How a Truck Breakdown Led to a 25-Year Reunion on Easter Weekend

Well, this has been an interesting weekend. It’s an Easter weekend reunion—of all days. Four-twenty-2025. Easter Sunday. Yeah, imagine that. 420 and Easter weekend. Not necessary a “risen” I was expecting, buuut it’s me, writing these words like an unfiltered, 7-year-old Sasquatch boy. I love that kid so much! This post is about how a truck breakdown led me to a 25-Year reunion on Easter weekend.

Anyway, I’m in Montgomery, Alabama. I’m here because, well, I wasn’t supposed to be—but I am.

You see, I was home after long months of trucking and wanted to enjoy at least ten days at home before we got back out on the road. Apparently that’s too much to ask for. But my “trip” was cut short because my wife’s trip was almost cut short, too. Not on my watch.

She was headed to Montgomery to spend some time with her sister to help care for her sister while she was recovering after a medical procedure that left her nearly immobile for a few months. That has to be a horrible immobility, I can only imagine! The night before, wife just picked up her truck after spending about $4,000 getting it road-ready. No sooner than 25 miles out, the truck overheated. Luckily, the mechanic was available to escort her and the vehicle back to his shop.

Then I met up with her, picked her up, and we drove 20 miles to Danville to the Enterprise Rental Car place. She picked up a brand-new black Nissan Sentra sedan—only 4,000 miles on it with pet hair lingering from a previous renter (CAR RENTAL HINT: claim pet hair on the rental agreement or those f@ckers will stick ya). Well… within just a couple hours on the road, the car completely lost power and shut down. My wife did everything she could to safely get it off to the side. According to Google Maps, she stopped at a place called House of Prayer—but in its real world place, the sign was stripped and the property was up for sale.

That’s when I made the decision to cut my trip short, pack up our truck, and go retrieve her a second time that day. After that, I decided to accompany her to her sister’s place in Montgomery.

What a wonderful week it turned out to be—to spend Easter weekend with my sister-in-law and my wife. It was beautiful. I even ventured out a bit while I was there.

The best thing about the week? The day after I arrived, I got a text from one of my Marine Corps brothers I served with in Okinawa, Japan—25 years ago. He said, “Hey, Staff Sergeant Camarillo’s in town—Dothan, Alabama—for a reunion. I’m meeting her at 6pm.”

I texted back immediately: “I’m on my way.”

Staff Sergeant Camarillo was my first leader in the fleet—Okinawa. An incredible leader back then, and I she still is today. No way I was missing that chance. Two hours from Montgomery to Dothan? Easy decision.

My sister-in-law let me borrow her car. I texted Darin—my Marine brother—and said, “Don’t tell her I’m coming.” I wanted to surprise her.

I got to the Panera Bread in Dothan and walked inside to order lunch. Darin had texted me saying she hadn’t arrived yet—perfect timing to set things up. What I didn’t know is I’d parked just two stalls away from her vehicle. She was sitting in the driver’s seat, watching me walk in, thinking, “Who’s this goofy Waldo-looking guy?”—because apparently my shirt gave off major Waldo vibes. And apparently she didn’t connect the dots after having told he about The Squaldo.

She had no clue it was me.

Darin let me know when she was walking in. I asked the lady at the counter to tell me when that woman came through the door. Well, turns out Camarillo didn’t use that entrance—she walked in through a side door. Caught me off guard.

I peeked outside. Darin was waving and pointing—she was already heading my way. I thought the jig was up, however, I turned around, kept playing it cool, acted like I didn’t see her, and went on ordering my food. She got within about six feet of me, safe distance according to the faded, 5-year-old sticker still securely adhered to the floor, edges peeling. I bent forward and slowly backed into her, stood up, turned around and jestfully with a tinge of humorous sarcasm exclaimed, “Oh my! I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you standing there. The eyes in back of my head must be sleeping.”

She said, “Man, you know you saw me—”

Then her face changed—from defensive to stunned to surprised. She studied me for a few seconds, and then—there it was. A beautiful reunion. A hug. A moment. My first-ever leader, right there. “What the heck are even doing here, B (that’s me)?”

“Good question C, lemme tell ya!” I answered.

The wildest part? Darin had no idea I was in Montgomery. He just happened to text me. Coincidence? I don’t know, but I was supposed to be in Alabama—twice in the same day. And there I was. There we were. The three of us. Our own little reunion.

What a gift!