Thank God for Muslims!

So it's been a million years since I've updated Zoe's blog. And I'm still getting around to it. But today I wanted to share a story that I thought needed to be told.

Many of you know we would travel twice a year to Philadelphia with Zoe to have a team of neurological experts evaluate, design and help us execute an intensive therapy program to help Zoe's development.

On this particular trip, Jeff had to travel to LA for business and was flying from there directly to meet us in Philly. It was the first time I was flying solo with Zoe. We arranged for a limo service to take Jeff to LA and the same guy would come back, pick up Zoe and me the following morning at 6am to take us to the airport in San Diego for our 8am flight.

I had to stay up the entire night to finish packing, making sure the cat was fed, etc. But I was ready to go at 5:30am and ready to get Zoe out the door. We only lived about 25 min. from the airport and I was so impressed with myself for being prepared, packed, exhausted but stress free because I didn't need to rush.

5:50am - No driver. No big deal, I'm mean so what if he's not early.
6:00am - No driver. Still ok, no reason to panic - left voice mail for driver.
6:10am - Starting to suspect something is wrong - call again, voice mail again.
6:15am - Starting to freak - it dawns on me I will not be able to drive myself, park and get all our bags and Zoe to the gate on time. If I'm not on the road with someone driving me in 15 min, we're not making the flight. And we HAVE to make the flight.
6:16am - Open good 'ol trusty yellow pages - start calling limos in a panic. I reach a dispatcher - explain my emergency. He says he'll call right back. Call orig. limo driver for 10th time - voice mail again. (Scream! Heart pounding out of chest.)
6:18am - Dispatcher calls back, he has a limo dropping off a passenger in my area. He can be at my house in 10 min. Getting very close to too late. I start bringing bags out to curb.
6:27am - New limo driver arrives (can you hear the angels singing?). He asks what time is my flight and when I tell him he says calmly but briskly, "I will handle all the bags. You just take care of the baby. I will take care of the rest."
6:28am - Original driver calls my cell - in a groggy voice, "I'm so sorry, I'm on the way. I can be there in 15 min." I tell him I can't talk now, I found another ride. I will need to call him back.
6:35am - We are on the way but it's now questionable if I will make the flight.

I introduce myself and explain what happened. I also explain how important it is for Zoe and me to make the flight as her therapy program for the next 6 months depends on it. The driver tells me it will be close but he thinks it will be ok. He says, "God has a way of taking care of mothers and babies."

I ask him if he takes credit cards because I didn't have cash since we already paid the other driver in advance. He says of course.

We are 5 minutes from the dropoff - I know it will be a full sprint once I get out of the car. The driver says, "Listen, you can't pay me by credit card. There's no time. You will miss your flight. If you promise to give me the return ride when you come back, you can just pay me then."

Ya - read that again!

My eyes brimmed with tears in gratitude for this perfect stranger/angel. They're brimming again now.

Zoe and I made our flight that day with less than 5 min. to spare. We use this limo driver EVERY time we go to the airport.

They have always arrived at our door a few minutes early. They have always been patient because we always run late. They have always been more than reasonably priced (actually underpriced - cheaper than taxis). They have always driven us safely, had a clean car, taken great care of us.

Understandably, they have our loyalty for life. Our driver's name is Saleem. The name of his company is Peace Transportation. And he is Muslim.

And if you ever need a ride to/from San Diego Airport - use them...and tell them you know our story. Spread the peace! We are remembering 9/11. Love, Erin

Peace Transportation - (858) 336-1317
http://www.1peacetransportation.com/
absaleem@sbcglobal.net