I don't think I will ever know how I got into the jam I did; but what happened next will stay with me forever.

I was on my way to work, like most mornings, when I suddenly ran into car trouble.  My car just up and quit.  Like that.  Pffft!!  Suddenly, I was toolin' down the road, with nothing on my mind, but getting to work on time, and then my car died.  Sittin' there on the freeway, with other cars, trucks blowing by me.

O, this is just ducky!!, I remember thinking to myself.  How am I going to get to work now????

Sighing heavily, I sat there in my car, hoping that nobody would hit me as they flew past, hoping that someone would see me sitting there.  I was terrified of getting into a bad wreck, or if I ventured out, getting struck by another vehicle.

I grabbed my cell, called work, to let them know that I was still planning on being there, just I would be late, as I ran into a little car trouble (there's no such thing as "a little car trouble"!); I hope my boss understood. 

I then grabbed my crutches  (I am disabled), carefully eased my way out of my car, and stood there at the side of the road, praying someone would come to my aid.

It seemed I was invisible; it was like nobody even bothered to stop to help me.  Everyone kept going past, not even glancing at me (by this time, I'd turned my emergency flashers on).  Even cop cars, ambulances, fire trucks zoomed by, they didn't even stop to help me.  I was becoming more and more discouraged as the minutes ticked by.

I worked at a job where tardiness was not tolerated.  Now my boss said he'd understand why I was late; however, I knew once I walked into the place, I was going to get a good butt-chewing-out by him, possibly get fired. 

At that thought, my heart sank.  There was suddenly the distinct possibility I'd be out of a job.

Suddenly, when I was least expecting it, this bright light-green pickup truck pulled up behind me.  A guy driving it stuck his head out the window, grinned, and said, "Y' need help, ma'am?"

"I sure do!", I said, relief flooding over me like water.  "I was driving to work, and my car died!  I can't get it started again, and if I'm late to work, my boss is going to fire me; I just know he will!"  By this time, I was crying, from a combination of fear and relief.

The man jumped out of his truck, then went to work to try to help me.  He didn't say much, just asked what'd happened.  He stopped after a few minutes, shook his head, and said, "Well, ma'am, I'm afraid it's your engine block, as well as your transmission.  Serious news.  Your car is beyond help".

The news only caused me to start crying harder.  All of a sudden, I was faced with huge repair costs.  More money spent, and I already didn't make that much at my job.  (I did draw a little SSDI, but that wasn't enough to live on; therefore, I was forced to go to work, so I could have enough to pay my bills.)

With the ever-increasing fuel, food prices, any extra money I did earn was like gold.  It was very precious to me.  I watched my money like a hawk does its prey.  Whenever I ran into a situation (like now), it was cause for panic.

"Don't worry, ma'am", the man said, pleasantly. "If need be, I'll drive you to your work place.  Just let me know where you work, and I'll be happy to drive ya".

"You sure?"  I asked.  "I don't want to be a problem".

"Yeah, I'm sure", the man replied.  "Yer no problem.  You have a problem, but you're not the problem.  I'm always glad to help people in need.  Hop in; I'll drive ya to yer job."

The man wasn't much to look at (short, grizzled appearance, long, grey hair, smelled like cigarettes; the guy smoked), but he was nice enough.  My fears settled as I attempted to get into his truck.  He took my crutches, laid them on the seat behind me, and without a word, started the truck up, and soon, we were on our way.

When we pulled up at my job site, he put something in my hand, then told me to have a good day as he handed me my crutches.  "Oh," he said, "by the way, my name is Joe.  Have a good day, and may God bless you!  Hope to see you again one day; it was a pleasure to help ya, ma'am".  He smiled, waved, then left.

When I looked down, I was suprised to see three brand-new, crisp $100 bills in my hands.  I started crying all over again.  It was beyond my wildest imagination. 

Someone knew I was in need of help; it was like God, Himself, sent an angel to assist me.  It was nothing short of a miracle.