Road Trip of Delusion by Jean Ann Williams |

Road Trip of Delusion by Jean Ann Williams

Thanks, Jean Ann for providing this character interview with Kari Rose Holt.

I have Kari Rose Holt from Pismo Beach, California, here at the Shasta City hospital. Single-handedly, Kari drove her granny’s 1960 Cadillac through a blizzard of the century.

How are you today, Kari?

Tired.

Let’s start at the beginning. How did you find yourself caught in this blizzard?

Well, uh, it’s a really long story, but, my great-granny decided to take a 500-mile trip to see her son, my papa, Joel. At three in the ridiculous morning, as my sister, Leah, has said. I think I was so sleepy, I couldn’t think straight and decided she couldn’t leave my sisters and me. After a while, I realized my mistake because our parents would be furious.

When did you realize this?

Only a few miles down the road, especially when my two sisters began complaining about the trip.

As the eldest sister, did you feel a responsibility to have your grandmother turn back for home?

I did. But, Granny was determined and even had a crying fit, and so we kept going. By the time the Cadillac broke down on the freeway, I was biting my fingernails. Also, I realized then the trip was about over because of the car.

This did not stop the trip, though, did it?

No, it didn’t. It seemed nothing could stop the trip. When the auto shop replaced the part needed, I made plans for Papa to meet us partway.

By then, something happened and you took charge. Would you tell us about this?

Well, yeah, I had to drive the Caddy because Granny had fallen and could no longer drive. I planned to go as far as the next motel, but the storm had hit and a blizzard was coming.

So you drove in a snow storm, correct?

Yes, and I didn’t have my license. It was Leah who pushed me to drive, because we were at a rest stop and we needed to get to a motel.

Did you feel it was wrong to drive without a license?

Oh, yeah! But, the weather scared me more. A lady we met back at the auto shop told us she feared it would be a blizzard like the one this area had back in 1860. I believed her, and so this pressured me to make my decision.

Tell us about when the blizzard hit. Where were you?

Oh, it was scary. I was driving really slowly as the traffic finally moved on the freeway. Snow was so thick it was hard to see even with the windshield wipers. This snowplow pulled off the freeway as it was plowing the snow. I quick followed it to an off ramp. We ended at the top of the hill at a vacant lodge. We were stranded there for three days, but safe from the weather.

What helped you the most with all the decisions you had to make?

Prayer.

Really? Just simple prayer?

Yeah. I even remembered a scripture while the Caddy tires skidded up the hill toward the lodge. I just knew God could help us.

And did God help you?

Yes. He helped me to make hard decisions. He sent the plow guy, Derrick, to help us get to the lodge. He gave me courage to do hard things like climb a roof. I feel braver now. He helped to save Leah from freezing and from me suffocating in a pile of snow. And, he heard our prayers for Granny here in the hospital. She’s going to be okay.

Because of the changes in you, do you still regret taking the trip?

Yep. Mom was really mad at me, but I think she’s starting to forgive me for my decision to go with Granny.

Kari, thank you for answering my questions, and I’m glad you and your family are safe. Watch this interview on tonight’s local weather news.

I’m going to be on TV? I wonder if Harry will see me.

Who’s Harry?

Kari bowed her head and grinned.

Bio: Author Jean Ann Williams, the eldest in a large family, enjoys digging into her fascinating childhood to create stories for children. Having written over three hundred articles for children and adults, Road Trip of Delusion is her second book for ages twelve to ninety-nine. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She writes regularly at Putting on the New blog, Book Fun magazine, and her own Real Stories for Real Girls website. Jean Ann and her husband live on one acre in Southern Oregon where they raise a garden, goats, and chickens. Her favorite hobbies are hiking through the woods, practicing archery, and her favorite game is Scrabble.