Lessons from a Friday the 13th misadventure
First, let me state that I am not a superstitious person. In fact, as I get older I find myself more interested in science and statistical proof. Still, the empirical first hand experience is hard to ignore.
It was Friday the 13th and I had my adapted Aquatics Class at 11:00. It was a beautiful October day and because the water in the pool was heated, it was a perfect experience.
After class as I pulled out of the parking space, I gave a quick thought to stopping on the way home at the nice drive through bakery and treating myself to lunch. But, I decided, since I was wearing only my wet bathing suit and a light jacket, to go straight home instead.
I carefully negotiated a path past the speed bumps and meandering oblivious students in the parking lot on the outskirts of the campus. At one point a speed bump loomed and just beyond it a car was waiting to turn into my lane. I paused just before the speed bump, to let him go ahead of me, and my van stalled. I put the vehicle in park and turned the key. Nothing happened after the various icons alighted. I opened the windows and turned down the radio but the van wouldn't start. I figured the engine was flooded so I decided to wait a few minutes. That wasn't what a popular decision with the students waiting behind me to escape from campus and start their weekend. After a few minutes cars started driving around me and giving me looks of exasperation or disgust. One or two people slowed down and ask if I needed help. I finally asked one guy to ask the campus police to help me, if he spotted one. He said he would go looking for one. A few minutes later an older policeman arrived.
My seat was wet from my bathing suit, and I mentioned that to him as he had me move into the passenger seat and he slid into the driver's seat so he could start the car. He tried all the things I had. Another policeman came over and looked under the hood. They decided my van should be moved a few feet away, to be less of an impediment to traffic. One guy pushed, while the other steered. They suggested I call AAA for a tow. First though I called the company I bought my converted van from and asked their advice. The mechanic there said to alert AAA to the fact that because it was a converted van and therefore extra low, a flatbed truck would be needed.
That made me feel even worse. I was starting to feel worried about getting home. It was too bad that I had on the wet bathing suit, and that I needed a restroom. Because of where my van was located, there was no room for the ramp to descend so I could leave the van, and the nearest building was about two-hundred yards away. The AAA truck and driver arrived. Before anything else could happen I had to ask their help to get to a bathroom.
The AAA driver and two policemen gallantly, and manually, lifted my electric wheelchair (which weighs a couple hundred pounds) out of the van. Then I had to sort of crouch down on the floor and, with their help, fling myself into the wheelchair. I headed for the nearest building which turned out to be the engineering building with a disabled bathroom in plain sight! What a relief.
When I returned the AAA tow driver was on the phone arranging a ride home for me.
Embarrassingly, he had thought of calling Paratransit and I hadn't. But, I'll be the first to admit that I wasn't thinking very well. Actually, the rule is you are supposed to arrange a ride three days in advance, so it never occurred to me that Paratransit would be flexible enough to help out in a crisis. Thankfully I was wrong. Within five minutes a Paratransit bus drove up and stopped.
I live about eight miles from campus, but I was lucky to get a direct ride home. When I arrived it dawned on me that the AAA driver had all my keys. Thank goodness my secret key was still in place in the back yard, so I wasn't locked out of my house.
When I tried to tip the Paratransit driver, who was my true hero, he said, "No, you've had a very bad day."
This happened a few years ago when I was still driving, but I learned a valuable lesson. AAA will tow your vehicle, but it won't give you a ride home. If you or your passenger won't be able to take a conventional ride home you may want to have a different towing insurance such as ADA (www.adaautoclub.com).
ADA rescued me recently when my van broke down thirty miles from home. Not only did they tow my van but also arranged for a special cab that could transport me, my friend, and my powerchair.
