The phone rang, and our coach was ready for delivery.
It was Aug. 4, 2006, the day we took possession of our motor home. We were so excited; like kids in a candy store.
The dealership asked us to be early. When we arrived they gave us two huge instruction books. One pertained to the chassis, and the other to all the appliances and bells and whistles inside the coach. They asked us to study the material, and we will be back to answer all your questions. Yes!
The entire day was filled with intense reading and instructions. We started around 2 p.m. and concentrated on all inside appliances. Later, we settled in the driver seat and the adviser discussed all the functional buttons for driving the coach.
Finally, around 4 p.m. we started on the exterior of the coach, being shown the bays, the awing, the hot water heater, propane connection, and so on. Do this, OK! Don’t do that! This button controls that!
My mind could not absorb another word. It was so hot and humid, and I thought I was going to be sick. While being briefed on the engine the salesmen approached us, asked to take a picture, shook our hand, thanked us for the business, handed me the keys, stood back from the coach and said, "Have a great trip!"
"Oh my God," I thought. They expect me to drive this monster out of here right now. Turning back to the coach, it looked enormous, and our Jeep in tow increased its length.
I asked foolishly, "Are you sure this is 36 feet long? It looks much bigger."
My inquiry went unanswered, as the workforce were walking back towards the showroom. I cannot begin to describe the empty, drained and terrifying feeling I had. It was after 5 p.m., and traffic was once again at its peak. It was rush hour and a Friday.
It was terribly hot and everyone was in a hurry to get home. I had to drive this monster through the city of
Diane and I smiled at each other, opened the door and entered our new coach. It smelled so nice, so clean and new. We sat in our new leather captain chairs. We never owned leather chairs before, but now we each had a front-row seat of very comfortable leather. I placed the key into the ignition and started it up for my very first time. I looked into the mirror. My God, I can hardly see the end. It is so big; why didn’t we buy a smaller one?
With anxiety I asked, "Are you ready, Diane?" She shook her head yes. I put my foot on the brake and placed the transmission into drive. I could feel my muscles tightening across my back. I grabbed hold of the steering wheel — tightly — and said, "OK, let’s go."
Letting up on the brake, the beast came to life, slowly moving up the driveway towards the highway. Cars, vans, trucks and buses were swirling by in both directions, pieces of metal flashing before my eyes. How will I ever get this thing across the road and into the proper lane?
We waited and waited! I could see Diane holding onto the armrest as tight as I was holding the steering wheel. With each passing vehicle stress was building within me. It wasn't supposed to be like this. We expected a happy moment not a knuckle-busting thriller.
Finally, there was a break, and it was temporarily clear in both directions. I pressed my foot on the gas pedal and the beast moved at my command, slowly at first, then gaining speed as I pressed harder. I looked into the mirror, and it seemed the front end was moving into the lane, yet my Jeep was still back in the driveway.
"This is long, will we get across before some crazy nut comes around that curve?," I thought. Breathing deeply and gaining speed, we made it through our first obstacle, getting on the road in the proper lane without an accident. Our life on the road began with its first scary adventure and challenge.
