The Armstrong family post-Christmas Day started simple enough but soon after would lose its innocence. Our adventure cast off with calls trying to connect with Technical Service in City of Industry, California - my son's grand Christmas gift, a new computer, had issues - time zone discrepancies delayed our first attempt at contact until 10:30 a.m. Several disconnects and multiple waits in the queue created growing anxiety and caused my son, Louis II, to claim "This is taking forever!" Patience was not one of the gifts found under the tree the day prior. We eventually connected with a real person and were advised that the fancy new desktop computer didn't have a disc drive to load updates provided on the discs they sent. Something was just not right with the concept of sending discs without the means to use them. So, our adventure would now take us beyond the comforts of home and a trip to the store to purchase an external disc drive.
A single-digit temperature greeted us as we departed and confirmed winter had arrived; our ride had not properly warmed and our breath was visible as we drove north to our destination. Approaching the westbound on-ramp just past Alphorn Ford, I commented to Louis, "The truck is pulling a bit to the left." Once on the ramp I pulled over to check my front tire and I confirmed that, yes, it was low. I hopped back in hoping to drive far enough to put air in it but scant made it two truck lengths before stopping to view the tire again. I reported back to my son that, in fact, our tire was flat.
"Good news, it is only flat on one side!"
My attempt at humor went unnoticed.
I realized my good fortune in prior planning as there was a portable air pump in the back, but as I went to hook it up I noticed the seal had broken on the tire and the air pump was of no use. Time to bundle up, and dig out the jack and spare. More fortune followed as a sheriff's vehicle pulled behind us and cued the lights; short discussion on my status and the officers stated they would hang out and maintain assistance. Inspection of the tire jack proved that it was in working order, but in reality, the multiple-part tool offered no convenient method to correct my dire straits. Realizing use of this less than sufficient equipment would provide a slow and extended effort in frigid cold, I returned to the officer and asked to call me a tow for a trip back to Alphorn Ford, easily within eyesight. I returned to the truck, glanced at the tire and said, "you couldn't have gone flat two minutes earlier, could you?"
No surprise, I did not receive an answer.
While we waited in the now warm truck, my son compared our journey to the Hobbit's "Unexpected Journey." I smiled with a nod of acknowledgement. Several different rides, a new tire, and hours after we first commenced, my son was finally exploring his new world, not Mordor, but the internet. This afforded me the opportunity to reflect on our day. My thoughts transformed to the actions of people who take the time to help others. First, the sheriff's officers who stopped and assisted us on this frigid day. And the tow truck operator whose lunch was interrupted and fingers were cold. The next thought was of the City sirens that sound all too often, and those who spring to action regardless of environmental conditions: city police, fire department, Green County EMS. Further contemplation turned my thoughts to the million plus members of our armed services who were not home with their families over the holidays. The season of giving should not follow a calendar; anytime is good for random acts of kindness. To all those who take the time to offer a helping hand, I offer my simple thank you.
- Louis Armstrong is the mayor of Monroe. His column appears monthly on Saturdays in the Monroe Times. He can be reached at mayor@cityofmonroe.org.
A single-digit temperature greeted us as we departed and confirmed winter had arrived; our ride had not properly warmed and our breath was visible as we drove north to our destination. Approaching the westbound on-ramp just past Alphorn Ford, I commented to Louis, "The truck is pulling a bit to the left." Once on the ramp I pulled over to check my front tire and I confirmed that, yes, it was low. I hopped back in hoping to drive far enough to put air in it but scant made it two truck lengths before stopping to view the tire again. I reported back to my son that, in fact, our tire was flat.
"Good news, it is only flat on one side!"
My attempt at humor went unnoticed.
I realized my good fortune in prior planning as there was a portable air pump in the back, but as I went to hook it up I noticed the seal had broken on the tire and the air pump was of no use. Time to bundle up, and dig out the jack and spare. More fortune followed as a sheriff's vehicle pulled behind us and cued the lights; short discussion on my status and the officers stated they would hang out and maintain assistance. Inspection of the tire jack proved that it was in working order, but in reality, the multiple-part tool offered no convenient method to correct my dire straits. Realizing use of this less than sufficient equipment would provide a slow and extended effort in frigid cold, I returned to the officer and asked to call me a tow for a trip back to Alphorn Ford, easily within eyesight. I returned to the truck, glanced at the tire and said, "you couldn't have gone flat two minutes earlier, could you?"
No surprise, I did not receive an answer.
While we waited in the now warm truck, my son compared our journey to the Hobbit's "Unexpected Journey." I smiled with a nod of acknowledgement. Several different rides, a new tire, and hours after we first commenced, my son was finally exploring his new world, not Mordor, but the internet. This afforded me the opportunity to reflect on our day. My thoughts transformed to the actions of people who take the time to help others. First, the sheriff's officers who stopped and assisted us on this frigid day. And the tow truck operator whose lunch was interrupted and fingers were cold. The next thought was of the City sirens that sound all too often, and those who spring to action regardless of environmental conditions: city police, fire department, Green County EMS. Further contemplation turned my thoughts to the million plus members of our armed services who were not home with their families over the holidays. The season of giving should not follow a calendar; anytime is good for random acts of kindness. To all those who take the time to offer a helping hand, I offer my simple thank you.
- Louis Armstrong is the mayor of Monroe. His column appears monthly on Saturdays in the Monroe Times. He can be reached at mayor@cityofmonroe.org.
