Meaning of life

Richard · Aug 19, 2004

Wife & I (and Otis /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) went to Chattanooga yesterday on our anniversary. On way home, she was wiggling in the seat having to go to the ladies room, so I pulled off in Athens to accommodate her /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif.

Right at the exit was a van that was on side of road with skid marks and no rear wheel /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif. It became immediately clear what happened... his lugs loosened and his wheel popped off. When his wheel popped off, his brake drum dragged about 50’ or so down the road/shoulder. Lucky for him this was on exit ramp and not going 80 mph /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Well, she was still squirming so I drove ahead to station & let her get her smile back. When she returned, I left her in car with Otis and I walked back to see if I could be of any help.

He was standing there waiting for his brother in law, thinking they could put the tire back on and drive 1 mile to his hotel. Seems he was from Michigan and in Athens (Between Knoxville and Chattanooga) for his daughters wedding this Friday (tomorrow).

I got down to look at it and informed him he was screwed. Not a single...well, I take that back, HE thought a SINGLE nut fit onto a lug. I suggested to him that all his studs were stripped and needed replaced. His van wasn’t driving anywhere on it’s OWN until this was fixed, however, it was a reasonably easy fix if it only needed the studs replaced.

I think he thought he could just pop out the bad ones and pop in the new ones (by hand) and perhaps, do it there on the side of road /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif (oh, and he had no jack)

As it became clear I couldn’t really help him, he thanked me for stopping, said he’d been there for maybe 15 minutes. He went on to inform me that just a couple weeks ago, his wife had come down from Michigan and had a flat on the highway. Said she was stuck there for 2 ½ hours before anyone stopped to see if they could be of any help so he was happy that "somone" stopped to assist him. About this time, his backup arrived so I left.

Ya know... what is life all about, if not but to try to help each other?

Golfgar4 · Aug 19, 2004

Kudos to you Richard for at least thinking of helping and trying. Just like this fellow said, too many times do you see people just go right on by someone who obviously could use a little help.

Hope everything worked out for him, and that you are always able to keep that "relieved" smile on the wife's face! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

wroughtn_harv · Aug 19, 2004

What goes around comes around Richard.

Some years ago the cell went off and it was my wife. She was pretty emotional as she related what had just happened to her.

She was on her way to work when she felt the left rear tire was flat. She pulled over out of traffic as far as she could get off the road. I was on a job I had to get done some miles away and so she didn't want to bother me. So she started looking for her auto club card.

About that time a nice young man pulled up behind her. He put on her spare and then refused payment. Instead he explained that he had a wife and daughter and he was making a deposit in an account because some day they might need some help when he coudn't be there.

She'd heard me give the same spiel a couple of times before under similar circumstances. She called to tell me it had worked.

SPIKER · Aug 19, 2004

had something almost similar happen, my old Merc Cougar, boat car. had NEW TIRES put on and drove home and left from kansas @9 am next morning to come home to Ohio. Made it here got up to go see my sister next day and made it maybe a mile. heard this bumping sound knew it wasn't good pulled over to find 1 lug nut left on the right rear!!! lucky for me it was MAG rims with deep gouved wheel studs/lugs. most of that trip (non-stop ccept for gas was 70 mph or so) noise happened and felt at 30 or so.. I called back to the tire place and raised cain made them pay for NEW lugs all around and NEW locking lug nuts too. if I had know what brand & mfg the wheels were I think I would have checked into a new wheel for that one too... I KNOW what happened they never tightened that side down... they TRIED to get out of it by saying I had to re-torque them after 200 miles and they werent responceable but they had no clue why only 1 wheel loosened! ya right... while it's true to re-torque you also have to torque them in the first place! hahaha.

anyhow I Pulled 1 lug off the other tires so I had 4 on each one. and drove to nearest NAPA and found some replacements. saved trhe reciept and called the tire place from the NAPA store (800 #) and I knew the napa guy.

anyhow got to remember to re-torque any aluminum or mag type rim, even steel ones should be checked after a few hundred miles.

Mark M

Richard · Aug 19, 2004

( What goes around comes around )

I've always tried to live by this and I must admit, on more than one occasion, I've had the fortune to receive a dividend.

Case in point: In college, spring break was "next week". On Monday prior, Dad calls me, says "how's your passport"... umm... 'expired' I replied.

He said, "well, I have tickets for you & I both, to go to Peru South America, leaving this Friday (4 days away) so you better get with it"

Hmm... passport in 4 days? (and I had plans on going with all my room mates to Palm Beach and stay with one of their sisters on the beach....AND she happened to be my old girlfriend /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif)

So much for Florida & old flames /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

So, off I immediately went into town 15 miles away, got passport pic taken. I found a person in Washington DC that said "get it to ME tomorrow and I'll complete it and overnight it back to you for receipt on Wednesday"

I did it and of course, the goob dropped the ball.

This is where paybacks come in.

As it so happened, a friend of my dad had a daughter who worked in DC and happend to work across the street from this person. Not only that, but she was just happening to be coming home on Thursday night!!

Sooooooooooo Thursday night, I drove from Oxford Ohio (near Cincy kinda) to Dayton, met her (a total stranger to me) at airport, she hand delivered my passport and the following morning, went back to Cincy airport to leave for Miami then Peru.....

Just one of those things, that if I was going to go to South America virtually everything had to workout for me... when it looked like the process got screwed up, another cog fell into place and bailed it all out.

It was then that my Mother smiled and said the good ole "what goes around, comes around". I smiled and said I figured I just cashed in a bunch of credits I had on account.

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MaineGuy · Aug 19, 2004

Richard, congrats on the anniversary. Are you a Miami alum?

Richard · Aug 19, 2004

Yep, I was on somethign like the 5 year plan /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Graduated December '83 with a major in Buisness and a minor in "Decision Sciences". (I always thought that was kind of a screwy sounding thing).

Currmudgeon · Aug 19, 2004

The laws of help and hospitality, which are as old as Mankind and older than any religion, don't seem as important anymore. It used to be, when someone showed up at your doorstep, he was hungry, and thirsty, and might be in danger. It was your sacred duty to help him. This is based on the "what goes around comes around" principle.

When I lived in Alaska, if I got a flat tire, I'd nearly have to draw my gun to chase off the Good Samaritans. Everyone coming by would stop.

When I returned to the Lower 48, the first time I stopped for a broken down car, the woman thought I was going to mug her. <shrug>

To add a bit of perspective, though, when you're 70 miles out on the Steese highway north of Fairbanks (Highway, Ha!), that next car may be the only help you get all day. Back in New York, a cop will probably be by in an hour or two. So aid is not as life-critical.

Still, it's sad the old ways are being lost.

Currmudgeon · Aug 19, 2004

( He put on her spare and then refused payment. )

Never repay a good deed.

Pass it on.

Richard · Aug 19, 2004

( ( He put on her spare and then refused payment. )

Never repay a good deed.)

I agree with you. When I was living in Charleston, SC, some dude in my apt complex was having some serious car issues.

Long and short, I walked out, poked my nose into his buisness offered to assist. (not that I'm a brain, but he was a REAL rock on auto mechanics)

He needed a complet tuneup, plugs, points, condenser, timing...

Just so happened I had all the requisite tools on hand /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Took inventory of his needs, drove him to auto store, he bought the goods, upon returning, I showed him how to do most of it, meaning HE did it (plugs/gap, points, button...) and then I did the timing/dwell. he offered to pay me some cashola and I just smiled and told him to someday stop, reflect on this moment & do something nice for someone else.

All one can do is plant seeds, it's up to them to do the rest

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