Returning from a trip and after leaving the Joplin airport, I took the interstate on my way home one frosty evening, years ago; suddenly all the lights on the dashboard blinked and everything went dark. The car stopped and I was stuck on the on-ramp going north.
Called home, but being close to midnight it took a little while for the phone to be answered; then, grumpy came on the line and after letting him know of my predicament, he suggested I call *511 and get the sheriff involved as he was not coming out to rescue me because of the low temperatures.
The dispatcher at the sheriff’s office called the tow truck and after waiting for an hour, a disheveled tow truck operator came to my aid. He took his time hooking up the car to his truck and suggested I ride with him in the front seat. He opened the passenger door to let me in, high heels and all, and realized the old fast food trash was on the seat along with shriveled up French fries, empty chip bags, cigarette butts, soda cans and more than I can describe on this paper.
He apologized profusely after seeing I was wearing my work clothes, consisting of a full length coat, a dressy skirt and blouse, along with nylons and pumps.
He moved the trash and made enough room for me to sit and started on his way to his repair shop. I then called home once again and after promising all the things I was never going to do, my better half agreed to dress, get in his truck and pick me up at the garage.
He arrived about an hour later and we started for home, leaving my car behind, with a promise the mechanic would look at it at his first opportunity the following day.
It was the start of my three weeks’ vacation during the Holidays, when everyone is involved in parties, visiting, traveling home, baking and other festive occasions; I had no need to go anywhere but stay home and relax.
I contacted the mechanic the following day and the bad news was the alternator was trash and needed a new one; I agreed to get it fixed. Later, he called and said the battery needed to be replaced, the cables and belts needed work and after all was said and done, the bill was enormous. I should have gone to the car dealership and bought a new car, seeing most of the important parts needed replacement.
Finally, after waiting what seemed to be like forever, the day came when the car was ready to be picked up and with checkbook in hand I arrived at the mechanics.
The car was working, the interior had been vacuumed, the exterior had been cleaned, the carpets were spotless, and I was a happy woman once again. When we arrived at home, we agreed to give the car to one of our daughters who were leaving for college, and I went to the dealership and bought a new one. I should have done that to begin with.