... we’d barely parked when Cougina noticed the flat tire - we had run into the side of a small sharp-edged tree stump on the way in. We jacked up the car and supported it with a stack of flat rocks, but one of the rocks fell apart and I saw the van fall on C‘s elbow. (If you know C well, you will not be surprised that he said he thought his elbow was broken, and went on working like nothing had happened.) We moved the van so that the wheel and the rock stack were both resting on rock rather than soft dirt. We got the tire on, but then the jack wouldn’t come out. We backed up to get the jack out and ran over the big plastic tub we used for the show. Good news: we had been unable to get a spare key made, because our key was too worn down to duplicate. We now found a key wired under the spare tire. Bad news: In a few minutes, the spare tire went flat. We got out the tire pump, but the hose broke at the same time that a fuse blew in our battery storage unit. So we headed out with a bad tire. Soon, the tire went completely flat. It was very LOUD for quite awhile, as the tire beat against the frame of the van. Good news: eventually, most of the tire split off.
We came to a split in the road that said go right 19 miles or left 12 miles to Highway 87, where we needed to go. We chose the short way, but it turned out that the sign was wrong - it didn’t go to 87 after all. We tried two more roads, but neither of them went to 87. These two roads were rougher, and on the last one, we got stuck. Cougina’s driving expertise, the big passionate heart of our van, and a bit of good fortune got us turned around and headed back, taking the long but known route.
On the way, we asked three groups of people for help, but no one was willing. Eventually, the rim was gone, and there was nothing to do but stop. Good news: we had made it far enough out that we had cell service and were able to call AAA. At 6 pm we got picked up for the drive to Cottonwood. The driver was a friendly and competent young man. Costs: $120 for the tow on dirt road, plus costs of new tire and rim, new spare tire, new plastic box, new fuse, repairs to the running board, alignment…The benefits: This was our first shared experience of a cluster-f--k, and it was really ok. No fighting or blaming, lots of laughter and support… I learned that C’s human personality can get wound up tight for action, and that it is important and productive for me to express my calmer feminine perspective… My major source of angst was the health of the van, and we both tried to hold her in a safe space while pushing her hard. (Being a lover of foot travel, I wanted to hike out and call the wrecker, but that didn't happen.) We still have to check her out completely, but it looks like she is fine. Not only is she the feminine container in which we live, she is a hard-charging mama who loves to go all out.
THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
AGGIE AND COUGINA
2 comments:
Wow some adventure. Glad to hear there was a happy ending.
Love,
Alan
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WE HAVEN'T TOLD YOU ABOUT THE HAPPY ENDING YET.
COUGINA/AGGIE
Post a Comment