Three Rights Make a Left

I’m so proud of my wife Lori. I was stir crazy last week recovering foot surgery. So Lori agreed to take a drive with me to see the beautiful countryside on the eastern side of Kaufman County, with its majestic oaks and gently rolling hills.

We were heading back from Able Springs and were about to get on I-20 at the Shadow Lakes Subdivision between Canton and Terrell. We saw a woman in medical scrubs on her phone behind her car with the trunk up. I made a comment to Lori that she looked like she was in distress.

She was on a dead end service road and although I-20 was right there, if someone saw her and wanted to help they would have to drive quite a way to turn around at the next exit and come back.

Without hesitation Lori stopped and asked if she needed help while I sat in the car. She said her tire was coming apart and about to blow. I would be of no help since I can’t put weight on my left foot but I got out anyway. We looked at the tire and it was a wonder it hadn’t blown already.

The lady said she works a couple of days a week at a Medical Center in Van Zandt County and was heading home to Maypearl in Ellis County. She was a long way from home and said she had never changed a tire before. Lori’s dad, on the other hand, had not neglected to teach her that skill. She helped get the lady’s spare and jack but we couldn’t locate her lug wrench. Lori retrieved hers out of our van and we were relieved to find it was the right size. Lori showed her how as she started changing the tire. I was impressed to see her follow Lori’s instructions with enthusiasm, but there was a problem. The lugs were so tight than none of us could budge them.

I decided a man on a knee scooter could still be of help. It took several minutes because the only traffic that could easily stop would be a car coming from the direction of Wills Point, but I flagged down a driver about to get on the highway. The man in the car was wearing an ORiley Auto Parts patch on his shirt and was obviously in a hurry. I assured him that all we needed him to do was loosen the lugs and we would do the rest. A city man might have gone on, but this was a country man. He got the lugs loosened in 3 minutes and went on his way.

Lori had the woman align the wheel, operate the jack and the two of them made short work of the change. I think being taught by another woman made a lot of difference.

Whether she was a Doctor, a Nurse or a Technician, we never learned. What we do know is that she works in a profession worthy of double honor. Especially during COVID. If we could show a little kindness in her time of need it is an honor.