First, perhaps I should correct my title. My car didn’t actually break down on a “highway”, it broke down on an “interstate”. I didn’t know there was a difference until I typed “cars broken down” into my search engine and the choice of freeway, highway, or interstate came up.
So, my car died on my way to work. Sunday, the weekend of Labor Day. First I pushed it off to the far side of the shoulder of the road. It was surprisingly easy. I felt like if I could get my feet under it like Fred Flintstone, I could power the thing all the way to work.
Doesn’t work that way though, at least not my car, so I put the flashers on and waited for some kind soul to stop. When no one stopped for that, I put my hood up. When that didn’t help I sat outside my car in the 95 degree heat on the rail at the side of the road.
When that didn’t attract any sort of help, I started waving my arms for help. No, I don’t have a cell phone and, no, I still don’t think I need one.
I used the correct signals, a bit more animated like this though.
It worked. A guy in an SUV with a wife and 3 kids stopped and asked if I needed help. I gave an enthusiastic “YES”! with many thanks for stopping and asked could he call a tow truck for me.
In the end he called 5 tow truck companies. Because of the holiday weekend, all but one had a 90 minute to 2 hour wait. With a tow truck coming, the guy asked if I’d be ok to wait, gave me a hug, and got back in his SUV.
His wife held up a bottle of water, asking did I need some. How nice can you get?? I tried to give them money, but they refused.
The tow truck came in 20 minutes and took my car to an auto shop near my house. I asked the driver if he knew the owner of the shop, saying he was a bit of a jerk. The tow truck driver didn’t know anyone at this shop.
As my car was being backed into a parking slot, I saw the owner, who was, oddly, wearing shorts and a T-Shirt. I asked if they could take a look at my car and he told me to come inside so he could get my phone number and he unlocked the keys to the shop.
This is a gas station with a 3 or 4 bay garage for repairs. I asked him if I had caught him just as he was closing. He told me they aren’t open on Sundays he was just there helping a friend fix a tire. He also checked with me to make sure the tow truck driver was going to give me a ride home. (Say, that’s not the way jerks are supposed to act.)
The tow truck driver drove me almost all the way, I had him drop me off at a friends who lives a few blocks from me. I sold her my truck several years ago and still have a key so I can borrow it whenever I want. The tow truck driver refused any extra money for driving me home, just charged me the $85 towing on a Sunday fee.
I got my friends truck and headed out to work but first I stopped at home to get another set of my car keys. I realized I had left the roof and all the windows of my car open. I went up to the shop to close them. When I got there, the owner was gone and all of my windows were rolled up. (I may need to rethink my definition of “jerk”.)
This was really an incredible experience. So many truly kind people coming to my aid. Circumstances that could have been horrible working out in my favor. Enough to really restore hope in humanity and the universe.
Except, maybe, the part where this Thursday I’ll go to the shop to pick up my car and pay $1,700 for a new clutch.