I am such a girl
Spencer went to play golf this morning so the kids and I were on our own. I have been craving a good tomato lately. Spencer hates tomatoes so I never buy them or I'll buy a little pack of the cherry tomatoes and just snack on them myself. But I wanted a REAL tomato. So bright and early this morning I got the idea that we would hit the farmer's market. The closest farmer's market is here in J-town. But this weekend is also the big Gaslight Festival in J-town so many of the roads were blocked off. As I took a side street (more like a small alley) I made a turn and heard a hissing sound. Not good. 3 seconds later I knew it was flat. I got myself pulled off to the side of the alley so cars could pass.
And then it dawns on me.....I don't think I could change a flat. I think I kind of know how...but could I actually do it? With Easton and Camille? I decide the answer is No.
Shoot. Now what? Call Spencer. No answer. Call Will who is golfing with Spencer (along with the rest of the men in our SS). He is not in Spencer's group but rides golf cart up ahead to tell Spencer to call me. I explain that everyone is fine but I'm at a loss as to what to do next. I am in the middle of J-town and less than a 5 minute walk from several car-help-type places. Goodyear is literally next door so I try them first. I walk in the front door and explain my situation to the man. I don't know exactly what I'm asking for - but any help would be appreciated. He tells me that his guys can't leave the building (makes sense I suppose) but if I can get the car towed to them then they'll change it for me. (But it's right THERE!) Fine. Thanks anyways, I'll go to option B (I don't really have an option B yet). And this is where my girliness kicks in. I make it to the door and the guy tries to ask me a few last questions. Has the tire been low? Did I just hit something? And as I answer him I hear something strange. My voice is shaking. Why is my voice shaking like that? Oh dear. Not now. And I start blinking. Quick, get out before the tears come. At that point I think I just nodded and smiled and kept backing out the door. Stupid girl hormones.
So now I'm walking back to the car, crying, pushing a stroller and holding Easton's hand. And it hits me. ANDREW DID NOT GO GOLFING. At first I thought all was lost because all of the men that I knew were playing golf with my husband. But Andrew didn't go! Woo-Hoo! So I call the Holden house. They live on the other side of town but can come help. As I hang up the phone I see a firetruck pass by. WAIT. Jack's daddy is a fireman for J-Town! They live close! Maybe he can help - or at least tell one of his fire buddies to rescue me. I call Ms. Amy and the re-enforcements are on the way! Call the Holdens and the husband to say that everything has been figured out.
Now.....why can I stand by a car with a flat tire and two children and be passed by a large number of civilian cars, one police car and two firetrucks and not one of them ask if I need help? BUT. The minute that Jack's Daddy arrives and starts to change the tire, he has three different people stop to see if he needs anything.
Oh Well. As I watch the process I conclude that my initial doubts at tire changing were correct. I had the order of things correct in my head but I'm not certain I would have placed the jack in the right place or been able to get the lug nuts loose. (Jack's dad had to literally stand on the bar to get them undone)
In the end, we made it home safe and sound. Whatever hit my tire made a gash in the side (about 2 inches) so that's what made it go down so quickly.
7 comments:
Oh Jenny! THAT STINKS! I have often wondered what I would do if I had a flat with both of the kids. I guess now I know....the chain of phone calls would begin :-)
I cannot stand that feeling of "helplessness" when in situations like this. The fact that NOONE came to help you really upsets me! I mean COME ON PEOPLE! I think you need to write a letter to the editor about this....I think it might open some people's eyes.
I'm so glad that Jack's Daddy saved the day! YEAH JACK'S DADDY!
So I guess there were no tomatoes eaten by Jenny today, eh?
Let's see, where to begin? Do you recall when you girls first started driving? I said, "If you have a flat tire pull to the side of the road and continue to drive until you reach a place where you can get help. It will ruin the tire but tires are cheap." In your case the tire is ruined anyway.You could have driven it to the Goodyear place.
Second point, if you are ever stuck on the side of the road again and you need someone to stop and help, put the two kids in the back seat and tell them to hide. Guys are a lot more eager to help a Damsel in distress than a Damsel with two kids in distress.:)
Point three, this might be a good time to check out AAA. I am pretty sure they offer emergency roadside assistance.
Point number four, even if you thought you could change the tire I am glad you didn't attempt it. There are a tousand and one ways you can be injured changing a tire.
Point number five, in the end it all worked out just fine.(Except for the crying part.)
lcr
my parents give us AAA for christmas every year. (hint, hint, leonard.) but that has jinxed us into having major car trouble at least once every 3 months. i can check the oil and use the tire pressure gauge to put air in my tires, but i'm not sure i could change a flat. especially not with toddlers. good move calling jack's daddy!
and that's horrible that so many people drove by. did you get your tomato?
The week before Labor Day, Yaree called me at the pool to say that his tire blew out on the interstate off ramp & he needed me to bring his jack. Since he likes to work on cars he has his own hydrolic jack that he keeps in the shed & his truck (bought used) didn't have the manufacterer's jack in the rear.
Now for the interesting part of the story.....Yaree had sprained his back the night before at work & could barely sit up straight, let alone change an SUV tire. The girls & I left the pool, got the jack & made it to his rescue in record time. Because of where the ramp is located (it LITERALLY takes 20 min to get on the interstate, turn around & get on the ramp behind him), I opted to pull to the top of the ramp & walk the jack down to him. I asked if he needed help; because he was in an extreme amount of pain & could barely even carry the jack, he said "yes". So, the girls & I make the 20 min. trip to get to his truck on the interstate ramp--hair still wet & clad in our bathing suits from the pool.
So, to recap, Yaree has been on the side of the off ramp now for 30-35 min. with no help from passers by....
I get out of the car with my bathing suit on & a towel, crouch down to help get the last 2 lug nuts off, and POOF!!! A nice young off duty fireman stops & asks if we need help. He changed the tire, and everyone went on their merry way.
So, I would say that Papa had a good point about the damsel theory. He was probably just a nice guy, but all I'm saying is--the girls were out of site in the car & I was in a bathing suit trying to change a tire. Help time for man--never. Help time for woman in swim suit--1.5 minutes.
Any chance that your insurance company gives you roadside assistance? We have State Farm, and they will call a wrecker for you and offer the same kind of discounted services that AAA does. I’ve called them when I was unable to loosen the lugnuts on a flat tire, and also when I needed to have my battery jumped. Also, feel free to put us on the phone list of people to call when you need help! I’ll send David S. over. I had a flat last week and he ended up doing most of the work.
We have State Farm....I didn't even THINK of calling them. Of course I didn't think of wearing a bathing suit either, but both options look like they would have worked for me.
What is J-town? Don't you still live in Louisville?
I agree with the AAA thing. It has saved me from calling Scott out of meetings and you can use it anywhere, even ALASKA on a rental car. Very nice. In Houston the average time for arrival is 45 minutes, one tow and you have paid for the year. Even in hickville AL it has come in handy getting the tow from the house to the dealership. We have never regretted having AAA, and used it for minor things like a tow or flat.
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