Damsel in distress - what to do when you can't change a flat tire

[peacetraveler22]

I often take pride in the fact I'm an independent woman, capable of caring for myself in most aspects of life, but there are many exceptions when it becomes necessary to rely on others. I'm human after all. :)

Driving to work a few weeks ago, there was a sudden shake, slight loss of control in steering, and immediately I knew the problem. A flat tire, making the journey onward to work impossible. In such cases, I immediately try to call my father to come rescue me. Secretly, I believe he wished for sons, but instead he was blessed with two lovely daughters. This didn't deter him from teaching us all kinds of useful things growing up. Many lessons in his garage about basic car maintenance - how to change the oil, drive a manual, and even get on the ground, use the jack and change our own tires. But thirty years later, I didn't feel like pulling out the instruction manual in my Audi, crawling on the wet, rocky ground and changing the flat myself. Perhaps I would not even remember how to do it honestly, because any time there's an issue with my car, my dad is equipped to fix the problem. In this way, I'm spoiled - a father who is a jack of all trades and can solve almost any problem or puzzle from plumbing, electrical to mechanics. Such men are very useful in life, but I think they are a dying breed.

There was one major obstacle on this day - I leave for work around 5 a.m., and it's difficult to reach other humans at this hour, as most are still nestled in their cozy beds, lost in dreamland. Here's how I solved the problem, and perhaps the post will give you some useful advice if you decide to visit the USA, and find yourself in a similar situation where roadside assistance is needed.

1. I'm a firm believer in "signs", maybe even destiny to a certain extent. For me, there's a strong connection between music and life events. A certain song can evoke memories, instantly transport me to a different time or place, and even eerily capture the precise emotions of the moment. This happens randomly, as I'm usually listening to satellite radio on the way to work, and have no control over which tunes are played. When I pulled to the shoulder of the road, this song came on. Yep - life is a bittersweet symphony, and sometimes we must suffer with inconveniences like flat tires and being stranded in darkness, all alone on the highway.



2.  Almost all U.S. States have emergency roadside assistance numbers. In Virginia, you can dial #77 and someone will come rescue you. The Virginia Department of Transportation has trucks on safety patrol duty on major highways and routes during peak rush hours. They assist with tire changes, jumper cables, bringing fuel so you can make it to the nearest gas station, all kinds of basic issues. You can read about the Virginia system here. Maybe there is a similar system in Russia, not sure? Twice I've used #77 with good results. In fact, the safety workers changed my tires absolutely free. I'm not sure if this is normal practice, or they were just being nice because I'm a woman.

When I called #77 before 6 a.m., there were few patrol cars on duty and the wait was too long. I needed to be at work for an 8:00 a.m. meeting., so Google came to the rescue, and I spoke to a man at a local towing company who offered to come change the tire. He arrived about 20 minutes after the call.



3. Here he is - Samir. Just a lovely guy, with an interesting story. He's a Syrian immigrant - not a refugee. He came to the USA over 20 years ago to study and has remained here his entire life. Very friendly, talkative and happy that someone had an interest in his background. It's why I love living in America - constantly you meet people like Samir, from countries all over the globe. You learn firsthand about different places, and the paths various people wander to eventually find their true "home." There's almost never a hesitation to share such personal facts if the questions are asked, even among strangers. Americans - typically open people. It's why I have absolutely no problem sharing many personal details and opinions here in this blog. Such behaviors are ordinary in the culture in which I was raised.



4. It took him about 15 minutes to change the tire. He kept asking me whether the manual was in gear, whether the parking break was on, scared that he was going to be rolled over by a heavy autombile. Yes!, I answered. I think he was shocked to see a female driving a manual, as it's rare in the USA.



5. This service was not free - $150. If I had waited for roadside assistance from #77, the ordeal would have taken several hours, and personally I'm willing to pay a premium when time is of the essence, and I can afford it. Plus, my work reimbursed half the cost so I could make it to the meeting on time. Many drivers have something called AAA - this is roadside assistance that you can use anytime, anywhere in the USA. It's a very cheap monthly fee, and I'm now a member after this incident. It simply makes everything easier, with a lot less hassels. If you're planning a big road trip in the USA, I recommend you enroll in AAA before the journey.



While the mood of this day was frantic, annoying and definitely inconvenient, not all was a loss. I met a really nice man, learned some interesting things about every day life in Syria, and once again my patience was tested at extreme levels. Sometimes there are so many curve balls thrown that it's impossible to catch them, no matter how keen your eyesight, polished your glove, or firmly your feet are planted. This - the ebb and flow we call life.

Ladies - do you know how to change a flat tire? :))