Wacky Wednesday

I believe everything happens for a reason, and I'd like to think that the reason my tire blew out on the ramp leading onto the Van Wyck expressway yesterday was so that I would finally have something to post about.

Of course, It could have something to do with all the life lessons I managed to pull from the incident, but hey, priorities right?

A brief summary of the incident: There I was merrily driving along(for I do drive merrily) on the way to teach Hebrew School, minding my own business when, upon nearing my goal, a huge jolt and a hiss of air warned me that I wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. Thank G-d, I was at a point where I had just enough tire to pull over onto the conveniently placed shoulder just before the highway. Any farther back or any further on and the whole episode would have played out very differently. I picture an orchestra of curses and horn blowing as accompaniment.

Now that I was comfortably situated out of harm's way, I took stock of my present predicament. Thank-God for the Starbucks coffee I had picked up just moments before on a whim. With the hot beverage to keep me company, nothing seemed all that dire. Not even the thought of all that preparation I had done going down the drain, or the inconvenience it would put my principal and fellow teachers through, or even the hours I anticipated spending in my car till help arrived. The thought of my situation did not faze me, because I am an adult who is perfectly capable of dealing with such predicaments. I proceeded to do what any self-respecting, mature, and independent adult would do. I called my mom. And lo and behold, the woman who sends me to the store numerous times in one evening because she "forgot something" located and gave over to me the rarely used number of AAA. Not relishing the idea of waiting for such a long time (my coffee supply had run out), I called my dad. After all, why think for yourself when you have so many other people to do it for you? He spent several minutes on the phone with Geico, and after some confusion as to exactly where I was located, I was informed that someone would be there shortly to help me out. No fuss, no trouble, and after a rebate, no cost.

And now for the icing on the-very long-cake. Before the Gecko got very far out on the road, I was surprised by a white and green Help truck. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's a division of the police department which travels the highways, stopping when they see someone in trouble. The trucks are equipped for all sorts of car emergencies, including busted tires.

Out comes the sweetest guy you will ever meet who reminded me very much of an African American Santa Claus with a short beard. He was as friendly as pie(have you ever spoken to pie? Then don't assume), and in a matter of minutes I was on my way with a temporary tire in place of the busted one.

You would be surprised at how many shocked reactions I got when I told people that there are police trucks riding the highways whose sole function it is to help those with car trouble.One thing I do know. If nothing else, this story allows me to say the following:

I was helped out by a police officer the other day, and when he left, I saw he had left a donut on my car:)

If only for that, it was totally worth it!