escalade. It was chilling cold, must be like 40-Degrees. We called Triple-A and was told it could take more than 2 hours. Andrew and Winston, tried to help by trying to change the tire. We were unsusccesful, for not only was the tire HUGE and HEAVY, it was the darkest night with just one fluorescent light on. Finally, we called Ton Ton — all problems solved. Still we waited for about 45 minutes. Ton Ton came with the Gold Cadillac, and drove Papa and Mama back to the motel, while I used Chu-Chang’s Lexus. Ton-Ton had to wait for the AAA rescue to change tire and finally drove the Escablade back to Arcadia!
​The next morning, we had early breakfast with the members, and proceeded to the Silverwood Lake. A beautiful lake, tranquil and peaceful in the city of Hesperia, we had lunch. Had our photos taken and bade goodbye, as we drove home in convoy, Papa and Mama in the Gold Cadillac, while we used ChuChang’s Lexus. Stranger things can happen, even to the finest and well-prepared person.
