March 13, 2023 - Several years ago we decided to motor up to Burlington, North Carolina, to visit our son, Doug, during the Christmas season. It is a long trip of fourteen or fifteen hours. Clara and I enjoyed several days of visiting with Doug and our grandchildren. For some reason, I decided to begin our return trip to East Texas on New Years Eve, late in the afternoon. Big mistake.
On our way out of Burlington we stopped to fill our car’s gasoline tank to the brim. While pumping our gas, we observed the station’s attendant racing out of the building chasing after a car which had been fueling. The car had driven off without paying. This event was somewhat unnerving.
Being a law enforcement officer myself, I decided to report any drunk drivers that I observed along Interstate 85 to Atlanta, and then on Interstate 20 to Carthage. It did not take long. I reported several drunk drivers along the way but never observed any police officers after them. They were probably busy with other calls. I was disappointed.
In the early hours of the morning I stopped at a convenience store somewhere in Mississippi. I was refilling our gas tank while Clara had gone inside the store. Suddenly, a man approached me on unsteady legs and said, “Give me two dollars!” This demand did not go over very well. I replied, “What did you say?” My thoughts immediately went to my trusty Glock pistol that was on the floorboard of my car, and how fast I could retrieve it.
He demanded again, “Give me two dollars!” I noticed Clara exiting the store with a cup of coffee in each hand. I yelled to her, “Get in the car!”
“Now, just what makes you think that I am going to give you two dollars?” I asked the man as I slowly opened my car door. With that, he turned without a word, and walked inside the store. I was relieved.
Somewhere near Shreveport we stopped at a small restaurant for a bite of breakfast. It was very early in the morning and only a few people inside.
We were enjoying our bacon, eggs, and toast when suddenly a man rushed into the restaurant. He was highly irritated with one of the waitresses, and I thought he was about to attack her. Apparently she had not gotten his take-out order correct, and he was highly incensed. I told Clara, “Let’s get the heck out of Dodge!” So, we left hurriedly. I was relieved.
The remainder of our trip back to San Augustine was uneventful, for which we were thankful. I have never again started on a trip on New Years’ Eve. I feel it is much safer to just stay inside the house and watch football games and eat snacks. No one else has demanded that I give them two dollars since then. I am convinced that I will never again begin a long trip on New Years’ Eve, period.
