By David Duvall
Back in the quarantine times, I was writing a LOT of music – both to keep busy and to find ways to spread hope and optimism. One of my better offerings, “Angels Will Appear,” (YouTube Music) posed the thought that we are always surrounded by angels…. Some may actually be human, but some may not be, and all are present to be of service. In that light, whenever we can, WE should be angels of light to others whenever possible.
We have lived in Puerto Vallarta for nearly 2 years, never once regretting the decision. When we moved down, we decided to leave our car with a friend who offered storage so we could use it whenever we came back to visit, as we are at this writing. It’s been comforting to know it’s “there waiting,” but I was pretty sure before we made this trip that it was now time to sell it.
The friend holding it for us has done a masterful job, starting it occasionally, letting it flush itself out with the heater on cold days, and opening windows to air it out in the heat. The car seemed happy to see us like an aging dog when we picked it up for our 11-day visit last week.
And it has been the perfect friend since then – doing everything asked of it.
Two days before leaving to return to our beloved Vallarta, I was led by a voice in my head to contact my best friend from junior high school (who met and got together with my best friend from grade school at the 7th grade Valentine’s Day dance – they’re still married after 50 years) to see if in his “retirement” he’d be willing to take on having the car detailed (at my expense) and selling it for me since I just don’t feel I can manage selling a car in the US while living in Mexico.
He asked if I knew that, in his retirement, he’d become co-owner of a used car dealership. I told him honestly that I did not. I could hear his smile over the phone as he told me he’d be happy to assist me and would insist I accept his Friends & Family reduced rate.
Literally, 4 hours later, I was driving the car back to where we were staying when a “perfect storm” occurred – taking an exit I wasn’t familiar with, blinded by oncoming headlights on “bright,” reading one set of construction instructions on road signs while hearing contradictory instruction from my British-voiced GPS navigator (that I call “Nigel”), I ran over a curb and blew out both my right side tires.
I tried to make it back to where I was staying – less than 2 miles away – but the tires were toast, and I had to stop the car.
I contacted our host to ask for help, and he came immediately. Before he left, he asked if I knew of a towing service since we had let AAA go when we moved. At first, I said “No,” but then another voice in my head made a suggestion….what about my friend with the car dealership???
I contacted my old friend and asked if he knew of a good towing service and explained my situation. As it turned out, there is a towing service that shares his business lot – he would send them, they would take my tire-less car to his shop, where I would have driven it myself tomorrow anyway. He would give me a loaner so I could get to my recording session the following day, I will bring it back when I would have dropped off my car, we’ll still sign papers, have dinner, and everything stays on schedule without interruption! Perfection!!
Our host arrived quickly. Everything that needed to be, was moved from my car to take back to his house, where I will be able to pack or prep it in daylight before leaving for the recording studio. The tow truck arrived 5 minutes before my Junior High friend. The truck, my friend and I convoyed to where it could sit and wait for repair.
In my free loaner, I arrived safely back in my guest bed — tired but not stressed, ready for one final day of recording before flying home to Vallarta the next day.
I met my friend and his wife for dinner and to return the loaner – and was informed I’d done more damage to the car than blowing the tires. Several things on the underside of the car, not visible in the darkness, needed repair…..repair that would eat much of the profit from selling it. But because the repair cost was close to the car’s value, he believes the insurance company will “total” it – which will most likely net us more cash than selling it. Did the car sacrifice itself to get us the highest possible payout?
To me is perfectly clear: angels seen and unseen are fraught in this story. They kept me safe and attended to during a challenging situation. Not only that, Good Karma rose up in a huge wave to keep a busy schedule on track.
But I’ve lived long enough not to assume all of this was just a “gift”! I’m now tasked to be somebody’s Angel when someone I know needs assistance they weren’t expecting to need. I don’t dare disregard all this kindness without continuing to Pay It Forward. I also know this wouldn’t have happened without my having put kindness and assistance out into the world, and without my acknowledging I could not have managed this situation alone and actually asked for help from seen and unseen angels.
I needed angels – they were there. I will be an angel whenever needed, and I know I’m augmenting others I cannot see. It is the way of things.
