A few days ago I was running a short errand as it began to snow… hard. I crawled along with wipers at full swing, barely able to see past the flurry in front of my headlights. But it was just a quick errand not too far from home and so I pushed on.
With the road appearing as one planar sheet of snow, I wasn’t able to distinguish the foot-deep pothole directly before me until I was right on top of it- but as a seasoned midwest driver, you know do not brake and don’t steer away too hard! So I sucked in a deep breath of anticipation and bounced right into it… and my car immediately began pulling to the left. However, optimist Leslie was hoping that it was just the ruts of ice forcing me that way. Pretty quickly I sensed something was just wrong with my car and pulled over into a residential area.
My tire was shredding all over the snow and smelled of burnt rubber. Great, just what I need! It’s dark, cold (10 degrees before accouting for wind chill) and snowing!! Oh well, I figure I can handle this. So I pull out my tire repair kit and quickly realize that with this odd swinging mechanism to jack up the car I’ll be here all night. I call my friend Eileen to help and figure she can give me a lift to Sears where I’ll get another jack. But when she arrives she brings out a similar jack, a bit more rusted but easier to crank.
As we’re struggling with the jack, a car stops and two guys come out to help. Thank you Lord for the kindness of Chicagoans!! Their jack was wayyyyy better and we had the tire changed in no time. The next day I drove straight over to the Sears Auto Shop and the guys there were amazing about getting my car fixed, even offering to fix my broken headlight. It might have helped that he noticed my “United States Navy” sticker on my car and we ended up talking about his friends in the Navy, deployment, etc.
Basically I realized that I hated being unprepared for my flat tire. I know how to change a flat, but hadn’t used my own materials! So here is what is on my shopping list:
1.) An easy to crank jack, preferably with an up and down mechanism versus a swinging in a circle mechanism
2.) A reliable headlamp: The flashlight worked OK, but it was best when someone else held it and it kept flickering on and off
3.) Extra gloves with dexterity
4.) A piece of cardboard to lay down next to the tire so you don’t get soaking wet by the end of it
5.) A socket wrench with a big long arm
Items 1 and 2 are the most essential, but the rest are helpful! But really the most helpful thing was the people who stopped to see if I needed assistance. I wished them the greatest karma as I shook their hands and said THANK YOU! … and I hope it comes to them 🙂
The Inspired Dr.Mom 