Future Unknown

By Geri Monaghan

As you venture out each day into the world, you don't think bad things will happen to you. We become satisfied with our roles in life and are happy until a storm appears on the horizon, and everything changes. We cannot predict our futures, and it is doubtful that anyone else can do that for us. Each day, we should appreciate the beautiful things in our lives, such as nature with its beautiful flowers and scenes given to us by God. We should appreciate the sun rising and the sun setting, the oceans, the sandy beaches, and most of all, we should love and help each other as much as possible. Remember to keep your faith in God, as He will help you see and understand why this storm occurred in your life. Remember that when a storm appears and hovers over you, God is there to help you get through it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Aug 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798350913521

Book preview

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In Loving Memory

of this VT group of

Automobile Lovers and Close Friends

Art Monaghan, Sr.

Joe Kaelin

Dave Maunsell

Gail Boardman

Future Unknown

©2023 Geri Monaghan

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

ISBN 979-8-35091-351-4

eBook ISBN 979-8-35091-352-1

Acknowledgements

I want to thank and acknowledge

God for His guidance.

My daughters who have always been there for me:

Susan, Cindy, Beth, and Judy.

And all our dear friends and relatives.

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God

Corrie Ten Bloom

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 1

Can some people predict the future? Some people might say yes, but Anna disagrees. She believes that if they could, waking up each day, their thoughts of what was to happen would be filled with either terror or bliss. She would prefer to take each day as it comes and live it to its fullest.

A beautiful summer is almost gone, but it left Anna with good memories. Her long brown hair is pulled back into a ponytail. Her hazel eyes match the color of her green shirt, emblazoned with a moose and a circle around VT. Her jean shorts and sneaks are perfect for this weather.

Holding a mug of steaming coffee, Anna steps outside onto the porch where she can enjoy the peace of a summer morning in Vermont.

Mr. Groundhog tries to be a speed demon when the door slides open. His swiftness has diminished, as he gained extra weight in preparation for hibernation. Anna smiles as it is a cute scene. That is how she discovered where he lived last summer, just as they were getting ready to leave for home.

He waddles as fast as possible toward his home under the shed. The extra weight he accumulated this past summer attributes to his slowness.

She always feels this is a small patch of heaven placed on this earth for her. She loves the warm, sunny days, cool nights, beautiful flowers blooming everywhere, walks up the mountain roads through the forests, and sailing on the pristine lakes.

She enjoys walking to the pond where the beavers built a small dam. Anna knows now where the saying, busy as beavers, comes from, as it is true. These are good memories that can always overshadow bad memories.

A melody cuts through the light morning mist as she watches the chickadees singing and flying around the birdhouse, always so playful. A happy feeling overwhelms her as she watches them from the screened porch high on tall wooden pillars.

As Anna looks at the trees surrounding the yard, they remind her of people. Some trees are bent and old; some are already falling, only to be held up by younger, healthier trees; all different heights and thickness; some with leaves and some with needles; some sparse and some thick with green foliage, while others are bald. Some trees are cut down at the prime of growing up, while others are left to decay and rot. Others are tall and reaching upward as if trying to obtain their goal, while others seem stunted by too many trees crowding them. There are always new little trees sprouting up from the ground. That’s how it is with people.

People are life. Without the various types of people, life would be like an albino rainbow, colorless and dull, just streaks in the sky. People bring color to life. There are all varieties and colors of people, and they can be vibrant or dull, happy or sad, talkative or silent, tall or short, skinny or fat, and on and on.

These are a few things that make people fascinating to Anna, as she believes people come in and out of our lives for a reason. What would it be like if everyone tried to get to know everyone they met?

At this time, Anna wasn’t aware that soon there would be many strangers, sincere friends, and family coming into her life.

Sipping her coffee, she hears a deep voice calling her. She knew her husband, Gavin, was awake and ready for coffee.

I’m on the porch. The coffee is ready and waiting for you.

That’s why I’m here. That luscious smell of coffee awakened me.

Gavin opens the sliding door and sets his coffee near Anna on the small table. He gives her a morning kiss, but she remarks, You need a shave.

The breeze carried laughter from both of them. Then Gavin hugged her so tight and rubbed his whiskers on her cheek.

She started yelling, Stop. Stop.

That made him do it more until she finally said, I won’t go with you today unless you stop right now.

He did stop, but not before giving her one of his strong hugs.

Don’t worry. I’ll shave before we leave.

They both laughed and drank their coffee while enjoying the beauty surrounding them.

Anna smiled, thinking about the car show in Stowe, knowing they would see many friends, so she knew he would shave.

Gavin finished his coffee and left to get ready, as he had to shower and shave.

While enjoying the fresh air, Anna recalls their trip to Vermont. They usually drive, but since they had a car here at the house, they flew up, and what an experience.

Gavin does not like to fly, but it’s a lot faster, and little did she realize what unforgettable events were about to happen.

Anna always loved Southwest Airlines as you choose your seat when boarding, and you can take food on the plane if you want to. With Gavin, a person with diabetes on oral medications, Anna ensured he had the right food.

Gavin bought two cans of soda and put one in each jacket pocket.

Anna always had to take the middle seat as Gavin wanted the window or the aisle seat. She didn’t mind as long as it made Gavin happy.

A nice young girl sat beside Anna in the aisle seat and got her book out to study. After she and Anna had conversed about college, Anna turned to Gavin to give him attention.

The plane took off. Gavin gave Anna one of the sodas as he opened the tab on his can of soda. BANG! The can exploded all over, spraying anyone close and a few even further across the aisle.

The poor girl next to Anna had soda sprayed all over her book. The lady’s arm across the aisle was also a victim.

While the girl was wiping her pages, Anna kept apologizing, explaining that Gavin didn’t realize the sodas were shaken up. The lady across the aisle heard Anna say soda and, smiling, said, Oh, my, that’s okay. I thought he sneezed.

At that point, everyone around them started laughing except the young girl beside Anna.

Maybe she was frightened by the loud noise, who knows. Her book was okay as Anna helped wipe off the mist.

Anna apologized again and finally stopped as this girl did not want to accept an apology.

They had to change planes as they were flying into Manchester, where their close friends had insisted on picking them up and taking them to Vermont the following day.

While waiting for the plane to take them to Manchester, Gavin needed something out of one of our suitcases, and he knocked over the suitcase of the people sitting next to us. It was like what happens in a Three Stooges scene.

Gavin kept saying, Never again. I am not flying ever again.

Then he tripped over another suitcase, but luckily Anna grabbed him to balance him.

They did make it to Manchester, but one of their suitcases was somehow lost and needed to be recovered. They were assured that the suitcase would be delivered to their home in Vermont.

They checked into the hotel, and of course, the first thing Gavin did was get a bucket of ice. Gavin made sure the desk was his place to sit as he plugged his computer in, set his newly purchased bottle of scotch by the computer, and after getting the password from the clerk downstairs via telephone, he was there for the night.

Anna got ready and crawled into bed as Gavin had the TV on. She watched it for half an hour but then dozed off.

She woke up several hours later and noticed Gavin was hunched over the desk, sound asleep. He had too many scotches.

Anna turned the TV off and went back to sleep.

The following day they were ready, but no one came to pick them up, so they rented a car, loaded it up with their stuff, and left for their summer home.

Later they found out that the other couple did show up, but Gavin got impatient and was concerned that they might not appear. He knew we had to open the house, ensure the water was on, check for leaks, etc., and wanted to get it all done before darkness descended.

All Anna could think of was never flying to Vermont with Gavin again.

She felt sorry for Gavin as sometimes he was similar to a bull in a china shop. One of his favorite sayings was, I’m a Vermonter. I’ll do what I want to.

Despite all of the little problems, she was so glad they were here to enjoy another beautiful summer. Gavin insists he will not fly back, which will be interesting when it’s time to go home. Smiling, she knows she will not hitchhike, as she never has and never will. I could fly solo, however, she thought.

She hated leaving the beautiful playful birds and flowers but had to go inside to prepare for the car show.

Since she cannot predict the future, she is not aware that by attending this car show, their lives will change dramatically.

Chapter 2

The fresh cool air streams through the car, tossing Anna’s hair into a whirlwind as they drive up and down the curvy mountain roads of beautiful Vermont. Gavin’s cap covers his white hair, therefore untouched by the breeze, while driving a 1987 Chrysler LeBaron that was a birthday present to Anna last year. It’s a beautiful white exterior with a red interior. They call it their Vermont car since it is kept here at their summer home.

They were nearing the town of Stowe—the traffic increasing. As they round the curve, it was such a beautiful sight. Anna’s eyes wander across the fields where all the vehicles are displayed and the vendors selling car parts or other paraphernalia.

The sky is a beautiful blue with puffy white clouds scattered throughout the mountaintops. The excitement can be felt as people walk along the road to the paths leading down to the fields. Anna inhales the tantalizing food combinations the local firefighters are cooking, and her hunger is aroused.

Fire trucks and military tanks are parked at the top of the field so people can examine them and ask questions. The children enjoy them, touching them in awe and hoping they can drive them someday. Next are rows of antique cars with proud owners answering questions about these beautiful, well-kept cars.

After parking their car, Gavin and Anna walk across a little bridge toward the antique cars, with Gavin shaking hands and conversing with old friends. He’s happy to see them as he only visits in the summer, and they all congregate at this event.

Hours later, after viewing the cars and photographing these exciting vehicles, they trudge up the hill to the car corral. Anyone can pay a fee to place their car here for sale. The rental fee is for a space to park your vehicle that you want to sell for the duration of the car show.

Gavin is always interested in looking at cars for sale, whether he needs one or not. Many Vermont residents are like that, as Vermont has an excellent history of automobiles. A vehicle here is a must, as the many beautiful and colorful towns can be miles apart.

Anna says, Look, there’s a convertible like the one you bought me.

And there it was, a white convertible like the one Gavin bought Anna. This was a 1976 Mark Cross edition with only 29,000 miles and in excellent shape.

After examining the car, Gavin mentioned to Anna that the salesman was asking far too much money. Gavin took his card anyway and gave the salesman his telephone number in case he didn’t sell it that day.

Gavin and Anna enjoyed the rest of the day after seeing it all, sampling the excellent food, and buying a few car items, including a real STOP sign for a little boy back home.

On a beautiful day such as this, they always ride with the top down to enjoy the fresh air and scenery. Anna loves seeing the animals in the fields, including sheep and cows, and even a llama near their house.

She enjoys the beautiful flowers that everyone plants at their homes and along the road as soon as spring arrives, with the majestic mountains surrounding all of this beauty.

She remembers the first thing Gavin said on their arrival in Texas about how much sky there was as the land was so flat. In Vermont, the rugged mountains acted as picture frames, only allowing a piece of the sky to be visible unless you were standing on a mountain top.

Anna always thanked God they could witness all of this beauty in both states and all the states in between, with every state having its own beauty. There were so many beautiful small towns and cities all over the United States.

This day was almost over. After walking around the grounds, admiring all of the antique cars, and talking to so many people, while eating the firemen’s wonderful tasty food, it was time to go back up the mountain to their home. Their friends were coming over so they could all talk about this special day at the car show.

Another successful show sponsored by the Vermont Automobile Enthusiasts organization that they hold every August at Waterbury, VT. That’s one show that Gavin would never miss as he loves cars.

Making sure we have looked at all the cars, photographing many, and talking to the owners, we walk back through the crowds, over the bridge, to our car so we can drive up the beautiful mountain to our home away from home, at least for the summer.

Chapter 3

The days disappear as they enjoy their fresh garden food. The following week Gavin receives a call from the car salesman, Jack, who was selling the convertible at the car show. He hadn’t sold it and was wondering if Gavin was still interested.

Gavin loves driving and hates flying unless he’s a pilot, but he doesn’t have his license yet and is still learning.

Anna chuckles as she knows there is no way she would fly alone with Gavin as the pilot. What if he had a heart attack or passed out? If he pursued being the pilot, she would have to learn how to fly, just in case, or at least know how to land a plane.

This summer since they flew to Vermont instead of driving, Gavin has been looking for another vehicle to drive home to Texas. He doesn’t need another one but loves to drive and explore the various routes and towns. He also wants to drive home so we can stop and visit friends and family.

After meeting Jack at the dealership, Gavin and Anna take the car for a ride and visit a garage to talk to a mechanic.

Gavin requests that the car be driven on to the lift for a thorough inspection including underneath.

After the mechanic checks underneath, along with Gavin double-checking everything over his shoulder, the mechanic gives him the bad news.

It’s going to need a lot of work underneath as there is a lot of rust. And he repeats, A lot of rust.

Does that hinder Gavin’s view of it? No, because he knows he can have it repaired and ready for their trip home.

Anna knows nothing about repairing cars and trusts Gavin’s opinion entirely, as he has always been