On How the Honeymoon and/or the Marriage almost got cut short

In the last few posts, I have mentioned how frugal I am and how I really like to find a deal and save a buck. Read: cheap. Anyway, this trait of mine nearly landed us in a fine mess  just yesterday traveling Arizona Highway 180 from the Grand Canyon to Flagstaff. In short, we needed gas. We left at 4:45 AM to make it to the Canyon for sunrise, well before the "cheaper" gas station closest to us was open. The next gas station a block away was selling gas at FIFTY WHOLE CENTS MORE!!!  Of course. We only got $20 worth and went on our merry way.  After a few hours enjoying the views of this world wonder, we headed out of the park. More on the Canyon later, let's just get to how the happiness nearly ended here. The conversation went a little something like this:

Him: We need gas, should we get it here?
Me: No, it's way too expensive. Oh, and let's take this shortcut instead of what the GPS is telling us.

Seven miles later down the shortcut road which so far, is all clouds, sky, and road. Absolutely nothing else.

Him: What if there isn't any place to get gas on this road?
Me: Um......what if there isn't? (A quick check with GPS had confirmed that there was indeed nothing between us and our destination, nearly 50 miles away. Oh dear. )

Five minutes later:
 Him: The gas light just went on.
Me:
(No response from me here. Just mortified silence. Feverish prayers begin).

Twenty minutes later:
Him: The needle is almost  below "E."  Check on GPS and see where the closest gas station is!!
Me: I already did. It's back on the other road we just came from! 
Him:
(No response from him here. Just tense silence.)

About 30 miles to go. 

And so this is how our ride went. Tense silence marked by frequent glances at the GPS to assess our progress. During this time I avoided looking at and speaking with my beloved husband, preferring instead to imagine the worst while looking out the window at....nothing. Not even a house around. In fact, we were in the Coconino National Forest. No gas stations there. Siiiigh.  Running out of gas would definitely ruin our day, cut into the budget, and certainly put a damper on our fledgling marriage. Prayers heavenward were accelerated, even invoking the Jesus turning water into wine story. Only we really just needed waning fuel to turn into.......more fuel. But you get the idea.


Him: The needle is below"E" now.
Me:
(Pretending not to hear. Accelerated efforts at prayer).

Twenty miles to go, and I feel as if there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. Twenty miles from civilization isn't all that far if we run out, right? At ten miles, I started to breathe, but only a little. Five miles found me wanting to sing the Hallelujah Chorus. The tension in the jeep though, prevented me from doing so.  At three miles, I knew we had made it. And the sight of the Sunoco just ahead? Priceless. I could have kissed the man working there.

Him: I don't know how we made it this far.
Me: I do. ;)