I was driving home from work on the 31st when the cab of the Jeep started to fill with steam. I was just at the top of the hill coming out of Portland, so I pulled off at the next exit and into a parking lot. I like to think of myself as a problem solver, so I thought I'd check out what was going on under the hood:
I'm no mechanic, but I was pretty sure those two loose ends ought to be connected. With encouragement from a stranger we'll call Helpful McPasserby, I got up the nerve to cancel the tow I had called for and fix it myself. Before digging in, I of course had to go into the coffee shop upon whose parking lot I was imposing so I could warm up. The thoughtful baristas saw my plight and gave me a warm drink for free!
Thoroughly warmed in both body and spirit, I walked across the street to a convenience store for a screw driver and some coolant. They had neither. But the helpful attendant showed me that a dime will do the trick when you don't have a screw driver. Wouldn't you know it, that was the only coin in my wallet!
Using my dime, I successfully unclamped, reattached, and reclamped the hose. But I needed coolant. Here I met my Waterloo. I had to call my dad since Josh was at work and have him run some up to me. While I was waiting, I had 3 or 4 strangers stop and make sure I was okay though. All in all I lost a couple hours, but I ended 2010 feeling pretty good about my community.
1 comment:
Those frustrating moments are often the times you get to see a little beauty in the world. I'm glad it all worked out!
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