LEANING INTO THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

Flashing Lights, and Stalled Out in the Middle of the Road

Procrastination isn’t always the best idea

If a mechanic tells you your auxiliary battery is failing, it’s best to make an appointment immediately. I had taken the car to an expensive Subaru dealer to find out why the battery icon lit up when the car started. The main battery was fine.

The Subaru dealer who diagnosed the car was located 20 miles a from our house. The place was pricey and over-staffed. Beth, my partner, joked, “They charge you $300 just to drive into their garage.”

I decided to find a cheaper mechanic. I had not been told the battery situation was urgent, but it might have been sage to address it more quickly.

I casually looked up Seattle Subaru mechanics.

Before leaving for Japan, I still had not set up an appointment. When I returned 11 days later, I had jet lag and had forgotten about the car issues.

I took the car for a couple of errands. It drove fine, but the same lights were on — the battery light and a full car light, where the car looked split in two.

Yesterday, I drove the car to Trader Joe’s.

All went well until I found a free street parking space and turned toward it. Suddenly, my power steering stopped working, and the dashboard lit up like Vegas.

Then the car stopped.

The chorus of lights kept flashing. The car was stuck in drive, and I was blocking the street. Luckily, one end of the street was closed for construction. That was the end I stalled near. I advised drivers trying to park, and honking at me, what was happening. Most of the drivers backed up. I helped two drivers maneuver around my car.

Then I called AAA for a tow. I was not carrying my AAA card with me. But surprise! The company now allows members to validate with a phone number. The agent said she would call me back with details about tow truck availability.

I noticed my phone battery was low. I would need it charged to stay in touch with AAA and the tow truck driver.

My car had stalled out close enough to Trader Joe’s (TJ’s) I could easily walk there. I left my car unlocked. I had no choice.

At TJ’s, I went to the manager’s station to explain my situation. One of the managers, an incredibly nice guy, helped me. He went in search of a charger for my iPhone and told me, “ You can keep the phone behind this counter while it charges. I’ll let you know if AAA calls back while the phone is charging.”

It was a cold night. The temp felt like the mid-30s. I was shaky, worried the incident might end poorly.

I needed a big distraction from negative fantasies. I decided to shop while waiting for the AAA call. I bought what was on my shopping list, plus an extra bag of spicy cashews, figuring the nuts might be my dinner.

After I went through the check-out line, the TJ manager intercepted me. AAA had left a message.

The agent estimated it would take another 90 minutes before a truck would come.

What a drag.

I took the groceries back to the car and surveyed the street. Numerous cars had parked along both sides of the street. I was hopeful a skilled tow truck driver could navigate backing up in the narrow space

I went to the organic market down the street from TJ’s. They have a decent deli. I bought some chicken orzo soup. Back at Trader Joe’s, the manager had set up a chair for me. He was fine with my eating the soup. It was hot and delicious.

I was also glad I could use TJ’s bathrooms.

I went out to meet the tow truck driver when he arrived. He had brought a long-bed truck. It was clear the young man was a new driver and lacked the confidence to back up the truck. He tried to charge the battery but was unsuccessful. His supervisor told me he would call AAA to arrange a replacement tow truck — a smaller one.

I called AAA to make sure they were sending a 2nd truck. They hadn’t yet heard about the failed first attempt. The agent got on the horn, arranging for a more experienced driver. The guy called me from a gas station across the street from Trader Joe’s.

I offered to ride with him, guiding him to my car. The driver had found the right street, but someone had put up a street-closed sign.

“Ignore the sign,” I said, pointing out my stalled car blocking the end of the road.

From there, the tow truck driver was a superhero. He advised me to stay in his monster truck, where there was glorious heat, while he went into action. First, he charged the auxiliary battery, allowing the car to start. He was able to set the car up so he could pull the car behind his truck.

He drove me home and placed my car alongside the curb after he unloaded it. The super-hero suggested I identify a Subaru mechanic, and get the car towed to that site the following morning.

I found a mechanic, who approved of having the car towed there. It might take two days before they could look at it.

The tow truck driver this morning couldn’t believe AAA approved two tows in a row. I figured it had to do with my long wait.

In any case, the Subaru is in good hands. I am no longer stressed and hopeless. Tomorrow I’ll call AAA about the super-hero tow driver and TJ’s about the great manager.

I hope they both get big Xmas bonuses.