Do you have a family? Not one of the first thoughts that came to mind when I found myself stranded on the side of the 210 freeway the other day.  But I was asked that question point blank by a total stranger I just met on the side of the road.  So what led up to this chance encounter you might ask or wonder.  Well I was driving back from Chino Hills on my way back to Santa Clarita when I began to feel a mild vibration in the car.  I began to reason is the road bumpy or is my car out of alignment as the vibration began to get stronger and finally it became quite apparent when my front driver side tire violently disintegrated in a matter of seconds.  I was forced to quickly pull over to the side of the freeway to avoid getting into an accident or losing control, but my first thought was ironically not to damage the wheel once the tire went flat.

I now regretted not keeping up my triple A card membership how often do I use that I asked myself the last time it came up for renewal.  I rarely use this card (Bad mistake) Oh well, I know how to change a tire so here goes.  As I reached into the rear trunk of my car I kept imagining a semi coming up from behind and sandwiching me between the two of them and other similar tragic scenarios.  Serves me right for watching all those car chases and car crashing shows on television regularly.  So as I began to loosen the nuts on my tire, the cars and notably semi's would woosh by coming within inches of me as I worked away to get this tire off.  I would look up from time to time to gauge the drivers but if anyone of them veered off a tad I would be toast no matter what stunt I had envisioned doing over the hood to escape being hit.

Of course the tire nuts were on so tight I was straining to remove them and taking my eyes off of the speeding cars when I look up to find a tow truck parking right behind me.  The driver is shaking his head back and forth (like a disappointed father) apparently not very impressed with my roadside tire changing abilities.  He motioned me to come to his passenger side door and as I approached and he rolled down his window and asked "Do you have a family?"  "Yes" I answered, he replied "want to see them again?"  "Of course" I replied, "then I suggest you let me tow you off the freeway somewhere safer to finish changing that tire?"  Of course I have to ask "how much is this going to cost"  aside from saving my life (he was probably thinking to himself)  Nothing, nada, zippo.  "Really" I replied "lets roll" 

So he in turn tows my car off the freeway and changes the tire for me.  While doing so he shared with me what he has seen along the highway and most of it was pretty sad as to how many lives are taken from just a simple act of changing a tire.  I have to thank the big guy upstairs for bringing one of his angels to save me from myself that day on the highway.  I know now that there is this roadside assistance here in Los Angeles County  that I remember reading about a while back, but now know and experienced first hand.  All I had to do that day was dial #399 it's a free service funded by the Metropolitan Transit Service.   So I guess if you have a family or other reason for living I suggest you give them a call and leave the risk taking to those who know what they are doing.   When you see these guys give them a BRAKE will you.

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