Ohio Weather and Windshield Woes: My Adventure to the Love and Literature Event

Ohio weather—you never quite know what you’re going to get. Just when we thought we might hold onto some warmer temperatures, Mother Nature had other plans. This past weekend was a prime example, serving up a mixture of rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow. Luckily for me, by the time I needed to head to Tiffin for the Love and Literature event on Saturday, the freezing rain had transitioned to just plain rain. But that didn’t mean the drive was uneventful.

 

As I made my way to Tiffin, I passed by four accidents, one of which involved a semi-truck that had crossed the median and ended up facing oncoming traffic. While it didn’t look too serious at first glance, the scene was quite different on my return trip. The state highway patrol had the lane blocked off, and a bucket truck was under the overpass. My best guess? The top of the semi must have made contact with the underside of the overpass during the incident.

 

If the four accidents weren't enough, I encountered another problem—my windshield wiper on the passenger side wasn’t working properly. I noticed a slit in it, and with the rain continuing to fall, this was far from ideal. My GPS showed an Advance Auto Parts in Tiffin that would only add a minute to my journey. Perfect, right? Well, not quite.

 

When I turned into the parking lot of the store, I discovered it was closed. Brown paper was covering the windows and there was a sign redirecting customers to another location in Freemont. I had no idea how far Freemont was from Tiffin, and I didn’t have time to figure it out.

 

Navigating through the dreary weather, I finally found Pan Yan Bookstore and a spot to park. After a quick lunch in my vehicle, I headed inside with my books. I had no idea what to expect since I’d never been to the store before, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was a charming little bookstore with tables set up for the attending authors. I got my space organized and prepared to meet readers.

 

Unfortunately, the weather seemed to keep a lot of people away. Only about 10 readers showed up, which was a bit disappointing considering last year’s event saw a line out the door. Still, it wasn’t a wasted trip. I sold a decent number of books, primarily from my Daniels Brothers series.

 

With the event over, it was time to tackle the wiper issue. One of the other attending authors let me know Fremont was about 20 minutes away...and in the opposite direction, which meant going there wasn't an option. Luckily, I had to pass through Marion on the way home. It's a decent sized town, so I figured they had to have an Advance Auto Parts or an Auto Zone. 

 

Sure enough, there was an Advance Auto Parts about 3 miles off the highway. I was able to get a set of new wipers and get back on my way.

 

I finally made it home around 6 p.m. It was a long, eventful day, and I was grateful not to have any major plans on Sunday. I needed a day to recoup!

 

Despite the weather and all the little hiccups along the way, I’m glad I made it to Tiffin for the Love and Literature event. Meeting readers and connecting with other authors is always a rewarding experience. Plus, every trip seems to come with its own unique set of adventures!