Flat Tire, and No luck:

Some people have all the luck...

I left work yesterday, about a half hour late, and on my way to enjoy a nice relaxing evening at home. I jump in the car, and pull a u-ie (u turn) and Off I go. It's only about a 25 minute drive if all goes well, and Boy I can’t wait to get home. Then I hear a strange sound coming from my car...THWARP THWARP THWARP. Oh great, what could that be. Now I've heard about what a flat tire sounds like, but I've never actually experienced one. So, I do the only reasonable thing I can think of, and call my fiancée. "Hey, how do I know if I have a flat tire?" (Besides stopping the car and getting out to look) He said is it making a funny sound, and pulling either to the right or left? I said, it's making a funny sound but it doesn't seem to be pulling. So I pull over, and check it out...

Let me just stop for a second and say that being broke stinks and as many of you know you can't always afford the things you need. About 6 months ago I got an oil change and the garage attendant said to me, "Hey you're tires are pretty bad, and you're going to need a full set." (In a somewhat obnoxious southern accent.) I said yea yea...I need a lot of things, including but not limited to a vacation in the Bahamas. OK, I didn't actually say that I just thought it. I really said, "OK." So, a few more weeks went by, and I noticed my front tires were both a little flat, so again I pulled my fiancée, and said, doesn't that look low. The response was yes obviously, and we went to the nearest gas station to put air in them. Meanwhile I’m fumbling with the tire pressure gage, and he's telling me to put it away, I think he's being a know it all, and just doesn’t want to use it. It ends up that there's on the air pressure gun, and he doesn’t need it. Ugh!

Ok, back to the Story line. So I pull over and check it out, and guess what. I have a flat. My BACK tire is completely flat, thus the thwarp sound, and not only is it windy and freezing, but today I thought I’d be ok with just a vest on. NO COAT.

Now, being the modern woman that I am--I figured no problem I can take care of this. So I re-ring my fiancée, and say, yea so I definitely have a flat. He says do you want me to come (fix it). Silly me, I said, " No, No, I’ve changed a tire before this should be no problem. I'll call you when it's done.

So first...I couldn't get the spare out of the back. There's that bolt that you have to unscrew, and it was stuck! I've never changed a tire on this car before, and knew that I was definitely going to need some help. So I pulled into my very near by work place and as I was struggling to loosen the lug nuts (which didn't budge) a gentleman walks by and offers his assistance. I thought--Thank GOD for chivalry! I gasped yes, and he took over the task. As I stood back watching, he got the jack out of the trunk (which if I may add I also tried to get out, and couldn't) and he jacked up the car, took off all the lug nuts, and then pulled.

Nothing happened. Everything looks right, but nothing happened. Isn't this when the tire is supposed to fall to the ground, and yeah! we are almost there. Nope! Edwardo (the gentleman that stopped to help me) pulled with all his might for another 15 minutes, as we fiddled with the emergency break and the ignition key, the wheel lock, and even the instruction manual. So another co-worker came by, and he too heaved with all his might, and still nothing. @ this point I'm seriously considering, to heck with this, I could walk home. I need the exercise anyway!

Last resort, I call yet another co-worker and explain the situation, he says, "I’ll be right over I'll get it off in no time." I'm thinking, yea right. This guy always thinks’ he's soooo cool. So I wait, and here he comes. All 150 lbs of him, he gently moves the trunk matt over, and places his butt on the ground. Explains to me you sometimes have to give it a little kick, and WHALA! The tires off.

Edwardo, look at me and said how embarrassing. I look at him and gave my best attempt try to make him feel better about his manhood, and honestly without him, I couldn't have done it. But this Guy--this cocky sooo cool guy who kicked the tire off, he was my real hero! I gave him a kiss on the cheek and told him I owed him. Edwardo put the spare on, and I was off.

I realize this is bordering on an essay, and I'm sorry, but I just have to tell you the rest.

Now, if ever you find yourself in this situation, and you are single! This is how you know who the better man is. I had just started the car up, and stood there next to Edwardo, offering my gratitude in the form of a hand shake. He leaned in as if wanting a kiss on the cheek as I had just given the other guy, so I obliged, and offered to buy him lunch. he said sure sure, but how it wasn’t necessary. I insisted, and would drop off lunch the next time he worked. So I hopped back into my car, and on my way I went! I hadn't been driving for 2 minute, when i get a call from Mr. Cool (the hero, who did about 1% of the work, but without him I would have been stuck) and he says, "If I really want to show how grateful I am I can go do X!"

Ok, I have to stop again, because what he actually asked me to do wasn’t important. It's that he actually felt entitled to SOMEHTING, and instead of walking away knowing that I considered him a hero, he needed something, and that was his repayment. Yes he actually needed repayment. Much like in Seinfeld, I didn't actually mean that I owed him, but I guess I did.

So, I did it. I did what he asked me to. (Which was simply go tot he store and get him some peanuts), and then I walked away.

Man, give me an Edwardo ANYDAY!

So, instead of heading straight home, I met my fiancée, and we got me new tires.  Who knew tires could cost so much.  Glad that ordeal is done, and I think I'll stick with the man I've got.  Much like Edwardo he's selfless, and I can learn to appreciate that.