After attending a business meeting in South Salt Lake City, Utah, William, Ben and myself piled into the worn and beaten car excited to get home to Provo. After about ten or fifteen minutes on the freeway Will looked down and noticed steam coming from his hood. He didn't think much of it because he'd just had his water pump replaced two days before. However, after a few more minutes he became concerned and noticed that his temperture gauge was above the H (for those who don't know much about cars ... his car was overheating). Panicked, he pulled off the next exit and while waiting for the car to cool we grabbed some grub and put a gallon of water in the car.
After about an hour we jumped back in the car and headed on our way. We made it about two exits before realizing the car was overheating once again. While anticipating the next exit a strange knocking sound on the underside of the car started (If you can imagine a small angry gnome clinging on to the bottom of your car trying to get your attention - that is what this sounded like). We pulled off the freeway into an abandoned parking lot in the middle of nowhere (American Fork/Pleasant Grove). At this point we decided it would be more convenient to call someone and get a ride. As we waited I pulled out my handy dandy little camera and proceeded to take about 75 pictures and about 10 videos. After blinding Ben and Will and making them do way too many poses that I will someday use as blackmail Will's friend Jayli showed up to save the day. Finally after 2 and a half hours of this car adventure we were able to make it home in one piece.
This is what is continuously happening to people who own crappy cars. We must make time in our lives to spend stranded on the side of the road. Had I been a proud owner of a VW Jetta, I may have perhaps been annoyed by the lack of air conditioning and the fountain of steam coming out of this car. But I own a Dodge Neon ... I have spent more than enough hours on the side of the road to know that if you don't give yourself at least 2 hours to drive 35 miles you will end up missing something important. That is the life I know and will know for many more years to come. I don't complain, I just ask those more fortunate than myself to understand when I don't make it to an event as promised or when I arrive more than a few hours late that it's always the car's fault. ALWAYS!
1 comment:
There are more interesting ways of expressing my feelings toward you than on a comment section under one of your blogs, but since you insist upon it my feelings are as follows: There are only a few persons in the world whom I would call for a ride in the middle of the night from, you, and my mother. I hope that makes you feel terrific that I would sacrafice your sleep for the handyness of your somtimes unreliable car. YAY for you.
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