DouglasFamily

George, the Guardian Angel

2013-08-31T17:09:00.001-07:00

If you have lost your faith in humanity and the goodness of people, read this story. It happened today to me and my family, and I'm still shaking my head in awe.

Today, my wife (Jessica) and my 3 1/2 year old daughter (Maya) were headed up to Silver Lake, NH -- somewhere in the middle of the state. We chose a route to avoid traffic, and found ourselves cruising along 495 North sometime around 2pm about 70 miles from home. All of a sudden, I noticed white smoke blanketing the highway behind us. I assumed it was another car, but Jess quickly pointed out that it was coming from our 2007 Acura TL. I had no idea what was going on, but it was clear that we needed to pull over right away.

I quickly turned on the hazard lights, and headed into the breakdown lane. The traffic was whizzing by us, and I knew it wasn't safe to get out on the highway. After a quick discussion, we decided to try to make it to the next exit about a mile up the highway.

We made it to the next exit, and we didn't see much more white smoke coming from the car. However,
as we got off the highway, there was traffic on Route 125. Sitting in traffic, all of a sudden white smoke starting pouring out of the back of the car again. And then the car stopped responding as I stepped on the gas pedal. Each time I stepped on the gas, the car barely responded. Inexplicably, the car lurched forward several times. I knew we were in serious trouble.

We made it another half mile down the road where we saw a bunch of car dealerships and a Monro Muffler. At the next intersection, I tried to turn left into the Monro, but the car wouldn't move forward. We were stuck in the middle of a busy intersection. So I put the car in Park, and then back into Drive several times, and somehow I was able to get just enough momentum to get into the parking lot. As soon as I could, I got out of the car and saw that transmission fluid was gushing out of the engine. It was immediately clear that the car needed major service. We weren't going anywhere.

Question: What's worse than breaking down in the middle of nowhere?

Answer: Breaking down in the middle of nowhere on Labor Day weekend.

As I got out of the car at Monro Muffler, I noticed a man standing in front of the building. It turns out he was waiting for his car to get out of the shop. He saw my dilemma and we started chatting. He got down under the car with me, and we both saw that my car was in serious need of repair. I went into the Monro shop, and the man behind the counter made it very clear that there was no way he could look at the car any time soon. We were stuck in Plaistow, NH.

It was clear that we were going to need a rental car, so I immediately started looking for a solution. We were in luck! There was a Hertz rental car next door! But it had closed at noon. So I used my phone to find several places nearby, but they were all closed as well. The man who was standing outside Monro called a few places on his phone, but every single place was closed (he found one place 30 miles away that was open -- but we wouldn't be able to get there before they closed at 3pm).

After some more discussion, the man told me that he lived nearby, and he gave me his phone number in case I needed help. As he left he reiterated: "Listen: if you can't find a solution, you could always borrow my car. I don't need it this weekend because I'm driving my truck." I thanked him and told him that I appreciated his offer. At the time, I thought we would find a solution.

Fast forward 45 minutes: I called every single rental car place in the area and couldn't find a car. I also called every U-Haul, Penske, and Home Depot to see if we could find any kind of vehicle. But this was Labor Day (moving) weekend, and every car, truck, and van were rented. I considered trying to get a cab to the Manchester airport (45 minutes away) but I didn't want to leave my family stranded. Heck, I even considered buying a car at one of the places across the street.

I looked at Jess and Maya sitting there idly on the grass next to Monro, and I made a decision. I believe in the goodness of people, paying it forward, and karma. The universe was telling me something.

I called George on his cell phone and said "George, I don't know if you're my guardian angel or just an amazing person, but we're completely stranded. I'll take you up on your offer to borrow your car for the weekend." Five minutes later, George showed back up at the Monro service center. I jumped in the car with this stranger, and we drove back to his house a mile down the road. We exchanged basic contact information, and he handed me the keys to his Toyota Corolla. With tears in my eyes, I pulled away from this wonderful man's house. I'll never forget the way I felt -- thankful for the goodness of people, the kindness of strangers, the amazing story I'll recant for years.

I'm now sitting 80 miles north of where we broke down -- at Silver Lake, NH. A few minutes ago, George and I exchanged text messages and he reminded me to enjoy myself. George's car is in the driveway and the rain is falling steadily in the darkness. In the next room over, I hear Maya and Jess playing together safe and sound, sheltered from the darkness and the rain. All because a complete stranger made the choice to help a young family in need. All because someone trusted a random person who desperately needed assistance.

All because of a guardian angel named George.

My girls

2012-07-19T13:17:00.002-07:00

My baseball hero has died

2012-02-16T15:22:00.000-08:00

My baseball hero has died. Gary Carter, dead at age 57 from brain cancer. Too young, too soon.

I knew this day was coming, but it still hurts. What does it mean when one of your childhood heros dies? Moments like these, I long for the days where I was more naive and didn't know about things like cancer and had time to listen to every baseball game of a season.

Gary was the reason I chose to be a catcher on my little league baseball team. I didn't have the size, but I had the heart. And I studied the way Gary played the game and tried to emulate him the best I could. And in 1987, I made my little league All-Star team as a catcher. Gary was the inspiration.

On July 9th 2007, I was able to fulfill a lifelong dream and meet Gary Carter. He was gracious, friendly, and appreciative when we met and even signed his rookie card for me. It was one of those moments I'll never forget.

Gary played baseball like the way I like to live my life. With passion, heart, and a fierce determination to win. What baseball fan will ever forget the way he refused to make the final out in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series? He was my baseball hero before that at-bat, and long after too.

Rest in peace, Gary Carter. Thanks for the memories.

Photos from Christmas 2011

2012-01-11T05:43:00.000-08:00

Here are a few photos from Christmas 2011. Click on the photo below to view the album.

As always, we chose a few of the better ones that we think that you would like to see, rather than overwhelming you with lots of photos.

Enjoy.

Christmas (2011)

Maya at 2 years

2011-12-12T11:24:00.000-08:00

Maya at her 2 year birthday party

Maya's Muppet Milestone Birthday

2011-11-27T19:58:00.001-08:00

On Saturday, November 26th we hosted Maya's 2nd birthday party. Jess went all out, and created awesome Muppet party hats, Muppet cupcakes, and a whole bunch of great food. Our local friends and family came to our house to celebrate with us.

Maya had a bewildered look on her face when people sang happy birthday to her, and she really loved the cupcakes!

Click the thumbnail below to view photos from her party. Enjoy.

Maya's 2nd Birthday Party

Turkey Dance 2011

2011-11-24T10:07:00.000-08:00

Every year, I make the turkey dance. I think it helps the bird "open up" before it gets roasted.

Enjoy the annual Douglas Turkey Dance video (we named our Turkey "Chase" after the Trader Joe's cashier who checked us out when we bought the turkey). Happy Thanksgiving!

One year ago

2011-11-23T12:28:00.001-08:00

Maya's 2nd birthday is coming up on Friday. Here's a look at her a year ago. I'll post another picture on her birthday so you can see how much she has changed.

Caged Lion

2011-10-30T15:24:00.000-07:00

We finally had to get her a cage.... for Halloween!

Meeting Vinnie Cress

2011-08-14T19:39:00.000-07:00

On August 2, Jessica's sister Adrienne had her baby -- we're so happy to welcome Vincente Natale Cress to our family!

Vinnie is so cute, and we couldn't be happier (especially Maya!).

See some pictures from our first visit with the Cress family by clicking on the thumbnail below.

Meeting Vinnie Aug 6 2011

Maya kisses Maya

2011-08-12T19:51:00.000-07:00

Here's a great snapshot of what it's like with Maya everyday. She loves to laugh and be silly! Here she is at a local restaurant, loving herself.

Enjoy the video below or click here to watch.

Memorial Day on the MegaDeck

2011-05-30T19:46:00.000-07:00

Earlier this spring, we decided to build a new deck off of the dining room of our house. Our contractors got it usable just in time for the perfect weather we had over Memorial Day weekend. One of my friends has named our large deck "MegaDeck" and it certainly lived up to its name on Memorial Day. We had 25 people over for a BBQ and everyone enjoyed eating great food and sitting outdoors. It was an awesome afternoon.

Enjoy these pictures from our Memorial Day cookout.

Memorial Day 2011

Emily's Bat Mitzvah

2011-05-12T08:13:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, we celebrated my niece Emily's Bat Mitzvah (I can't believe she's 13!). Extended family from Florida, Arizona, Seattle, and Kentucky came into the Boston area to help celebrate. Here's a sampling of pictures I took during the festivities.

Click the image below to view the entire album. Enjoy!

Emily's Bat Mitzvah weekend

Maya knows celebrities

2011-04-21T20:10:00.000-07:00

Our little girl is growing up. It's really amazing to see that everyday she's learning new words and recognizing faces. She understands most of what we say, and chooses when to listen to us. She's a bona-fide toddler.

Her language skills are especially strong. Imagine our surprise when she suddenly and unexpectedly starting naming celebrities! (Ok, maybe she had a *little* help from Daddi).

Enjoy this video of Maya calling out a very recognizable celebrity!

A tale of two Mayas

2011-04-04T06:48:00.000-07:00

It's been a rough weekend in the Douglas house. Maya started getting sick on Friday, and by Saturday morning it was Armageddon. You name it, she had it... and it wasn't pretty. Saturday night was really tough for all of us with little sleep, and it's now Monday morning and Maya is out of daycare today but feeling better.

She started feeling better on Sunday evening. Consider the video below: this video was shot in two parts separated by only one hour. The first half of the video is how Maya had been acting for hours and hours: inconsolable, with bouts of hysteria (imagine that for hours on end, and you'll know what our weekend was like). She hadn't eaten hardly anything all day, and we were concerned about dehydration. The second half shows how she's rebounding nicely. It was such a relief to see her eating and drinking again.

So here it is: a tale of two Mayas (click here to watch the video if you got this blog by email):

Blake and Mari's Baby Shower

2011-03-28T10:54:00.000-07:00

This weekend we attended a baby shower for Blake and Mari. Here are some pictures that I took of the festivities. It was great to have so many friends together to celebrate. Click on the photo below to see the entire photo set.

Blake and Mari Baby Shower

Maya can use a spoon! Oh wait, maybe not.

2011-02-24T18:57:00.000-08:00

As Maya transitions to the toddler room at daycare, she has been asked to learn to use a spoon to feed herself. So, we practiced a little tonight. It was all going so well and then, well, you'll see.

Maya goes to Mexico

2011-02-21T18:48:00.000-08:00

Last week, we took Maya to Mexico. As many of you know, we've been vacationing in the Riviera Maya for several years, and our love of the area was the inspiration for Maya's name.

We had a fantastic time on our family vacation -- it was so fun to watch the look of utter joy on Maya's face as she went swimming in the pools and it was awesome to observe how she reacted to the feel of sand on her feet. It was a vacation that we'll always remember. We took many, many photos and have chosen some of our favorites to share with you.

Enjoy these photos from Maya's first trip to her namesake. Click the photo below to view the complete photo set!

Mexico Feb 2011

Pretty Maya

2011-02-09T17:54:00.000-08:00

.. in pigtails!

Maya can walk!

2011-01-05T18:55:00.000-08:00

Today is the day we can officially proclaim: Maya can walk!

For those of you who have never been parents, this milestone isn't exactly what we expected. It's not like the movies when all of a sudden the kid walks. It's a gradual build-up over several weeks, that starts with her standing with the help of furniture and then move on to her "walking" using your help (she holds your pinkies). But today, she made a huge leap forward. Not only did she stand completely on her own, but also she walked a few steps! As you'll see in the video below, she's not running around the house (yet) but we're very proud parents nonetheless.

Enjoy this video of Maya taking her first steps!

Juggling with Maya

2010-12-29T08:01:00.000-08:00

Matt never learned how to juggle. Maya doesn't seem care. Isn't her laugh awesome? (If you are reading this in email, view the video on the blog.)

Maya at Christmas

2010-12-28T19:37:00.000-08:00

Maya had a great Christmas. Here she is opening one of her gifts. Look at her hair!

Liv-ving in a material world

2010-10-31T18:36:00.000-07:00

Between Jessica and I we have 11 nephews, nieces, and cousins under the age of 18. When it comes time for birthdays and the holidays, we often find ourselves wondering aloud about whether or not to send a gift -- does my niece need even more toys/books/clothes? How can we show her that we care without another material gift?

Now that Maya's first birthday and the holidays are approaching, we're faced with the same issues for our own daughter. Consider this: if everyone in our immediate family only buys one gift for Maya, she'll have 20+ birthday presents (and that's not even counting our close friends or her baby friends). Hanukkah and Christmas are only a month after her birthday -- another opportunity for her to be overwhelmed with gifts.

So, if you are reading this blog post, we hope that you'll consider celebrating Maya's birthday and the holidays in a different way. Here are two specific ideas:

Want to give something specifically to Maya? Consider a gift for her future education. We've recently set up a 529 Unique plan to save for Maya's education. Just email Matt or Jess and we'll send you all of the information you need. There's no greater gift than education (really).
Want to honor Maya without giving her a gift? Charitable organizations are really hurting in this economy. The Hopkinton Respite Center is where one of Maya's friends gets treatment, and Save a Dog is the charity that rescued Maya's puppy Roxxee. Or just make a gift to the charity of your choice in her honor.

For those of you who have found that one perfect gift for Maya, that's wonderful. We know how joyful it is to give a gift to a young child -- and we know that Maya will be thrilled to open her present. At the same time, we hope that this post helps you consider other ways you can celebrate Maya on her birthday and on the holidays. Thanks for your consideration, and thanks for reading.

Monkey walking down the street

2010-10-28T17:30:00.001-07:00

Try to watch this without giggling... See? It IS infectious.

This is a great example of the wonderful laugh of Maya (if you reading this blog post within your email, click here to watch the video).

Maya Magic

2010-10-18T14:18:00.000-07:00

After years of futility, the Jets are a new team. Did you know that since Maya was born on November 25th of last year, the J E T S have a record of 10-2 in the regular season? They're off to a 5-1 start this year and are the team to beat in the AFC. This weekend's game against the Denver Broncos was the latest demonstration of Maya's amazing ability to impact the outcome of a Jets game. Matt calls it "Maya Magic." With almost no hope left, somehow the Jets pulled out a victory.

Here are a few pictures of Maya and Matt enjoying watching their beloved JETS.