2 Blown Tires, 5 Kind Strangers

This morning I left Bellingham ridiculously early so I could get to Chesire, Oregon to see one of my favorite families, the Wagners.  After Sabbath at the INN and a good talk with a favorite friend I packed my back pack, grabbed my sleeping bag, tossed my tennis shoes in the trunk, snagged some fruit for a road trip snack, and headed out.  As I drove down I-5 music blared a bit louder than normal from my speakers, snow fell from the sky (random, it's April in Washington!), and I embraced the fading of the night as it turned into a beautiful, blue early morning.  Then, tragic event number one occured....

I heard and felt flapping in the rear of my car and smelled what definatly seemed to be hot rubber.  Pulling over to the shoulder I stepped out and walked around the rear of my car only to discover the tire had ripped itself to shreds.  Pulling off the freeway I pulled into a gas station and began to change my tire.  This is when I encountered kind stranger #1.  His name was Joseph and he was really great.  He inspected the old tire, checked the spare donut tire to make sure the lug nuts were tight, shook hands with me and off he went into the deep blue morning.  I thought to myself, "that was nice" and continued on.  Little did I know tragic event number two was only a couple hours away....

I pulled off the freeway to get a much desired coffee.  Pulling away with my white chocolate americano in hand I was about to get on the freeway when the rear end of my car felt funny again.  Nervous anxiety filled my chest, but a calmness filled my head.  Whatever the problem was, I knew I could fix it - I just knew it.  Unfortunatly my assurance was not strong enough to create the reality I desired.  The spare donut tire had completely seperated itself from it's rim.  As I pulled out the jack from my trunk I encountered kind stranger #2.  This stranger's name was Rick and he was adimit about getting me in a safe place with four tires on my car.  He opened his trunk and started pulling out his spare tires, one a donut similar to the one that had failed me, the other an old snow tire with worn down studs speckling it's tread.  Much to both our dismay, neither tire would fit my car.  After much reassuring him that I would be fine and tossing his tires back in his trunk, we shook hands and off Rick went.  

Shortly after Rick kind strangers #3 and #4, an older couple from California, pulled over in front of me and hopped out of their dodge truck.  The woman's face was full of pity and worry while her husband walked around my car inspecting the damage.  After reassuring them that a tow truck was coming and that I would be fine they climbed back in their truck and drove off.

I just sat in my car and cried.  For a good ten minutes I was frustrated, anxious, saddened, and upset.  There was nothing I could do but wait helplessly in my car for a tow truck to come.  Then, more saving grace came with a phone call from a favorite friend.  He helped me to laugh at the explosive tires and to see the blessing in the fact that no damage or harm was actually done to my car or myself.  Such a good little chat.

Needless to say Dick the tow truck driver (kind stranger #5) came, lifted my car with the truck, and towed me to Les Shwab.  Now my name is being called from the front desk.  Yea for new tires!  Yea for the kindness of strangers!  Yea for good friends!  Off I go!