I had a bit of an adventure on my way home from work today. I pulled out of the PeopleSoft parking lot and heard a strange flapping sound coming from the back of my car. I pulled into the parking lot at the next office building and sure enough, my rear tire was completely flat. As in riding on the rim. No air at all. Flat.
Now, I never took auto shop in high school, but our Girl Scout troop did all earn the Auto Maintenance badge. So I had a vague idea of what I was suppose to do. The only other time I've ever had a flat tire was when my brother and I were headed to the WOMAD concert in Albany, NY in 1994. We were driving my grandmother's old Chevy Malibu and the tire blew out on the highway just miles from our house. Was completely shredded in the middle. My brother was the one that changed the tire though.
Armed with my car's owner manual and a quick call to Erik, I got out the spare tire and jack. I was able to get three of the four lugnuts loosened, but the top one just would not move. Lucky for me, a very kind man named Jay was walking to his car and saw me. He was able to get the last nut off and changed the whole tire for me. Thanks again Jay!
I'm very grateful to Jay for helping me with the tire. I'm not sure that I could have gotten that last nut off without help. But I'm pretty sure that I could have done the rest by myself. Seeing how I was wearing one of my good dresses, it was nice not to have to get down on the ground. But at the same time I couldn't help but feel like the typical weak female, needing a man to rescue her. Part of me wishes that Jay hadn't come by, so I could prove to myself (and anyone watching) that I am self-reliant and capable of dealing with things that come my way. It's nice to know that you can depend upon yourself when the rubber hits the road.
Oh, and as of a hour ago, I am now a card carrying member of AAA.
