(We had only moments earlier called a Bed and Breakfast that we determined would be about another 1.5 hours drive ahead in Tennessee, The Maplehurst Inn.)
After contacting AAA and being sent the kindest tow truck driver in Kentucky, we found that the truck would need repairs and it was now 10pm Saturday night.
He suggested that we find a place to stay for the night. He was an hour back North where we had just come from and we decided to tow south. We asked if he would be willing to tow the truck to a Bed and Breakfast that we had reserved in Knoxville about 85 miles south. He agreed and we started down the highway toward Tennessee.
During the course of that evening I called Sonny 4 times. He was always patient and helpful and put us at ease. He said he would be there and the room would be waiting. He gave us directions and we and our tow truck driver with a 20’ ft tow bed with our massive Ford F-550 on top eventually made it to Knoxville and the Maplehurst Inn around 11 pm.
To our utter amazement there were thousands and thousands of people walking the streets. We pulled up outside the front of the Inn and every parking spot in town was taken. The Church lot next door was packed and throngs of people congested the road in front and now behind our Truck and Tow truck.
Sonny and Becky stared at us in disbelief.
I asked where I might park the pick-up and he laughed and shook his head and said “that is no pick-up”.
It seems that we had chosen a Bed and Breakfast that was only 2 BLOCKS from the University of Tennessee Football Stadium on an important game night and had arrived at the moment when 104,000 people were leaving the stadium after winning the game for Tennessee!
Sonny jumped in his car and went on a search for a nearby parking place that would allow the Tow truck driver, Mr. CAN DO IT NO MATTER WHAT, lower our behemoth into a vacant spot.
My wife in the mean time took her shattered nerves into the Inn.
She never lost her cool during this entire ordeal;
Not when we lost power on the Mountain downside at 70 miles an hour, not when I stopped up against the carved out rock Wall that all night long sent rocks, shards and pebbles down around us, not when I stood out on the edge of the highway directing 18 wheelers away from the legs of our tow truck driver as he struggled under our Truck to try and get it going, and not even when we ignored her reiterated directions from Sonny,” DO NOT get on I 40 East, DO NOT get on I 40 West…Exit on Henley street” when we passed Henley Street and got on I 40.
Sonny found the spot, the driver dropped the truck, like the PRO he is, right into the spot, and Sonny drove me back to the Maplehurst Inn and my wife.
Sonny then got on the phone…at 11:20 at night and called every restaurant around till he found one open for us, Calhoun’s on the Waterfront of The Volunteer Landing.
We ate and walked back to the Inn.
Our room was a cool haven of calm and peace called the Rose room. IT WAS WONDERFUL!
The next day, and for the following 5 days, as the truck was repaired, Sonny and Becky became like family to us.
• He let me use his transportation to go to the Auto parts store on Sunday to see if I could repair the truck myself.
• He offered his cell phone for our use after our cell phone batteries died.
• He found a Ford Dealer that was willing to work on the vehicle on Tuesday.
• He took us to see beautiful Mountain Top Views and Lakefronts as we waited for the diagnosis to take our mind off our worries
• He and Becky had us to their home for supper in the evening.
• Sonny and Becky took us on a tour of Gatlinburg and on to the Smoky Mountains. http://www.gatlinburg.com/ (Unbelievable Beauty and Majesty)
• Sonny and Becky took us to Downtown Knoxville for an evening of Local cultural discovery.
• Sonny Gave us our choice of rooms to stay in at the Inn…(my wife said ours was charming.)
• Sonny took us to an Egyptian restaurant that only the locals know about. If you ever get the chance to stay in Knoxville…Go To MO’S KING TUT GRILL. It is worth the trip!
• Sonny took us to see the University of Tennessee Neyland Stadium…The Norris Dam (WOW what a place) and a historic Grist mill.
• They drove us through Old City and we saw Craftsmen homes that had been restored to their original Beauty.
• They took us on an evening tour of the historic cemeteries in the city.
• And when the Truck was repaired he drove us to the Ford dealership and gave the repair his approval.
It was a week like no other in our lives. We threw a dart at a map for a casual one night stay and ended up making a family like friendship that we will to keep precious for all our days.
Thank you Sonny and Becky. There are not enough words to express our appreciation for your gracious good will toward us.

Dear Sonny,
We had a great time in Tennessee. Thank you for the directions to the Smoky Mountains Heartland Little River Wedding Chapel. We loved the area and the price is right. We thought you treated us special because we were looking for a wedding site but from talking with your other guests we now know you treat everyone special. Thanks for all your personal input and excitement.
Melissa and James

My Mom and I stayed at the Maplehurst Inn Bed and Breakfast while looking for some land or a building lot or a home to purchase for retirement.
We are from Florida and it is too expensive to retire and Sonny had told us about the great East Tennessee buys available to "Half backs" as we are called...Those who had originally lived and worked in the North then retired or semi-retired to Florida only to find ever rising insurance rates and taxes pushing us out and subsequently moving "halfway back" settling around the Tennesse area .
He was very knowledgable about the Tennessee real estate market and explained why East Tennessee is the new place for retirees...Low, low taxes and affordable housing and land.
He drove us around explaining the different areas and discussed the available shopping and necessary doctor and hospital distances. He sent us to see Knoxville's neighboring areas and we fell in love with the natural beauty of Tennessee.
We would also like to thank Sonny for his daily updates and for caring about us. We have decided that East Tennesse will be our home. Thank you for you hospitality !
Marion D.