If I Had A Time Machine...

If I had a time machine I would get in it right now and go back to that fateful day this summer where Travis and I were at Tire Discounters. The nice man behind the counter told me that I needed 4 new tires but Travis respectfully disagreed. He was positive that I could make do with the 3 that were already on there and the 1 new one. That nice man (I sure wish I could remember his name) told me that I would DEFINITELY need 3 new tires before winter. Somehow, that got put on the back burner.

Flash forward to today at 5:15 pm. I am on 71 N, mile 14. I am making really good time on my way home from work. I am super excited because I got out ahead of all the traffic and I will get to see the kids before they go to Sue's for the night. Then, my car starts to shake a little bit and is making a funny noise. Immediately I know what is wrong with my car. I have a flat tire. I pull to the side (the median, of course) and I have no emotions or thoughts. Travis is at home with the kids so he can not come rescue me and I don't even know if I have a spare tire! I finally figure out that I do, in fact, have a spare tire but I still don't have any way to change it. Travis is calling Chris to see if he can come help (that would be the 3rd time for Chris rescuing from the side of the road) but that would mean that I have to wait on the side of the road for probably close to an hour before he can get to me. I am cursing myself for being such a girl and never learning how to change a tire!

And then, my knight in shining armor shows up. Actually, it is a deputy sheriff in a cruiser, but whatever. He offers to change the tire for me (I am not sure if this is actually part of his job description or not but it should be.) Once I unload ALL THE CRAP that I keep in the back of my car and get the tire out, he commences with the changing of the tire. Now, obviously I have never changed a tire and have never even watched one being changed, but it seemed like he was having A LOT of trouble with it. I was standing on the side of 71, in 27 degree weather with no hat or scarf. I didn't know what to do. Should I help? Can I get in the car??

Finally, Officer Wade (my knight) said "You can go sit in the cruiser." Then he was REALLY my hero! So while he finished the job I go to sit in the super cool cruiser with the heat on! I had to really control myself not to touch anything. I have been in a police cruiser very few times in my life (only once in the back seat!) but I am positive that "visitors" are not supposed to touch the police equipment.

Finally I was back on the road again (about 35 minutes later.) And I am now safe at home. Here is the lesson - Ladies, learn how to change a tire, but more importantly when the nice man behind the counter tells you that you need new tires and you have the money to pay for them, GET THEM! As I can assure you, time machines do not exist!