I was driving home this evening after a fun afternoon with Lindsey and had just gone through the tunnel heading westbound on Hwy 26 when I noticed quite a bit of smoke drifting through the air. My first thought was that someone's car was on fire, but when I didn't see anything parked in the emergency lane, I figured it had to be coming from someone's tailpipe. When the drifting white smoke turned into a billowing cloud of black smoke, I decided that no, this was someone's car on fire. Then I saw what looked like sparks, then flames coming from underneath a car in the fast lane. The car changed lanes until it was in front of me and slowed way down. I put on my hazard lights to signal the cars behind me to slow down, but I wasn't sure what to do after that. Should I pull over? Did the driver know there were flames coming from the car? I decided to at least make sure the driver had a cell phone and wouldn't be totally stranded, so I pulled over behind the smoking car. I noticed another car had pulled over in front of the disabled car and we sandwiched it between us, our hazard lights blinking, the smoking car without its hazards on.
A lady who looked to be in her fifties or early sixties had her window down and was talking to the driver of the other car who had pulled over. He was dressed in nice slacks, dress shirt, tie and overcoat and had obviously just come from work or a meeting. The lady was surprised to hear that we had seen smoke and then flames under her car. She had only noticed a loss of power, but when she saw the two of us put our hazards on and move with her over to the side of the freeway, she figured something obvious to us was wrong with her car. She just didn't know what.
She tried calling her insurance company to see about getting a tow truck, but they wouldn't send one until they were sure the car was safe. Their recommendation was to call the police and /or the fire department. The three of us stood around for what seemed like a very long time, huddled against the concrete barrier at the side of the freeway while cars and trucks whooshed past us at what appeared to me to be an incredibly fast speed. I was struck by how one's perspective on things like speed changes drastically when one is outside a vehicle rather than inside it.
None of us were sure if we should call 911 as it didn't seem like a true emergency since her car was not currently on fire as far as any of us could tell, although it had leaked some fluid from the engine area and wisps of smoke were still visible around the car's front--whether it was coming from under the hood or lower under the car, I couldn't tell for sure.
In the end we called 911 and within 2 or 3 minutes a fire truck appeared, lights flashing brightly in the darkness. A moment or two later, an ODOT Incident Response truck pulled over and a man began placing flares around the perimeter of our cars. The man in the business suit grinned sheepishly and confided that he didn't even have flares in his car. I told him that I didn't either and made a mental note to buy some emergency supplies to stash in the trunk in case of future incidents.
Three firefighters complete with oxygen tanks strapped to their backs inspected the car inside and out and pronounced it safe. Now the three of us felt foolish for calling them. "Better safe than sorry," one of the firefighters said. Besides that, the poor woman's insurance wouldn't send a tow truck without their approval.
The man in the business suit and I decided we could now safely leave the lady in the care of the authorities. The lady gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek and thanked me for being one of her "rescuers." I told her I was just glad she was okay and nothing worse happened than some smoke and a few flames.
I was ready to head for home, but was a little nervous about how I was going to get up to speed on the freeway without getting rear-ended from an oncoming car. It was dark and starting to rain and I didn't have much room to accelerate as the woman's car was in front of me and the ODOT truck was behind me.
It turned out that I didn't have to worry about that because when I turned the key in the ignition, the car didn't start. The dashboard lights flickered a bit, but that was all. Oh well, I thought, at least there are people here to help me! I hopped out and walked over to the ODOT man's truck. Now I was feeling very foolish indeed. The "rescuer" had suddenly become the person in need of rescue. I told the man that my battery must have drained from leaving my lights on. I guessed we had been out there longer than I'd thought. He very kindly offered to give my battery a jump, and help me on my way. He hooked the cables up and the engine started when I turned the key in the ignition. Success! I got out to thank him while he unhooked everything, but when I got back in the car, the engine had died again. I tried turning the key but got nothing but the flickering dashboard lights again. Hmmm. Now I was worried that I would be stranded! The ODOT man very kindly hooked the cables up again between my car and his truck and this time when the engine started, I was quick to get the car going as soon as he removed the cables and shut the hood for me. I waved a quick thank-you and he gave me a thumbs-up to indicate that the lane was clear for me to head back onto the freeway. I drove the rest of the way home worrying that the car would stall at any red lights I came across, but it didn't and I made it the rest of the way home without incident.
The whole thing made me think about people and about how lately I have been seeing more of the "wrong" or "bad" things that people do--perhaps a result of the daily stresses of my job, perhaps from reading too many depressing news articles. But what happened tonight brought home to me the fact that there are many kind people in the world--strangers who will pull over to make sure another stranger is okay when there seems to be a problem; firefighters who are "just doing their jobs" yes, but who don't make the rest of us feel dumb for calling them out to investigate a car that was briefly on fire but is now just "smoldering" (as the man in the business suit put it) on the side of the road; ODOT men who give a girl's car battery a jump and express concern that she stay away from the side of the car next to the lane of rushing traffic. These are all small kindnesses, but they make me happy and give me hope that there is more good in the world than perhaps I am used to seeing. If I make it a conscious habit to notice these small kindnesses more, I wonder if I will feel better about the world I live in and the people I share it with.
My guess is I will.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Easter Sunday
Michael and I had a very full day last Sunday. We had plans to have lunch with friends in Albany, then head to Dallas to visit my grandparents in their new apartment, then hopefully meet up with my parents somewhere in between. We decided to leave Flynn at home seeing as he has trouble getting in and out of our little backseat, and we figured he wouldn't much like being left by himself in the car while we were visiting everyone on our list. That meant we had to be gone a maximum of 8 hours because I just didn't think Flynn's bladder (albeit gargantuan in both size and strength) could hold out much longer than that and frankly, I didn't want to put it to the test.
Michael and I made a pit stop at the Freddy's near the entrance to I-5 so I could buy a little Easter something for Miss Morgan. Then we hit the road and made such good time to Albany that we were there by 12:30pm.
We met my high school friend Terry (he lived across the street from us in The Dalles) and his son Jaden for lunch at Jaden's favorite place to eat--Izzy's. The place was packed with families dressed to the nines for the holiday with little girls in frilly dresses and little boys in slacks and sweaters running between the tables and chairs and babies crying at the tables. We caught up with Terry and Jaden in between frequent trips to the buffet and salad bar, and when we were done, we saw them off on Terry's very fancy (and fast!) new motorcycle.
Then we swung over to Albany General where Lindsey just happened to be on her lunch break. :) We spent some time talking to her, then drove the few blocks to her house to see if Morgan and her dad were home. We were puzzled when we got there, because the lights and television were on, and the car was in the driveway, but no one answered my knock at the door. I was writing a note to leave with the Easter surprises when they walked up the drive, and suddenly there was Morgan in her new Easter dress launching herself into my arms for a hug.
We only had time for a quick hello (and several more hugs!) before we were on the road again to Dallas. My parents had spent the week there with my mom's two brothers and sister, helping my grandparents move into an assisted living facility and sorting through the accumulated flotsam and jetsam of nearly 60 years of married life.
We found Grandma and Grandpa sitting in their cozy new living room with my mom and dad, chatting while they waited for us to arrive. I was pleased to see that most of their furniture fit in the two large rooms of their apartment. My grandma was particularly concerned that her buffet and her sewing machine would make the move with her; even though she isn't able to use it anymore, I was hoping the sewing machine would fit because I knew it would help her adjust to her new living situation and make her feel more at ease.
We took a tour of their apartment and then headed down the hallway to the dining room where coffee, tea and juice are available at any time of the day or night. As we sat sipping our drinks, an elderly lady came by to say hello to my grandparents and introduce herself to the rest of us. My grandma's eyes lit up and she clasped the lady's hand in hers as they talked. Grandma was clearly enjoying the social interaction that comes with moving to an assisted living facility. After the lady left, I joked with Grandma that it seemed a lot like living in a dorm--one had friends around to talk to whenever the mood struck, free drinks, and lots of activities going on all the time. All of the fun of dorm life and none of the homework. ;)
We only stayed a half hour or so, as Grandma and Grandpa wanted to rest before dinner. This is the first year that they have not wanted to gather with family for Easter dinner, choosing instead to spend some time alone after a hectic and unsettling week of change.
My parents and I drove to a nearby restaurant and had a quick dinner before heading to our own homes in Vancouver and Aloha. Before they left, they gave us a peek at their new-to-them motor home. It came in handy this past week, since they were able to sleep in it outside my grandparents' house, leaving room inside for other visiting family members.
Even though it was a brief visit all around, it was good to see everyone. I left Dallas feeling happy knowing that my grandparents are now being watched over and (hopefully!) they'll be able to relax and not worry about such things as meals, laundry and housework. Whenever I think of the assisted living facility that way, I am almost ready to move in myself!
We made it home uneventfully (exactly 8 hours after we left!) and Flynn made it through the whole day with no accidents.
Life is good.
Michael and I made a pit stop at the Freddy's near the entrance to I-5 so I could buy a little Easter something for Miss Morgan. Then we hit the road and made such good time to Albany that we were there by 12:30pm.
We met my high school friend Terry (he lived across the street from us in The Dalles) and his son Jaden for lunch at Jaden's favorite place to eat--Izzy's. The place was packed with families dressed to the nines for the holiday with little girls in frilly dresses and little boys in slacks and sweaters running between the tables and chairs and babies crying at the tables. We caught up with Terry and Jaden in between frequent trips to the buffet and salad bar, and when we were done, we saw them off on Terry's very fancy (and fast!) new motorcycle.
Then we swung over to Albany General where Lindsey just happened to be on her lunch break. :) We spent some time talking to her, then drove the few blocks to her house to see if Morgan and her dad were home. We were puzzled when we got there, because the lights and television were on, and the car was in the driveway, but no one answered my knock at the door. I was writing a note to leave with the Easter surprises when they walked up the drive, and suddenly there was Morgan in her new Easter dress launching herself into my arms for a hug.
We only had time for a quick hello (and several more hugs!) before we were on the road again to Dallas. My parents had spent the week there with my mom's two brothers and sister, helping my grandparents move into an assisted living facility and sorting through the accumulated flotsam and jetsam of nearly 60 years of married life.
We found Grandma and Grandpa sitting in their cozy new living room with my mom and dad, chatting while they waited for us to arrive. I was pleased to see that most of their furniture fit in the two large rooms of their apartment. My grandma was particularly concerned that her buffet and her sewing machine would make the move with her; even though she isn't able to use it anymore, I was hoping the sewing machine would fit because I knew it would help her adjust to her new living situation and make her feel more at ease.
We took a tour of their apartment and then headed down the hallway to the dining room where coffee, tea and juice are available at any time of the day or night. As we sat sipping our drinks, an elderly lady came by to say hello to my grandparents and introduce herself to the rest of us. My grandma's eyes lit up and she clasped the lady's hand in hers as they talked. Grandma was clearly enjoying the social interaction that comes with moving to an assisted living facility. After the lady left, I joked with Grandma that it seemed a lot like living in a dorm--one had friends around to talk to whenever the mood struck, free drinks, and lots of activities going on all the time. All of the fun of dorm life and none of the homework. ;)
We only stayed a half hour or so, as Grandma and Grandpa wanted to rest before dinner. This is the first year that they have not wanted to gather with family for Easter dinner, choosing instead to spend some time alone after a hectic and unsettling week of change.
My parents and I drove to a nearby restaurant and had a quick dinner before heading to our own homes in Vancouver and Aloha. Before they left, they gave us a peek at their new-to-them motor home. It came in handy this past week, since they were able to sleep in it outside my grandparents' house, leaving room inside for other visiting family members.
Even though it was a brief visit all around, it was good to see everyone. I left Dallas feeling happy knowing that my grandparents are now being watched over and (hopefully!) they'll be able to relax and not worry about such things as meals, laundry and housework. Whenever I think of the assisted living facility that way, I am almost ready to move in myself!
We made it home uneventfully (exactly 8 hours after we left!) and Flynn made it through the whole day with no accidents.
Life is good.
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