Alright, today I’m sharing the third of three heartwarming stories as we get close to Christmas. As I post this, tomorrow is Christmas 2021. And this story comes from way back in the 1950’s, too. It’s about a couple of new army recruits who wanted to go home for Christmas. So, I call this story…
Hitchhiking Home In A Way That Won’t Bug You
— I joined the Army on Dec. 15, 1959, when I was 17. Five days later, I had the choice of going home for Christmas or staying at Fort Carson, Colorado, and pulling KP duty for 15 days.
A fellow recruit and I wanted to go home, but we didn’t have enough money for bus fare. So we decided to hitchhike some 1,100 miles to San Antonio, Texas. From there, we could get bus tickets home. He was going to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, and I was going to Aransas Pass, Texas.
That first day, we got as far as Trinidad, Colorado, where we spent the night drinking coffee in a small cafe. The next day and night, we went all the way to Amarillo, Texas, in a semi-tractor rig. From there, we had to walk across town to where we could hitchhike.
It was late afternoon, and we were getting hungrier and colder.
On top of that, it had started to snow. Our chances of getting a ride out of town were getting mighty slim.
Then our saving angel came by in a VW Bug, offering us a ride all the way to San Antonio.
In the Bug were the young driver, his wife, an infant, a toddler and a big shaggy dog. The backseat had been removed to accommodate a sort of bed. With the dad and two tired, cold, hungry young soldiers in the front seat, we were going home for Christmas.
This family went out of its way to help us, buying us dinner and breakfast. They not only took us to the bus station, they even paid for our tickets. I will forever remember these people and their kindness. May God still bless them. —Rafael Villalobos, Fulton, Mississippi —
I’m glad I never had a personal story of hitchhiking home. But it’s nice to hear a story that turned out so well. Especially for a couple of young guys who were serving our country.
OK, that does it for the three heartwarming stories before Christmas. I hope you and yours are able to be together this evening and all through tomorrow and the weekend. And I wish you nothing but the best. Be sure to put out the milk and cookies. Because you never know who might stop by. So…
Stay Ready,
Ronda
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