What I Learned about Life After Our Truck Broke Down
Travel Stories Series #4
Last Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, we set off from Jekyll Island to head home earlier than planned. Our goal? To avoid camping during the winter storm forecasted along the East Coast. Leaving around 10 AM, we expected to reach home by 4 PM, wrapping up a six-hour journey that marked the final leg of our annual snowbird migration (for more about this journey, check out my earlier story here).
But instead of pulling into our driveway by late afternoon, we found ourselves back at Coastal Georgia RV — a familiar campground near Jekyll Island — by 4 PM.
Why? Because our Tahoe broke down just 10 miles into the trip. After merging onto I-95 from Exit 29, we were fortunate to coast off the highway and into a gas station near Exit 36. From there, we had to assess the damage and figure out our next steps. What followed was a six-hour ordeal: arranging for the Tahoe to be towed to a nearby dealership (thanks to Chevrolet’s Roadside Assistance program), securing a private service provider to tow our RV back to Coastal Georgia RV and finding an Uber that would accept us and our pup, Miss Sadie, for the ride back to the campground.
Over the next four days, we unraveled the situation and worked through our options.
What happened to the Tahoe? Its motor blew — at just 15,000 miles. Apparently, a batch of motors from Chevy had connecting rod issues, and our one-year-old Tahoe was part of the ‘recall’. Thankfully, everything is under warranty. Chevy will replace the motor free of charge, and through their GM Reunite program, our Tahoe with her new motor will eventually be shipped to our home 300 miles away. But the process could take one to two months.
What about the RV? Store it? Tow it ourselves? Hire someone to tow it? Stay put until the Tahoe is ready? After exploring countless options, consulting with many different types of service providers, and leaning on the advice of trusted friends and family, we decided to hire a professional to tow the RV back home while we rented a car and made the journey ourselves. We got back home on Tuesday, Jan. 14, five days after the breakdown.
Through this unexpected detour, I walked away with more than just logistical solutions. Here’s what I learned about life in the midst of uncertainty and curveballs.
Understanding the Nature of Life Helps with Acceptance
The most challenging part of this experience for both my husband and me was coming to terms with the fact that it happened at all. This was particularly hard to swallow because we had placed so much faith in our Tahoe, switching from Ford entirely after numerous issues with our previous tow vehicle, the Ford F150. I can still vividly recall the frustrations we had with the F150. Yet, somehow, despite all its faults, it never left us stranded on the road — certainly not with the added complication of towing an RV.
“Is there any reliable vehicle at all?” my husband Roger asked, voicing the same question that was echoing in my mind.
The first few hours after the breakdown were an exhausting mix of logistical problem-solving and emotional grappling. Later, discovering the recall on the motor did help restore our faith in the Chevy V8 engine that my husband had trusted for so long.
But beyond the technical resolution, this situation brought a deeper, philosophical reckoning: What is the true nature of life?
If we expect life to be a straight, upward climb, moments like this feel like setbacks — disruptive, frustrating, and unwelcome. But when we embrace life as a wave, with its natural peaks and troughs, we start to see even the challenges as essential parts of the journey. Both highs and lows carry hidden gifts.
The more we see events as setbacks, the more they will feel like obstacles. Conversely, the more we approach them as opportunities, the more gifts they will reveal. After the initial shock subsided, I reflected: Wow, we managed to navigate this crisis with minimal loss and hardship. What a success!
Yin and Yang always go hand in hand. The failure of the truck inspired a wellspring of ingenuity in us. What initially seemed like a frustrating roadblock turned out to be a reminder of our resilience and resourcefulness — a lesson in accepting life’s harmonies, no matter how unexpected.
God Provides in the Most Mysterious Ways
Shortly after we arrived back at Coastal RV, feeling shaken and trying to regroup, we ran into Bob and Opal while walking Sadie. They had just pulled in with their motorhome, and I could hardly believe my eyes. We first met them last year in this very campground, around the same time. Apparently, our snowbird schedules had synced again, without prior consultation. Is this a coincidence, or is there coincidence at all?
Bob and Opal turned out to be “angels without wings,” adding magical sparks to the five days we spent at the campground without a vehicle. They invited us into their motorhome multiple times, treating us to meals, snacks, fellowship, and laughter. Beyond that, they ferried us to the grocery store and even drove us to pick up the rental car that eventually brought us home. Throughout, they radiated joy and even expressed gratitude for the chance to help. Their kindness reminded me that when you’re blessed by others, the best response is to pay it forward.
Jeff, the campground manager, was another guardian angel. On the day of the breakdown, he secured towing for our RV back to the campground, ensuring we had a safe place to regroup. His professionalism and caring demeanor transformed a difficult day into something far more manageable. In the days that followed, he continued to go above and beyond — flexibly accommodating us as we weighed our options, and even personally filling and delivering propane since we didn’t have a vehicle. Jeff’s sincerity and exceptional service make him a true gem, turning what could have been an ordeal into a reminder of how much good there is in the world.
Then there was Mack, the tow truck driver back in our hometown. We first met him last year during Hurricane Helene, when he towed our damaged trailer after oak trees fell during the storm. Over time, he’s become someone we deeply respect — not just for his fair prices and professional services but for his genuine willingness to help. When we called Mack about our latest predicament, he listened empathetically, offered advice about towing options, and recommended Michael, a trusted colleague. Based on that personal connection, we hired Michael to tow our RV, opting for someone we could trust over the brokers vying for our business.
We feel deeply grateful to have been on the receiving end of such an outpouring of kindness. At the same time, we believe in extending help whenever opportunities arise. On this trip alone, we had the chance to assist three fellow campers in meaningful ways.
Harry and his family, Canadians parked next to us at John Prince, had just completed a 40-hour journey from Montreal. We helped them set up on their first night, readjusted their hitch height to ensure a safer trip home, and shared local tips so they could enjoy their stay. We visited with each almost every day we were at John Prince.
The German gentleman with a converted Mercedes fire truck camper was dealing with a broken engine. Parked on the other side of us, he faced a language barrier in finding a service provider. We helped him connect with someone who could assist. Grateful, he asked to take a picture of my husband, saying, “You’ll be part of my album because you’ve helped me so much.” Even though he only parked next to us overnight, we were glad to be part of his extraordinary cross-American journey.
Mary arrived late at night, traveling alone, to the spot next to us at Jekyll Island. It was her first time towing her enormous trailer — her retirement gift — and she didn’t know how to back it into the space. Roger spent an hour carefully guiding her to maneuver it in, threading the needle through the tight spot. Later, we shared our fire-roasted chicken and sweet potato with her. Exhausted from her 12-hour drive, she said, “I was just thinking about what I could eat tonight.” The food next tasted better!
We felt privileged to be there when they needed help, and these connections became some of the most cherished moments of our trip. For us, this is one of the greatest charms of traveling. Life seems to flow faster on the road, bringing more frequent opportunities to both give and receive help. These moments become exchanges of care, connection, and love, making the journey all the more rewarding.
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.
— Albert Einstein
As someone who studies networks professionally, I often reflect on how life operates as a web of invisible connections — lines through which love flows. These networks are formed through intentional acts, serendipitous encounters, and mysterious forces. I’ve always believed that true family isn’t necessarily defined by shared blood or the same roof but by those connected to you through these invisible lines.
This experience was yet another affirmation: this is how God provides. Through people, through kindness, and through those unseen threads that tie us together when we need it most. Those that believe in the invisible threads are those that live their lives “as though everything is a miracle.”
There is Always Time for Appreciation and Fun
One of my favorite travel quotes is: “We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” This rings so true because, when we pay attention, life is unfolding in every single moment. During travel, these moments often feel more vivid and present than when we’re caught up in the daily grind.
We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”
— Anonymous
We were assigned Site #1 in the campground’s long-term section to give us the most flexibility. But when we arrived in an Uber, we found our RV parked at Site #2. Then, in our email, we discovered a note from the towing team: “We dropped it at Site #3 because we thought it would be easier for you.” That moment of comic relief brought much-needed laughter to an otherwise challenging day.
Before we left for home, we threw away Roger’s slippers, thinking we’d be home that evening. This left him slipperless for five days, giving us an unexpected opportunity for creativity. We improvised with double socks and parts of his gloves, and his favorite setup sparked endless jokes. “I wish I had four hands,” Roger said gleefully, after “tricking” me into shaking his makeshift “hand.” Such simple, spontaneous fun reminded us how easy it can be to find joy, even in small things.
Sunday morning, we woke up to discover there was no running water in the camper — the pipes had frozen overnight. “When the going gets tough, the tough gets out his blow torch,” Roger quipped. And so he did. Within five seconds of applying the blow torch to the water pipe connector, the water began to flow again. I was amazed by the power of heat and impressed by Roger’s quick thinking. The sense of relief was palpable — it’s always such a satisfying feeling when an obstacle is swiftly overcome.
During a grocery run, we picked up a little blue dolphin toy for Miss Sadie that plays a catchy tune — one as memorable as our washer’s cheerful jingle. That dolphin quickly became her favorite toy, and its tune filled our days with laughter.
On Monday afternoon, our final day before heading home, I sat at the table working while looking out at the lake outside my window as a gentle rain fell. In that stillness, I realized the beauty of the moment was absolute — not dependent on where I was or what I was doing. It was a moment of clarity, a sense that abundance as described by Jim Dethmer, one of my favorite leadership teacher:
“When you sit in the moment — without allowing your attention to wander to the past or the future — you will have a direct experience that you have enough of everything.”
We did miss the beautiful snow at home that fell during the very winter storm we had hoped to avoid by cutting our trip short. However, these five extra days of camping turned out to be deeply meaningful. We discovered abundance through invisible networks of kindness, our own ingenuity, and the simple yet profound presence in each moment.
What began as a challenge has left us filled with gratitude — for the opportunities it presented and the meaning we were able to create from it. Life, indeed, offers its greatest gifts when we pause, accept, appreciate, and transform our experiences.
Who could argue that this truck breakdown wasn’t a blessing in disguise?
