And so I was saying.......

How beautiful it was in Statia.  And how I hated to leave.  And how we had a long day in front of us traveling home.....

Well, I had no idea.....

Every flight was delayed which meant that we were always rushing and waiting and then rushing and waiting and then running and waiting and then finally around 12:30 this morning we arrived in Detroit, where it is FREEZING!!  The temps when we landed were -4* F.  I stayed to wait for the luggage while Frank went to get the car from the lot.  We were worried that the car was not going to start but first try and she started right up.  We were congratulating ourselves and feeling all smug and talking about what a reliable car we had and then.....right when we were in the worst possible area....right in the middle of the ghetto....she started going crazy!!!  The gauges started going wacky, the automatic door lights began opening and closing, the traction light started flashing and the panel started saying engine operating at reduced power.  We got over to the side of the expressway before she died completely.

We called our friends, Don and Mickey, and luckily?? they were just leaving the airport because they had Sherry and Brad with them and of course one piece of their luggage was lost so they were delayed even longer filling out paperwork.  They stopped for us on thier way home.  They were approx. 20 minutes coming.  The heat was completely gone from the car in 2 1/2 minutes!!!  Of course, we were not the only people having car troubles so we were unable to find an available tow truck.  We piled into Don and Mickey's, 5 passenger jeep, which made 6 passengers and LOTS of luggage.  We took only our carry ons with us and left everything else in the car.  Don and Frank dropped us all off and then went back to the car to get the rest of our luggage as we continued to try to find a tow company. We had no luck and neither did they because our electrical system is wacky and the trunk would not open.  Then poor Don who lives 40 minutes south of us drove us all the way home.  We arrived home finally about 4:30 AM but Don still had to drive 40 minutes back home again.  AAARGH........

Now we are waiting for the tow company to call us and let us know when they are able to go get our vehicle (or what is left of it).  There best estimate was sometime later this afternoon.  In the meantime, our friend, Karen, who was staying to care for the house and dogs also has a dead car....in our driveway....behind the garage stall in which Frank's car is parked.  Fortunately, we have the truck but we haven't tried to start it yet so wish us luck....

Now we have our mechanic on the way over to look at Karen's car so we can try to figure out what is wrong with it. Hopefully it will be an easy fix.

Oh and Frank just heard from the tow company....they can't do it today so now he is on the phone trying to find another company.......Double AAARGH........