While driving on Sunday evening I started to notice something strange going on with my car. I was on Ring Road and noticed that my car was taking a bit more power to speed up. At that point I didn’t think much about it. As I continued from my apartment near the university down to Victoria Ave. I got wondering what was up. I turned on a side street and thought maybe it was just icy and bumpy causing my car not to ride properly. I thought I had best turn down my music and shut of my heater so I could listen to my car (who, by the way, talks to me and has a connection with me that not many people understand.) There was something weird going on. When I arrived at my friend’s house I got out to see what I had predicted, a flat tire on the front of the driver’s side. It wasn’t just soft or slightly flat, it was completely flat. How smart did I feel after driving over 5km going around 100km/hr on ring road?! Not very smart.
I have had to help change a tire a few times in my life so far, so I knew basically how to do it. The only thing I wasn’t so excited about was the fact that it was about -30 and the wind was blowing like crazy! It couldn’t have been an easy process where we got the spare tire out of the trunk, jacked up the car and tossed it on, OH NO. The spare tire was frozen solid into my trunk. How you may ask, well, whenever I open my trunk and there is snow or water on my car it falls into my trunk and seeps into where this spare tire is. After about 25 minutes of prying at it with a crowbar, (and after almost giving up and calling CAA) my friend and his strong muscles got the tire out. Then, the jack had to be chipped out from the few inches of ice in which surrounded it. After a few warm up trips into the house, we finally managed to get things done (about an hour and a half and twenty numb toes later).
I guess after this whole ordeal I felt a longing to be back home in my small town. If this would have happened in Tisdale, no matter where I was, I could have left my car there until it was warm enough to be outside to change the tire. I wouldn’t have had to be pressed with the time and worry of getting a ticket or getting towed. I also really missed my dad. This was because he is the one who does all my maintenance and fixing for my sister and I. Not like it was a big deal to change a tire, but I guess in the past he has just always been right there to help me out whenever things like that happen. Oh, the joys of growing up.
I like to tell people how being in a small town makes you feel safe. A great example of this was the time my sister’s belt blew off her car and she was stranded about half a mile out of town. She called me and asked if I could come and get her because she hadn’t gotten a hold of dad yet. At this time, I was driving around with my friends in our grad car (the big pink one featured in my Mastercard video). Right about the time she called, our big old beast was dying on the side of the road also. It had a tendency to overheat pretty easy and would take a lot of pumping on the gas to start up again. So I told my sister I would try and make it there as soon as our car would get going again. In the meantime, a few people had stopped to see if we needed help but we waved them on saying we could get things going shortly. And, not to my surprise, once we arrive at my sister’s car, my dad had stopped on his way home from work. What would the likely hood be of that happening in Regina?! Dad saves the day again…
One time while driving my friend’s old standard car on Main Street, I stalled. Thinking, well no big deal, just start it up, not like downtown is that busy. But, after turning the key several times we realized something was wrong, the battery cable had unhooked when I stalled the car, leaving us with no power. So we got out of the car and started to push. Did I mention Main Street Tisdale is kind of on a slight hill?! Anyways, everyone who is driving by waves and one of our friends from the store we were across from came out and helped us push. My mom popped her head out of the building she works at and yelled across the street asking me what was going on. I guess those are some of the reasons why I like small town life. You are never far from someone you know. Actually, you are always near a lot of people that you know, and that you can trust to help you out whenever you are in need.
This is so true one time I had to leave a Truck on our main st at home an I did not worry at all. Its a really nice feeling that small town feeling.
ReplyDeleteThese stories of small town experiences sound like stories from a book or a movie. Their sweet, and real, I like that.
ReplyDeleteNot to change the subject, but that's why I don't drive/have my license. I don't want to deal with the hassles cars cause. Sure their convenient, but their expensive, parking is ridiculous, and their not good for the environment. I really don't mind to take the bus.
Things you'll only hear in a small town, "Excuse sir can you hold my baby while I count this cash." From your favorite Tisdale relative. ;)
ReplyDeleteHahaha!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, yes Robbie, it is such an easy feeling living in a small town hey?
That's a good point Alex. I see where you are coming from. But, being from a rural area and living out of town it was almost essential for me to have a car. It was impossible to rely on someone else, and taking the school bus never worked for me, especially in highschool because I always had sports after school (practices or games)and if not that I was doing a project or mentoring a younger student or working on grad stuff. I also went to school around 8 every morning in grade 12 because I worked on alot of big projects and did the grad video.
On to Dean. Haha that is good. :) I will have to post a picture I took while at a family thing at the lake a few years ago.
Cars are a hassle thats for sure, but since we both have homes out of town, I am sure we both rely on them very much. The other weekend when i was driving home, my hood flew up and smashed my wind sheild. It was scary to say the least. And I always worry about my car in the residence parking lot, one time I went out there and someone had let the air out of my tires. Luckily they werent popped, but still. I can also relate to missing people, but we are just about done, and we will get to be with them soon. :)
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