The "Thanks for the SUV" Story

It was another ordinary day.  Then we got in the car and tried to get home from the Jersey shore.  We heard the winds and thunder during the night, but weren't prepared for what we encountered on the roads on our trip back to Pennsylvania.  We left Ocean City, NJ about 10:00 AM and headed back to the mainland.  As soon as we turned onto MD 559 we saw what we could expect for the next hour or so.  Street lights were out and the farther we traveled inland, the more trees and power lines crossed the road.  We passed next to as well as through huge trees that were across the road and at times had to drive over downed lines.  The police and highway departments were overwhelmed and it was every driver for themself.  My son was following me and whatever I did, he followed.  Thanks for the SUV we were both driving.  We had our two granddaughters with us who were going to stay an extra few days with Amah and Tampah, and they, as well as my wife and I, were scared of the conditions.  Very little talking occured except for pointing out all the large trees on top of houses and cars.  We reached the section on MD 559 when the Alt. 559 intersected.  We didn't want to take the alternate route, since that would return us to Ocean City.  The police had placed cones across MD 559 at the intersection, but someone was pushing them out of the way so they could continue straight on MD 559 and not head back on the alternate route.  I followed the others  that had crossed the cones and my son followed me.  Shortly I was stopped by a patrolman and he asked if I hadn't seen the cones.  I told him I had, but that the car in front of me had removed them so I just assumed I could follow.  He hurried back to the intersection  to replace the cones.  We finally reached RT 40N and the driving was better, but still with a few trees close to the side of the road.  When we finally stopped at a McDonalds, just past Woodstown, NJ, my hands were sore from holding onto the steering wheel and my shirt was soaked in sweat.  Everyone in the car applauded when I turned off the ignition and we were able to get out of the car.  More than once my wife said, "You shouldn't have packed the camera in the suitcase."  I know, but that was the last thing on my mind.  The photos would have shown the destruction and the near-impossible driving conditions created by the fierce storm from the previous evening.  As I sit watching the TV this morning, the day after our journey home, I realize the scope of the massive storm that we experienced, and am glad that I am in front of the TV, and not in the car.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.