Misadventures Along the Road - Part 3

When Joe, Rita and Kitty and I moved from New York, two years after Ralph's death, there were a number of things I left behind in a kind neighbor's garage. Soon after we got settled, the two youngest girls and I (and the dog) drove back to Long Island with a U-Haul trailer to retrieve our possessions. We spent a couple of days visiting, then started back, trailer full, and this time with my friend and two of her daughters. It was a very hot, Sunday afternoon. A U-Haul trailer is not permitted on the Belt Parkway, so we were forced to take the dreaded BQE (Brooklyn-Queens Expressway). Not a road known for it's good repair and a smooth ride. As we buzzed along in Brooklyn, almost reaching the Verrazano Bridge, we rounded a blind curve - and the trailer hitch broke. We quickly got the girls and the dog out of the car and safely onto the grass. Almost immediately, a Brooklyn NY Police car appeared. Thank heaven! The two cops were very cheerful and helpful, telling us they would get us back on the road. One said to me, "Just walk back to the curve, and wave off the traffic." I DON'T THINK SO! I wasn't about to stand anywhere near Sunday traffic moving at high speed, and wave at them. The cop shrugged and said well, he guessed he'd have to get out the traffic cones from his trunk then - which he did. A much better solution!

They got us hitched up again with a piece of chain, and directed us to the nearest U-Haul lot, which they assured us would be easy to find. Uh-huh. Then we were on our way again. Need I tell you, we could not find the lot following the directions we had been given.

Do you happen to remember the opening scene every week on the old "Welcome Back Kotter" show? That is exactly where we were, under the El. No one in the entire neighborhood spoke enough English to give us directions, even if they knew what we were asking. We wandered around for a while, and did come upon the lot at last. We got our new hitch, and found the Verrazano Bridge, and headed home.

Have you noticed a theme here? Every time I am in a car that breaks down, I seem to be accompanied by children and a dog.


I'm not sure why I felt I had to try to illustrate these incidents. I know I did it very badly, but since the pictures are done - here they are, for better or worse. Another mishap will be coming next week.