Thursday, January 27, 2011

I Woke Up This Morning

I woke up this morning. It's going to be a good day.

Yesterday, well, it wasn't such a good day. I've been upset with how things have been going at work. The last couple of weeks have been very stressful, challenging, to say the least. I usually can put stuff like that aside and keep on going, but for some reason, it's not working. I left work last night very upset, my mind racing and full of stuff turning over and over in my head. I was distracted to say the least. Not good to jump into your car when you are in that state, but I wanted to get home. Put that night behind me. I should have taken a moment and assessed things, taken a deep breath, and let it go. I didn't. Instead, I got the hell out of there.

As I travelled down Highway 10, I was happy to be heading to home. I was between Ramsey and Elk River, when I heard my inner voice say, "You need to get gas." Just then, I looked down and my gas gauge was reading "E".

Crap!! I thought, "The next gas station is right up here, I'll pull in and get gas there."

**Cough, cough, sputter, sputter**
Crap!!!

I had to pull over to the side of the highway. Stupid, stupid, stupid!! I put gas in the other day, and I only have been going to work (gas prices have gone up, so I didn't have as much in my tank as I thought), ... Crap!!

I got out my cell phone and called AAA. They would send someone out right away to put gas in my tank. Then I looked out and it was starting to snow. Great. Fabulous. I was getting cold and I was hoping someone would come soon.

About 20 minutes later, a police car pulled behind me with his lights on. It was an officer from the Elk River Police Department. I handed him my license and showed him my AAA card and let him know I was just out of gas and waiting for the tow driver from Collins Brothers. He said he would wait behind me until the tow showed up. "I just passed a Collins Brothers tow driver on 169, so he's probably on his way." I thanked him, and waited. I was ready to cry, but I didn't.

The tow arrived about 15 minutes later. He took my AAA card, then put gas in my tank. He was a nice young man, I didn't see his name on his jacket, but I told him how much I appreciated him getting to me as quick as he could. He gave me my card back, and then he got into his truck after I started my car and left. I signaled and got back on Highway 10 and made it to the gas station. I looked and the police officer was behind me and once I got into the turn lane for the gas station, he passed by me.

Thank God for AAA, and for Officer Morgan of the Elk River Police Department and for Collins Brothers Towing in Elk River. But Thanks to God I woke up this morning in my nice, warm bed, and have the opportunity to turn the last two weeks around.

Lessons learned: Make sure you have a full tank of gas at all times. Especially in the winter.

Also, don't get behind the wheel of a car when you are upset or distracted. Turn off the damn cell phones and drive!

Don't forget your AAA card, and if you don't have one, get one.

And most importantly, let go whatever has your head in a spin. Just take a deep breath, and let it go.

If you can't change it or control it, let it go. It's not worth sitting out in the cold by the side of the highway in the snow. It's not worth your life.

7 comments:

April said...

Oh, wow, sending hugs! What a horrible thing to happen. Excellent advice, though! It's amazing how stress can turn a person inside out.

Michelle V said...

Stress can sure get to you! You're right, it's tough to let it go!

Cheryl said...

I'm glad everything turned out all right, Laura. I broke down on the highway late at night and it was very scary.

Morgan Mandel said...

Really bad day for you, that's for sure. I have no work problems any more, since I lost my job. Kind of a blessing.

Thank goodness everything turned out all right for you!

Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com

thewriterslife said...

Oh how terrible! Thank god for cell phones, eh? I remember back in the day when I didn't have one and that was my biggest fear - be broken down or something. Glad it turned out okay!

Rebecca said...

My father when we were traveling always started looking for a gas station when the tank was at the 1/2 mark. Glad everything turned out okay.

Laura M. Crawford said...

Thanks for the comments. I know better living in Minnesota and growing up in North Dakota that you should never let your gas tank go below half because your lines could freeze up if it gets too low and too cold (talking wind chills below zero degrees, like 50 below zero). I was lucky because we had a "warm up" and that I had AAA and my cell which really saved me. I have promised to never let it happen again. I just hope my fuel filter will hold on until I can make some money to have it replaced. :) Stay safe and warm!

Laura :)