I must be a magnet for helpless women, or do I look for them? Yesterday, that sprawling parking lot surrounding Rockland Mall was the scene of my latest rescue. I was parked in the boonies, and so was she.
The bright winter sun could only mean one thing: Arctic temperatures would flourish and freeze exposed skin... within minutes.
I'd reached my car and was already warming up with the heater blasting, when I noticed her panicking, riffling through her purse. I took a guess — she'd lost her keys. I watched as she reached for her cell and overheard her talk to the "CAA" rep. I knew the drill; I'd been there before.
The Automobile Association would send a driver as soon as possible, which meant any time between NOW and early Spring. The lady with the lost keys looked distraught. We were a short plane ride from the main doors to that mall, but she'd already given her co-ordinates as — "Number Twenty-Three" from a sign above a nearby lamppost.
I decided to do the right thing, as I opened my door and spoke to her.
"Would you like to sit in my car while you wait for them."
She hesitated, looked towards that faraway mall entrance and then back at me... blinking and almost tearing up. Sad and helpless lagoon-blue "moo-moo" eyes punctuated her distress.
"I'll let you see some ID, and I promise NOT to play any opera while we wait."
She laughed: a good sign. And admitted she'd prefer sitting in a stranger's car than freezing to death. We both laughed. She introduced herself as Deborah and thanked me a hundred times. Then went on to explain how she thought she misplaced her keys at Starbucks but wasn't sure and had a spare set under her floor mat, and she's done this before, and...
She was a talkative one... with a pretty smile. Ever sit in your car with a complete stranger? It's strange.
We exchanged idle chit-chat. Deborah did most of the chatting and apologized for putting me out of the way. I kept assuring her not to worry. And in about forty-five minutes, the CAA truck pulled up. Pretty good timing, considering the frigid temps and all the emergency calls they must have been getting that afternoon.
Yes, for fuck's sake, I would have asked, but I didn't need to when Deborah thanked me again and spoke.
"Thank you so much, Paul. My husband will be so angry with me. This is the second time I've misplaced my keys in the last couple of years."
And that was it. Another good deed done and salvation for a woman who might have frozen if I hadn't been there.
I don't have keyless entry to my car, but I carry a spare set of keys in my wallet. When I've needed help there's never been a woman nearby... with her engine running. 😶
Are you prepared if you misplace or lose any of your important keys?
Has CAA/AAA ever gotten you out of a jam?👍
... other things we could have done to stay warm...
... a winter hot-tub is sublime...
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18 comments
Always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to keys.
When I was much younger, I locked myself out of my car with the engine running. Luckily, there was a DPS officer nearby who had a slim jim. He was able to get the door open in no time at all. After that, I always made sure I had a spare handy.
A warm jacuzzi on a cold winter night is absolutely decadent. Nice pics.
🙂
Yep... that's happened to me as well.
I'm repeating myself (if you glance below), but my wife once locked the car with the engine running in the garage with our one-year-old strapped to a car seat in the back.
Now THAT was fun. 🙈
"Slim-jims" are/were lifesavers back in the day. 😂
Sometimes, the difference between something that could lead to a relationship, whether brief or longer, lies in a seemingly minor decision made in a moment, almost at random. It's like Schrödinger's Cat; in another reality, just as real as this one, one of you did something that led to things ending up like in the third photo first, and then like in the second.
You make an interesting point.
I'm just glad... neither of us froze out there. 🤗
I locked the keys in the truck once. While pregnant. I popped open the rear sliding window and wedged myself in enough to grab the keys.
When my friend locked her keys in her car I have one of those handy dandy sticks. I popped her locks open in a few minutes
Wow... You ARE handy with tools. 🤗
My wife locked the doors to her car with our one-year-old daughter in the back seat and the engine running in our garage. Now THAT was fun... for a little while. 😲
No car, therefore no lost keys/fob. I have left my house key and my cell phone at home. I don't know if I would have gotten into a car with a stranger.
I guess I look trustworthy. And I DID offer to show her ID. 😂
Hey... it was fricken freezing, and I'm sure she considered her options.
I've done likewise and felt naked without that silly phone. 🙈
She was lucky you were there to come to her rescue Hun. No lost keys for me, but have forgotten my work keys a few times over the years. Hate when that happens after walking all the way up to work only to find they are not in my coat pocket..lol. xoxo
I can relate to those "forgotten" keys. Lol... 😲😂
As much as I rely on driving everywhere, it feels good to know that, "just in case," those CAA people can help. I also get a discount on gas. 😂
@Paulxx001 I do not drive nor own a vehicle so do not need it myself..
Can’t say I’ve ever lost my fob. I’ve had to call AAA probably five times in the last 10 years for a dead battery though. A couple times because it was really cold, I hadn’t driven for a couple days and had an aging battery. A couple other times because of leaving the dome light on. 🙄 I try to be more careful about that now.
I've used CAA more for travel insurance, discounts and things like that rather than for problems, but I'm fine with that. 🤗
But I was grateful for the times they've towed me or helped me out. Especially in this town, where ONE towing can almost pay for ONE year of CAA. 😲
FFS... I hope I haven't jinxed myself.🙈
@Paulxx001 yeah, I’ve used it enough that the annual fee - less than $100 - definitely feels worthwhile.
PS did you know that if you have too many calls they’ll kick you out? Happened to HWD, what with his penchant for driving cars on their last legs. Thank heavens he has a decent car now.
@smartasswoman
Good for him and his NEW car. 👍
Yes. I think I have a limit of three or four per year. All this talk has made me realize that perhap, I should lower my coverage and go for a "Basic" plan. I don't do anywhere near the mileage I used to. 😶
Mmmmm 😋😋 i love it
Glad to provide... 👍
HOT AS FUCK!! 🔥😈🍆🔥
And capable of thawing hands... and other parts. 🔥
Yes! AAA saved me, reluctantly ... and it took 5 hours for them to show up. Fortunately, I was at an interstate rest area and had a warm building, flush toilets and vending machines.
Sounds like an adventure worthy of a title and some dialogue.
Yep... there must have been some things happening in those five hours. 😂
I've been bailed out, as I said, a bunch of times and nothing made my heart skip a beat MORE than seeing their flashing lights blinding me. A couple of times, I would have been seriously screwed without them.💕
Very hot, love It
Good taste. 👍
I've distributed spare sets of keys — to everything — amongst members of my family. I think I've reached out to them once. 🤗
I subscribe to the Premier Plan, which includes towing within a two-hundred-mile radius. CAA has saved my bacon a number of times. But I guess it's like any insurance: You only appreciate it when you really... need the help.
Although... I don't know if CAA could help much if you're facing a shark. 😲