The Good Samaritan ...
Jun. 19th, 2009 04:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
texchanSo, the first day of summer vacation, and it started out with a bang. Not the good kind of whoopee-this-is-gonna-be-great kind of bang. More like an oh-man-I-can't-believe-this sort of whimper, really.
Managed to get the kiddo's camp stuff turned in, so she is now all registered and ready to go for 3 different camp sessions during July. It's not the "perfect" plan (which, of course, ended up being so much not perfect) I had at the beginning of everything, but it's all good. It gives me a chance to hang out with her some and for her to chill out, too. Plus, she'll still have some time with other kids. I'm hoping for a casual, kind of easy-going summer. Believe me, I could use both casual and easy-going right about now. I'm stressed to the max and feeling like I'm pulled way too thin to cover everything in my life that needs my attention.
So, on the way back from registering for camp, my tire starts making a funny noise. Luckily, I wasn't on the highway. And I wasn't far from home, so I thought -- maybe I can make it home. The tire started burning, though. No smoke or anything, but I could smell the rubber burning. I knew it was flat, at the very least. I decided to pull over because I was afraid it would either catch on fire or ruin my rims.
I pulled into the parking lot of this storage place fairly near my house. I have AAA, so I was going to call them to deal with the tire. I went inside to ask for the address so I could give it to AAA when I called. So here I come with my little daughter right behind me, and explained the situation to the guy inside behind the counter. I just asked him for the address so that I could call AAA and tell them where to find me. He asked what kind of car I had, and I told him. He said: "Oh, that car will have everything you need to change the tire. I'll change it for you. No problem."
O_O
At first, I told him no because it was just so hot outside and I hated to trouble him. But he insisted. So, he came outside with me ... took out the spare, and changed the tire so that I could be on my way. It sounds easy when I type it out like that, but it wasn't. The lug nuts were stuck tight, so that he had to stand on the wrench to get them unscrewed. It took probably 30 minutes in the hot sun, and he got all sweaty and really greasy and dirty from getting the tire and jack from the trunk and, then, switching out the tires. My hubby had told me to get AAA to come out and air up the flat tire, then take the car down to NTB and get them to patch the flat. Well, as soon as my good Samaritan pulled the tire off, I knew this wouldn't be possible. Not only was the tire smoking, but it was completely shredded all around the inside of the tire. If we had been on the highway or going any faster when the tire blew, my daughter and I probably would have been killed. Or in a wreck at the very least, because I would not have been able to control the car at a much higher speed.
I really could not thank him enough. When you're a mom and you have your child with you, something like this is really scary. If I had been by myself, it might not have been such a big deal. But add my little daughter into the equation, and suddenly, I'm having to think about how to get her home safely ... how I'm going to manage to feed her while waiting for AAA and/or getting the tire repaired ... how it's too hot for her to be stuck outside for any length of time ... etc. About a million things I wouldn't have to think about if I was on my own. So, that guy really really saved me today. And he did a helluva lot more than that. He totally renewed my faith in my fellow man.
I've always believed in paying things forward, but this is the first time I've ever benefited from that philosophy. And that's OK. Because when I really needed someone, my Good Samaritan was there for me.
Managed to get the kiddo's camp stuff turned in, so she is now all registered and ready to go for 3 different camp sessions during July. It's not the "perfect" plan (which, of course, ended up being so much not perfect) I had at the beginning of everything, but it's all good. It gives me a chance to hang out with her some and for her to chill out, too. Plus, she'll still have some time with other kids. I'm hoping for a casual, kind of easy-going summer. Believe me, I could use both casual and easy-going right about now. I'm stressed to the max and feeling like I'm pulled way too thin to cover everything in my life that needs my attention.
So, on the way back from registering for camp, my tire starts making a funny noise. Luckily, I wasn't on the highway. And I wasn't far from home, so I thought -- maybe I can make it home. The tire started burning, though. No smoke or anything, but I could smell the rubber burning. I knew it was flat, at the very least. I decided to pull over because I was afraid it would either catch on fire or ruin my rims.
I pulled into the parking lot of this storage place fairly near my house. I have AAA, so I was going to call them to deal with the tire. I went inside to ask for the address so I could give it to AAA when I called. So here I come with my little daughter right behind me, and explained the situation to the guy inside behind the counter. I just asked him for the address so that I could call AAA and tell them where to find me. He asked what kind of car I had, and I told him. He said: "Oh, that car will have everything you need to change the tire. I'll change it for you. No problem."
O_O
At first, I told him no because it was just so hot outside and I hated to trouble him. But he insisted. So, he came outside with me ... took out the spare, and changed the tire so that I could be on my way. It sounds easy when I type it out like that, but it wasn't. The lug nuts were stuck tight, so that he had to stand on the wrench to get them unscrewed. It took probably 30 minutes in the hot sun, and he got all sweaty and really greasy and dirty from getting the tire and jack from the trunk and, then, switching out the tires. My hubby had told me to get AAA to come out and air up the flat tire, then take the car down to NTB and get them to patch the flat. Well, as soon as my good Samaritan pulled the tire off, I knew this wouldn't be possible. Not only was the tire smoking, but it was completely shredded all around the inside of the tire. If we had been on the highway or going any faster when the tire blew, my daughter and I probably would have been killed. Or in a wreck at the very least, because I would not have been able to control the car at a much higher speed.
I really could not thank him enough. When you're a mom and you have your child with you, something like this is really scary. If I had been by myself, it might not have been such a big deal. But add my little daughter into the equation, and suddenly, I'm having to think about how to get her home safely ... how I'm going to manage to feed her while waiting for AAA and/or getting the tire repaired ... how it's too hot for her to be stuck outside for any length of time ... etc. About a million things I wouldn't have to think about if I was on my own. So, that guy really really saved me today. And he did a helluva lot more than that. He totally renewed my faith in my fellow man.
I've always believed in paying things forward, but this is the first time I've ever benefited from that philosophy. And that's OK. Because when I really needed someone, my Good Samaritan was there for me.
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(no subject)
Date: 2009-06-19 09:29 pm (UTC)You know what? I think car manufacturers are actually making cars more difficult to change the tires on these days so people will be more dependent on professional help. I used to have no problem at all changing my car’s tires, back on my old car that was made in 1994. My new car has fortunately only gotten a flat once, and I thought ‘oh this’ll be no problem.’ It wasn’t as serious as what it sounds you went through but my lugnuts stuck tight too, to the point where I had to jump on the wrench and it still wouldn’t budge. What’s more the jack didn’t hold the car up at all, the car actually fell on me after I wrenched it up. In the end I had to get someone else to come help too, and I can definitely relate to how grateful that makes you feel (and I didn’t have a child with me, I can’t imagine the extra stress that must add, as you described.)
It really is wonderful that there are people willing to step up to the rescue in situations like that.
I hope your daughter enjoys her camp! (and that you get some R&R while she’s at it.)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-06-20 08:28 pm (UTC)Luckily, the jack that came with our car held the car up just fine. It didn't look like it would, but it worked like a charm. I was surprised. Although I know how to change the tire, there was no way I could have gotten the lug nuts off by myself. They were just on there too tightly.
Thanks for the good wishes re: camp. I think she will have a fun time. She's looking forward to it, although my mom has been bombarding me with information about swine flu in camps. *sigh*
(no subject)
Date: 2009-06-20 02:38 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-06-20 08:29 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-06-20 07:39 am (UTC)Holy Crap cakes girly! Thank goodness for not being on the highway, or going any faster. God Bless the good Samaritan that helped you out as well. Thanks for sharing, I needed to hear something like this, after my week.
*hugs tex again*
(no subject)
Date: 2009-06-20 08:30 pm (UTC)Yeah, I felt really lucky we were on a road where we could pull off -- even though there was quite a bit of traffic. Plus, not going any faster was a blessing, too.
I felt really lucky and blessed to find such a nice person who was willing to help us out like that. It totally renewed my faith in humanity, that's for sure. =D
I hope the upcoming week is better for you! *hugs more*