Flat Tire - Part I

So I was having a conversation with someone, driving up the freeway heading to a hike. He was telling me about a time when his tire almost fell off his axle while driving on the freeway. I responded, you know, in all the year's I have been driving, I have never had anything close to that. No flat tires or any other emergencies on the freeway.  I guess that's what happens when you open your big mouth . . .


So it was a Monday night almost close to midnight. Jane had gone north to drop off some supplies for Dave on the trail. The phone rang. Jane had a flat tire in Pasadena, could I come help. Of course.

I made my way to her. As we looked at the car, we were debating between calling AAA, dealing with it in the morning, or changing the tire.  She said she had let AAA expire, but that  she had a spare tire. So I figured, let's change it. We moved the car to a parking lot where there was enough light, grabbed the wrench and . . .

Nothing.

Tried again and still nothing.

I could not move the lug nut for the life of me. Tried again. Still nothing - and I could not use my feet for leverage, as I had flip flops on and was afraid of my foot slipping and being cut or otherwise injured.

Feeling exasperated because I should be able to change a tire.  I had Jane call AAA.  It was now midnight and I was just disappointed with myself.  So while she was on the phone, I still was frustrated with my ineptitude and started to work on another lug nut. Lo and behold - I got one to move, and then another. I was feeling better and working on the fourth one when some man came up to help with the last few lug nuts.

We then jacked up the car (which is little, so not much effort), put the new tire on, lowered the car, tightened the lug nuts - and Jane was on her way home. 

Maybe I'm not so inept after all . . .