I've posted about my magnetic ability to attract flat tires before, but this time it was great... I had a helper!!! I have never had someone in the car really capable of providing assistance before! The experience was a little frightening, it went a little something like this:
Driving down I-15 in the Volvo, heading toward Bountiful. Just north of 3300 south in the carpool lane my vehicle indicated that a tire had been punctured and was on death's door. My first thought was that I had never changed a tire in the Volvo and hoped the jack and spare system was where I expected it to be. My second thought was to look to the right and see if I could quickly and safely cross 4 lanes of traffic at 4:00, the day before Thanksgiving. Recognizing a full freeway, and not knowing what tire was in peril, also considering the hazards of driving on a flat, I instinctively pulled the car into the left emergency lane. I had to hug the barrier close enough to make sure the entire car was completely outside the lane, while leaving enough room for me to open my door and shimmy out. Upon inspection I knew I would have to change my spot. The tire that was flat was the passenger side, rear, trembling as the traffic sped by within inches. I got back in and asked the kids to offer up a quick prayer for safety and explained I needed to get back up to speed to merge onto the freeway and cross to the right where I could safely replace the flat. With clenched cheeks (yes, those ones) I quickly found my place in the lull and expertly, if I do say so myself, found an adequate place to do a quick tire change out. Once I was safely on the right side of the road, I recruited my strong teenager and put him to work removing lug nuts while I hoisted the car into position. It turns out I was wrong about the "quick" part. I was relieved to see we had every thing we needed in the car to replace the shredded spectacle, everything that is, except the apparent need for a battering ram.
The tire wouldn't budge.
I had never encountered this sort of obstacle before and was at a loss as to how to rectify it. So I called BJ. And my Dad. And texted my siblings. Everyone was so willing to drop what they were doing and help in any way they could. Words of encouragement, phone numbers of roadside assistance, offers to come to my aide. Since Dad was about 5 miles away, he was the first one to reach me (changing out of his work clothes while driving) with BJ working on a temporary leave from the fire station to help avoid having to call a tow truck. Shortly before dad arrived the Highway Patrol showed up and was equally stumped at our predicament. He had helped with a lot of road side flat scenarios but had never seen one so stubborn to be replaced. When Dad pulled up, he and the officer concocted a plan to use a heavy object as a battering ram and get a running start to strike the rim and possibly take it off balance allowing it to be displaced. After a few hearty runs, and some excellent communication in leverage suggestions, it finally popped out a fraction of an inch, allowing for a sigh of relief.
It was quite an ordeal.
Once the donut was properly in place, I was working on thawing out my fingers enough to drive when BJ called and informed me he was on his way. Even though he wasn't able to assist with the debacle, it felt good to know that he was doing what he could to lighten my load.
The rest of the story is; we got into Bountiful and were able to get a new tire put on within about 45 minutes and made it to the Thanksgiving Food Prep party right on time.
I love it when a plan comes together.
I love it even more when people band together to help out someone in need.
