Okay, is that by horse drawn carriage? Bus? Well no, it’s because of having a flat tire near the swinging metropolis of Bastrop, Texas. This is on a Sunday afternoon, about seven years ago, in the middle of July, on the way to a three-day conference. The normal drive time is three lovely hours through some of the most attractive hill country in the state. Yep, attractive, until, as you are nearing a low spot on the hilly terrain, you hear a noise in your right wheel well – tick, tick, tick as it matches the rotation of your wheels. What, just what is that!!!???? You start to pull to the shoulder, then see a rest stop on the left – lucky you – pull in. There is nothing that you can see sticking out of the tire, you continue to investigate; you get down on your knees and look under the car at the inside of the tire, still nothing. But, as you are investigating, you do hear a definite HISSSSSS coming from a tire. Call AAA – oops, they loose your connection since you are down in a valley. Well, you just have to get out of that spot. You risk it, and drive up the hill – oh wow, a gas station! You think you’ll get some air for that tire and maybe get further down the road to a better place. Nope, the air hose tip on the air pump is cut off. Okay, instead of staying in such a questionable truck-like stop, you do manage to pull next door and stop in front of a nice looking motel, park, get out and watch the tire deflate. Call AAA again, this time they don’t loose you – get your info. You wait for the truck; call a tire repair place, perhaps they can help – no, they don’t have anyone to send. You wait for the truck. Okay, so maybe you should change the tire, but no, you’d never be able to loosen those durn lug-nuts! You wait for the truck. (Okay, at least you are waiting inside in A/C and the patient clerk doesn’t mind you being there.)
Finally, the truck comes (after two hours!) There were some really major accident emergencies that needed attention. Okay, you understand that. The AAA person puts on the spare doughnut. Now, though, you have 30 minutes to get to Wal-Mart (the only place open on a Sunday afternoon) to see if the tire can be repaired. When you get there, you find it cannot be repaired because a chunk of rubber is cut out of the inside wall. Do they have a tire? Don’t know, they say, they’ll see. Yes, they’re supposed to have three that fit your car, but they can’t find them! However, a dedicated, helpful Wal-Mart employee did find the tires, and one was put on the car. Yay!! So, off you go, new tire (doesn’t match the other three which weren’t that old to begin with) minus $150 and 150 lbs. (due to all the sweating). Austin looks good as it looms in the distance 30 minutes later and 6 ½ hours from the start of the trip. But, drat, you missed your Sunday meeting!
(I was going to an annual planning conference that occurs every year in July - I dedicate this little essay to all who will be attending - you folks are great!)
Finally, the truck comes (after two hours!) There were some really major accident emergencies that needed attention. Okay, you understand that. The AAA person puts on the spare doughnut. Now, though, you have 30 minutes to get to Wal-Mart (the only place open on a Sunday afternoon) to see if the tire can be repaired. When you get there, you find it cannot be repaired because a chunk of rubber is cut out of the inside wall. Do they have a tire? Don’t know, they say, they’ll see. Yes, they’re supposed to have three that fit your car, but they can’t find them! However, a dedicated, helpful Wal-Mart employee did find the tires, and one was put on the car. Yay!! So, off you go, new tire (doesn’t match the other three which weren’t that old to begin with) minus $150 and 150 lbs. (due to all the sweating). Austin looks good as it looms in the distance 30 minutes later and 6 ½ hours from the start of the trip. But, drat, you missed your Sunday meeting!
(I was going to an annual planning conference that occurs every year in July - I dedicate this little essay to all who will be attending - you folks are great!)
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