What a day , yeh ?

[dweller]

90 degrees and windless , in a hot parking lot at the grocers .
Just need a few items : bread , cheese , wine and ice cream ( for me ) and popsicles ( for the grands ) are on sale … so im done and heading back to the car . I put the groceries in the back seat passenger side and there it is 😳
A flat tire … full pancake flat on the bottom side 😑
So first things first i head back inside and ask if they could hold my bag in the freezer while I change the tire .
I ask if they had anything that could help me with the change and they said no .
So I head back out and start checking for my spare . I’ve never used it or even looked at it so I’m expecting a dry rotted or at least flat spare and there is a brand new full size Firestone in the spare well . Dig out my scissors Jack and a few tools I have with me always and get started …
Did I say it was 90 degrees on an asphalt parking lot ?
So luckily I have my breaker bar with me and a heavy duty socket that fits the lug nuts and I have to stand on the bar to break the torque on the lug nuts and I get them started loose .
Now im ready for a break , and sit down in the back of my 2001 Subaru forester resting , the spare leaned against the car and I watch ppl passing by averting their eyes from the 72 year old red in the face coot sitting in his car … except for a few older women who stop and ask if I need help . I tell them im fine and im in no hurry and I can get it done eventually .
Until this maybe middle aged Latina lady insists she will help me . I ask if she’s ever changed a tire and she says No but I can tell her what to do . I thanked her but said I’d be fine . She went and got in her car. And I set back to work .
Meanwhile several younger guys pass by looking everywhere but at me , and I see the Latina lady get out of her car and head back in the store.
Next thing I know she’s coming back with two teenagers and says “ I’ve got you some help” with a big smile on her face .
And so they did what I instructed and they got the tire changed , and I was soon on my way . But first I headed back in to cool off in the ac . Im on meds that make me turn cherry red in the heat , and I'm not supposed to get too much sun so I sat a good 15 minutes before I got my groceries from the freezer and headed home .
Never has a cold glass of wine tasted so good .

Just had this car inspected last week and the steel belts showing on that tire I guess wasn’t a sign i was headed for a flat . So I’ll have a few choice words for that inspector soon .

Wadda day 🫠



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[Marthe48]

1. Super glad you got one of the 13

Legend says there are 13 good people on the Earth. Glad one was there for you Maybe two in training.

Pace yourself and cool off!

[dweller]

4. All true !

Thanks

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[True Dough]

14. How many of those 13

frequent this forum?

[Marthe48]

15. When I learned about this legend

I realized anyone could be one of the 13. In these times, whoever they are have their hands full! We can use all the good we can get

[SuzyandPuffpuff]

2. Yipes

Glad Yu made it and good folks came to yr rescue...win win

[dweller]

5. I wonder what the lady said inside the store

But the 2 guys were cheerful and very helpful .


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[SheltieLover]

3. I don't go out much anymore, but I maintain Aaa Membership.

It's well worth the $~$70/yr imo.

Glad you got help & are ok.

[dweller]

6. I also don't go very far

Maybe 4,000 miles a year , and the store is just 1 mile from me . I could have walked home , but not with ice cream .
If I had known the condition of that tire i would have replaced it already .


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[SheltieLover]

8. I don't go too far either

And it does take AAA some time to show up, but I have zero tolerance for this excessive heat & humidity so the added protection is worth it for me.

Enjoy your ice cream!

[LuckyCharms]

7. Yikes!

Nothing worse tan changing a tire on hot pavement.

I'm glad you got some help, dweller.

Be safe out there!

[dweller]

9. I would have got it changed eventually

on my own , but it was nice getting help from the young guys . And the lady who went inside and got them was a game changer .

Now it’s pouring rain … so it could have been worse .
🥴


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[heme]

10. A hint being you were at grocery store

I learned this from a dear old friend,, when I couldn't find my WD 40,, spray cooking oils work great and fairly cheap in a pinch.

[Fla Dem]

11. You of course thanked the woman and the 2 younger men for their help.

You were fortunate they were willing to be of assistance. I wonder if she offered them a monetary thank you.

[dweller]

12. Absolutely

And I did offer the guys a few bucks each , but they refused it .
Im thinking she spoke to a manager to get the guys … they said they were happy to get out of the freezer and outside . I think they were high school age working part time for the summer . Only one had ever changed a tire ‘with his dad’ he said . They were very good natured the whole time . Acted happy to help .

✌🏻

[Fla Dem]

13. Fantastic! A dreadful siltation for you turned out very well! Happy for you.