There's nothing in the world quite as wonderful as a planned Christmas road trip in a Dodge Grand Caravan filled to the brim with foster kids, my own kid, the husband, plenty of noise, luggage, and toys, whilst traveling north from Colorado Springs, CO., to Los Angeles, CA. along I-25, in the snow. Oh yeah, did I forget to say I'm Jewish, and, my husband, well, he just so happens to be Muslim. OK, I've no doubt you're laughing, and that's just fine with me, because I'm laughing right along with you, rather, I am now, that is. However at that time, uh, not so much.

So, approximately 90 minutes later we found ourselves happily driving upwards along this beautiful, somewhat dry strip of I-70, heading towards Vail, CO., when the fricking van, suddenly, broke down. We couldn't believe it. Not only did the vans power go out, but with it went the steering, the brakes, and everything else you might think of, and yet somehow, we successfully managed to safely bring the van to the side of the road, and just in time too, because all three boys needed to pee, and pee they did, right on the side of the highway.

We were so lucky, as just moments later we were once again able to start the van, as well as somehow managing to keep it running while successfully driving it up, then down the mountain, and into an official Dodge repair shop located in Silverthorne, CO., which just so happened to be open. Now, for the bad news, the part we needed to repair the Caravan wouldn't be available for a week. WHAT? Is this guy kidding me? We'll miss Christmas!

Oh no we won't, not if I have anything to say about it. With six nights, and seven days of FREE use of my aunt's beach-side, two-bedroom, time-share condo awaiting us, there was absolutely no way we were going to stay in Silverthorne, no matter how beautiful it was. Let's see, snow, beach, snow, beach, uh, the beach wins hands down. Forget about the rest of family, what about ME?

This is where, Super Susie, stepped up to the plate, and took over. Whilst preparing my family's lunches, out of a cooler I'd packed prior to our departure, I clever devised a plan. While everyone else was eating, I'd slyly take the mechanic aside, offering him some cash of course, while politely asking him to, "FIND ME THAT PART!" So I did just that. I couldn't believe it, my nutty plan had worked, and in no time, too!

It just so happened there was an auto parts store located about a block away, which was still open, and thankfully, the

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