HOT AIR
December 17, 2001

Ever have one of those days where you feel you are fighting a losing battle? Where you’re swimming against the tide?  Where the wind is blowing you back towards your origin?  I know you have. We have ALL had those days. Some are worse than others, and there are a few that, once they get rolling, there is no stopping the turmoil from expanding.

Today was a mild “bad” day. And the funny thing is, it started off innocently. I had a leak on my rear driver’s side tire. Nothing too worrisome, but definitely something to have checked and remedied. So, after a week of visiting all the hot spots in the city where air for tires is free, I decided to take my beloved truck into the tire store to have them (a) fix the leak, and (b) return the truck to me. It appeared simple when I dropped the truck off at 8 AM, but as we all know, simplicity has a way of showing it’s complexity from time to time.

Around 10 o’clock, I received a call from the tire store manager. I immediately began to worry in regards to what he was going to tell me. My lack of automotive experience, coupled with my coffee-less morning, were enough ingredients for any semi-experienced sales-person to sell me anything under the sun - which was lucky for him in this recession. He proceeded to tell me how my rear tires (one of which had the leak) needed to be replaced due to lack of decent tread. He also told me - for shock value maybe - that my front brakes needed replacing. Woah! Hold back the horses and call me Sally! Did he say I needed more than just a simple tire fix? Why, yes he was! However, I knew that my tires need replacing and that my brakes were near retirement, so I reluctantly agreed to have them switch them out. After all, my safety while driving is a major concern of mine.

Now fast forward an hour. It’s 11 AM now. I am sipping coffee from my 16 oz mug and working on holiday rush orders for tardy clients. My phone rings again and I notice by the caller ID that it is Paul again from the tire store. Immediately, my ears perk up when he again explains to me that my head gaskets are leaking and that I would need a new head-set. An image of ear-phones pop into my mind, and I am taken aback. “A head-set?!? What does that do?”

Remember as child when your teacher said there are no such things as stupid questions? I do. If only I had been asleep that day in class. Because after I asked him what a head-set was, which I quickly forgot as he spoke over my head (get it? “head”)... ha ha.. anyway... he told me how MUCH is would cost me. $1000. In ADDITION to the charges for the tires and brakes.

I am sure I mentioned the recession we are experiencing above. But did I also mention I am POOR. Yes folks, Brandon is NOT rich. As a matter of fact, I am moving next week to a new place in order to save money. Well, thank god for the coffee, because I told him to stop the wrenches, put down the pliers, and pass the tequila, I was not about the allow some stranger to take money from me without a second opinion. So I told him I would pick up my truck at 3 PM and that would be that (or so I thought).

When 3 o’clock rolled around, I had a friend take me to the tire store, drop me off, and head back to work as I paid and got the hell out of there. So that is what I did, I paid. And WHILE paying, he told me that my battery power was low. What’s next? The engine is missing? The transmission needs to be replaced? The truck’s head-lights blinded some poor woman crossing the street? So, I walked out to my truck, turned the key, and “click click click.” Now, I know that I know absolutely nothing about cars. But one things I do know is, that “click click click” is NOT the sound  I want to hear when starting my vehicle - especially after watching all of those spy movies where cars blow up more than pleasure dolls.

I regained the little composure I had, walked back into the store and walked up to Paul. “Paul, the battery is dead. It’s wasn’t dead before I came here, but now it is dead. Can you PLEASE explain this?” We walked out the truck, he had me turn the key, “click click click” was heard, and he told me I needed a new battery. I refused to give him any more money than I had already, so I told him I wanted it jumped and that I would deal with it somehow. Which I did... sort of.

I madly drove home in rush hour/construction traffic, left my truck running, ran up to my room, and rummaged through all of my papers dealing with my truck. There it was. There was the receipt for the battery. So I ran back down the stairs, hopped in my awaiting ride, and zoomed to PepBoys to see if I could cash in a warranty on this stupid battery. About a mile down the road, I glanced at the receipt. The warranty was only good for a limited time, and I bought it in July 1997. DAMN!!!

Luckily, along the same road, only a mile from PepBoys, was a mechanic I has visited previously. I trusted him and his quotes, so I pulled into his shop. Another reason I like him is because he always drops what he is doing and helps out. I had him look at my battery, and yes, it was pretty much shit (pardon my French), and the head gaskets were leaking and the head-set needed replacing. Double damn!!

Here I was, hoping that all along, all I needed was a simple fix-a-flat solution, when I needed more than I had ever thought possible.

When problems surface in our lives, you may be staring at the root, or the just tip of the ice berg. Or as in my case, your seemingly harmless low tire may indeed cause more to be found that you never dreamed possible.  I have my problems in my life. And I am slowly working them out. Unfortunately, there is not easy solution to any of life’s idiosyncrasies, and the costs are always high. Remember to try discovering them before the tire man does. At least that way you look like you know what you’re doing. Oh yeah, be sure to drink that cup of coffee first too. A little pick-me-up can go a long way.