After the Slow-Leak-Due-to-Nail adventure in Arizona, I had my fingers crossed for good tire health. I must have crossed them the wrong way, because upon driving up to Monica and Wolfgang’s house in the middle of the New Mexico flatlands, I discovered that my left front tire was completely flat. I didn’t know Monica and Wolfgang, having only been introduced recently via email by a friend back in Ontario.
The beginning of our relationship went something like this:
“Hi! I’m Arjenna! Nice to meet you! My tire is completely flat.” (ok, it wasn’t quite like that, but close)
It is a testament to Monica, Wolfgang, and their friend Linda’s generosity, kindness, and willingness to help those in need that, in spite of being in the midst of dealing with their own car issues (I discovered my flat as their car was being loaded up on a tow truck, ironically), AND hurriedly packing and getting ready to go to a conference the next day, my 2 days there mostly revolved around all of them helping me with my tire.
Once their car was dealt with, Wolfgang quickly assessed the situation, removed my tire, loaded it into their pick-up, and within 20 minutes I was driving with Monica to a town a half hour drive away to see if my tire could be repaired.
It couldn’t.
And my tires are a unique size.
The beginning of our relationship went something like this:
“Hi! I’m Arjenna! Nice to meet you! My tire is completely flat.” (ok, it wasn’t quite like that, but close)
It is a testament to Monica, Wolfgang, and their friend Linda’s generosity, kindness, and willingness to help those in need that, in spite of being in the midst of dealing with their own car issues (I discovered my flat as their car was being loaded up on a tow truck, ironically), AND hurriedly packing and getting ready to go to a conference the next day, my 2 days there mostly revolved around all of them helping me with my tire.
Once their car was dealt with, Wolfgang quickly assessed the situation, removed my tire, loaded it into their pick-up, and within 20 minutes I was driving with Monica to a town a half hour drive away to see if my tire could be repaired.
It couldn’t.
And my tires are a unique size.
The next day I decided to do a bit more hunting – surely I could find a cheaper used tire than the brand new one the repair shop had offered to put on. Though I hadn't bought a tire there, they had kindly taken my tire off the rim and assessed the damage at no charge. If I could just put the donut on, then when I headed toward Albuquerque I could buy one along the way.
The next morning Wolfgang was heading out to a meeting. Monica called in reinforcement…neighbour and family friend, Linda, who showed up wearing old clothes, ready to do some dirty work. After a few minutes under my car, it was clear that a tool was required to remove the donut and I did not have this tool. We were stuck. Linda waved aside my suggestion that I call AAA. “Nonsense. I’ll drive you to Magdalena in my truck. They might have a used tire. If not, we’ll continue to the next town. Someone will have one.” So I hopped in Linda’s truck, and off we drove.
The guy in Magdalena laughed when he saw my tire. “Never have that size in stock,” he said. “Try Socorro.” An hour later we pulled up in Socorro. The guy there had every used tire imaginable…just not the one I needed. “No one’s gonna have that,” he said, spitting chewing tobacco juice from between blackened teeth. “I kin sell you a used one but it’s the wrong size. Tread’s almost gone. Will git you on your way though, and you can buy a new one when you git to Albuquerque.”
Well, what choice did I have? So I forked out $20. Used tire now installed on rim. Off we go.
An hour and a half later we pulled back into the driveway. I ducked into the house to go to the bathroom. When I came out, Linda was brushing grease off her hands and the tire was already on my car. It was 1pm.
Wolfgang came back and we called a tire store on the outskirts of Albuquerque. They had a new tire of the right size, and they were open till 5. Geronimo! I hurriedly loaded all my stuff into the car, said my goodbyes, and drove off on my wrong-sized, almost-bare tire.
Three hours and $80 later I had a brand new tire and was headed toward my next destination.
In retrospect, I probably should have bought the new tire at the first place.
But I didn’t, and the Blown-Tire saga enabled me to experience generosity and helpfulness beyond what anyone would expect: a group effort that included a one hour trip in one direction, a four hour trip in another (with refusal of gas money on both sides), assistance taking my tire off, help putting a new tire on, and kind-hearted service from small-town repair-shop people.
Stressful, yes.
But an excellent lesson in helping others selflessly!
Thank you to all involved!!
The next morning Wolfgang was heading out to a meeting. Monica called in reinforcement…neighbour and family friend, Linda, who showed up wearing old clothes, ready to do some dirty work. After a few minutes under my car, it was clear that a tool was required to remove the donut and I did not have this tool. We were stuck. Linda waved aside my suggestion that I call AAA. “Nonsense. I’ll drive you to Magdalena in my truck. They might have a used tire. If not, we’ll continue to the next town. Someone will have one.” So I hopped in Linda’s truck, and off we drove.
The guy in Magdalena laughed when he saw my tire. “Never have that size in stock,” he said. “Try Socorro.” An hour later we pulled up in Socorro. The guy there had every used tire imaginable…just not the one I needed. “No one’s gonna have that,” he said, spitting chewing tobacco juice from between blackened teeth. “I kin sell you a used one but it’s the wrong size. Tread’s almost gone. Will git you on your way though, and you can buy a new one when you git to Albuquerque.”
Well, what choice did I have? So I forked out $20. Used tire now installed on rim. Off we go.
An hour and a half later we pulled back into the driveway. I ducked into the house to go to the bathroom. When I came out, Linda was brushing grease off her hands and the tire was already on my car. It was 1pm.
Wolfgang came back and we called a tire store on the outskirts of Albuquerque. They had a new tire of the right size, and they were open till 5. Geronimo! I hurriedly loaded all my stuff into the car, said my goodbyes, and drove off on my wrong-sized, almost-bare tire.
Three hours and $80 later I had a brand new tire and was headed toward my next destination.
In retrospect, I probably should have bought the new tire at the first place.
But I didn’t, and the Blown-Tire saga enabled me to experience generosity and helpfulness beyond what anyone would expect: a group effort that included a one hour trip in one direction, a four hour trip in another (with refusal of gas money on both sides), assistance taking my tire off, help putting a new tire on, and kind-hearted service from small-town repair-shop people.
Stressful, yes.
But an excellent lesson in helping others selflessly!
Thank you to all involved!!