The White River Valley Herald

Home For Christmas 1975



 

 

Both of our girls were far from home that year! Becky was a nurse working with the babies in a Richmond, Va. hospital.

Jo had earned an art scholarship to a school in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. She was driving there in her old car, with only a houseplant for company! Crossing from the United States into Canada a border guard told her that she could not take a plant into Canada. Jo’s eyes filled with tears and she choked out, “But, it’s from home!” The kindly old gent very softly said, “You can keep it, but—don’t bring it back!”

Jo became extremely homesick while she was so far from home. When the Christmas holiday came, she eagerly looked forward to going home. Two of her classmates were from St. Johnsbury and were happy to get a ride with her to their homes.

They started on their homeward journey in a snowstorm. Jo knew the storm would not last forever and pushed on, even though the visibility became poor. The car skidded around as the road became icy, but “Determined Jo” kept on. Hurrying towards Maine— suddenly, the car produced no more heat. The girls became very cold, but Jo knew she had to keep going.

They crossed the border from Canada to Maine but found the weather no better. It was getting dark and they needed to stop for the night. They arrived in Skowhegan, Maine and wandered the streets. Finally, they knocked on a door and were welcomed inside. They slept that night, bundled up on the floor of the “Unwed Mothers” home.

Garage men could not start Jo’s car the next morning. Jo called her friend Steve in Randolph, and told of her plight. Steve picked up his pal, Ron, and they were soon headed for Maine. They arrived in Skowhegan and found the waiting girls. Steve was an expert mechanic and soon had Jo’s car purring. Homeward they went. Ron drove Jo’s car home, while Steve and Jo went by way of St. Johnsbury, and let the two girls off at their homes. Then, Steve brought Jo home to East Barnard.

Becky had her own Christmas adventure. She was flying up from Virginia and I was to pick her up at West Lebanon airport in the evening. When I was about to head out the door, the phone rang. It was Becky in NYC.

She was upset and said her flight from Virginia was late leaving and when she arrived in NYC, the flight to West Lebanon was already in to the air. She was told there were no other flights that night and she could stay in a NYC hotel. Becky was some shook, but the airlines would settle— phone, meals, and lodging. But there were no flights to West Lebanon next day—nearest was Keene, N.H. airport.

The next morning, I left at 8 a.m. It was 18 degrees below zero. My little VW started and with son, Stuart, for company—away we went. We arrived in Keene before the plane came in but, it soon landed and we got our nurse girl, Becky, home the day before Christmas.

It was a happy time for all of us here. Our girls were both home safely after having adventures along the way.

A very merry Christmas it was!

A few years later we had another Christmas episode.

Becky spent a few years nursing on the West Coast. At Christmas, she would fly to Boston, then take a bus up to White River Junction, where we would meet her.

One year, she called and said she learned it was cheaper for her to fly into Montreal and “wouldn’t we enjoy a first-time trip to that Canadian city?” We agreed to meet her there and, as planned, Bob and I headed north in my little Fiat. Before long, we crossed the border into Canada and on to Montreal.

By that time, it was one o’clock in the morning, and just as we spotted the airport, WHAM-O!! We were rear ended.

The driver of the other car called out in a strong French accent, “Too bad for you. You were on the wrong side of the road!”

We were not and we said as much. My car had little damage, only a small dent in a rear fender, but Frenchie’s car had a flat tire. He did not get far, even though he had passed us and appeared to have been on his way out of sight.

We soon learned his car belonged to his boss. Bob and Frenchie had a few words and we had a plane to meet so went across the street to the airport. The Frenchman tagged along.

The plane landed and Becky was soon with me. Bob and the Boss were having a rather heated discussion and finally ended it on a handshake. We headed for the Interstate highway, but first, Bob stopped for a coffee. After all—it was 2 o’clock in the norming. A snowstorm was rapidly becoming a blizzard.

Coffee was consumed and we drove on to the highway. So what if there was a raging snow storm? It was 2 o’clock in the morning and not a car was in sight. How lucky was that?

It seemed no time at all before we came to a little guardhouse.

The border guard leaped out and said, “Where the hell you think you goin? You goin’ sout on a nortbound highway?”

Bob did a quick turn and we found ourselves in the southbound lane. Into Vermont we went and were at ease. We were headed home.

Becky piped up, “You better let me drive. You guys have been up all night. I am still on Pacific time.” We stopped. She took the wheel and we continued on without mishap.

That wild snowstorm never left us until we reached Montpelier.

We all had a wonderful Christmas!