Watching the commercial for car tires I find myself remembering bad-tires-of-my-past. I knew nothing of tires: when to replace them, how long they could last, why should the season matter? Thus, one of my adventures includes a big old blow-out on a major highway.
It was after a Fourth of July celebration, so I know it was close to midnight when I was driving home from a cousin’s house. I got a flat on a major thoroughfare, causing me to pull off the highway into a seedier section of the city. I knew how to change a tire! I had done it many times, and especially had to do it at least three times before leaving home for college. My father made sure we kids knew the basics.
Thankfully, I had received some peanut butter cookies from my cousin as I left the celebration. Thankfully, I do not like peanut butter cookies. As I pulled off and began the process to change the tire, an entire car occupied by five young rowdy men pulled up. I was alone, 24 years old, and it was late. However, I had peanut butter cookies.
Feigning nonchalance, I let them help me change the tire, and of course, I had no money to offer them as I was 24 years old. I gave them peanut butter cookies! They were thrilled, left me whooping and hollering to go on with their own celebrations.
Flat tires always remind me that people are pretty darn good. (And I am well aware that I need new tires before winter arrives.)