Recharged

/ Ann Coleman

This morning I was driving home after a morning spent running errands when I got the bright idea to stop by our neighborhood bakery and deli.  It makes delicious bread that my grandchildren love, and I wanted to replenish my supply.  (I always keep a couple of loaves in my freezer.)  The parking lot wasn’t very full, so I figured it would be a quick stop and I’d be home in plenty of time to meet my husband for lunch and then tackle my afternoon chores.

Once inside the shop, I decided to also order a sandwich for my husband and I to share.  We both love their sandwiches and I’m always a fan of any food I don’t actually have to prepare.  Everything was going great until I got back in my car and tried to start it.  The key word in that sentence is “tried” because, despite repeated efforts, the car refused to start.

I muttered a few things I shouldn’t have, called my husband to let him know why I wouldn’t be home, and then called the number on my AAA roadside assistance card.  After a long and complicated process involving an automated answering machine, time on hold waiting for the next available operator, and repeatedly spelling the address of my location, I was informed that an assistant would be arriving in an hour or two.

If only I hadn’t stopped at the bakery,  I thought.  If I’d been home when my car battery died, I could get all sorts of things done while I was waiting for help to arrive.  Instead I was stuck in a now-crowded parking lot, hungry and thirsty, and far from confident that the operator had given the roadside assistant the right address.  This seemed like just one more thing that had gone wrong in a week where nothing seemed to go right, and a good time for a pity party.

I sat down at a recently-vacated outdoor table to wait.  My husband, who had arrived with his own key in the hope that it might start the car (it didn’t) joined me and we decided to go ahead and eat our sandwich while it was still good.  It was actually kind of nice sitting in the warm Spring sun, eating and watching the cars drive by.  Then the owner of the bakery, who had come out earlier to check that we were okay, brought us out some water and extra napkins, along with an offer for anything else we might need while we waited.  We ended up chatting with the people at the table next to us, and what had started out as a major inconvenience turned into a very pleasant lunch experience.

Which, of course, just goes to show how important it is to be willing to let go of our own agendas and expectations from time to time and be prepared to not only accept what happens instead, but to be willing to see the good in a situation we weren’t expecting and didn’t want.  The roadside assistant showed up shortly after we were done eating, my car has a new battery, and I (thankfully) have a much better attitude today…..

91 thoughts on “Recharged”

  1. I think Life sometimes (often?) Throws stuff like that our way, to remind us to breathe. And laugh. And take another big breath and smile. Chores are always there, no matter what we do.
    An uplifting read, for sure! ❤🐧

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  2. We call those moments and situations “Recalculating moments”. Just like a GPS, sometimes, we need to change our route through the day. Glad you were not too far from home or stuck in a downpour Ann. Since that happened to us once, I bought a power pack to carry in the vehicle to give the battery a boost when needed. It has saved my bacon more than once. Great story and outcome. Cheers. Allan

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    • You’re right, Helen, we did make the best of it. And the thoughtfulness of the bakery owner was a huge part of that! He was so nice and so supportive, it made me realize, “how bad can this be, when we have someone so willing to help us deal with this situation?” Honestly, he’s the kind of person who defines what it means to be “community.”

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  7. Wow, must have been something happening in the cosmos recently because we’ve had some car issues very recently too. I had to call roadside assistance and we ended up being given a lift home by a couple we’d met earlier. It’s amazing isn’t it how life throws us these curve balls. And most of the time everything works out just fine. Great read Ann. 😊

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    • Sometimes I think those curve balls are just a good reminder to us of how random life can be, and how much our happiness depends on our ability to roll with the punches. Personally, I need that reminder from time to time, as I can be just a tad bit controlling….. As for cars, I’m convinced they secretly hate us and the best we can do is to live side by side in relative peace. LOL!!!

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  9. It was the universe saying those afternoon chores could wait! Then you got a sunny day, a nice lunch, good conversation and fairly speedy help. So glad you could see all that as a win rather than something to stress over Ann 🙂

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    • You’re so right, Deb! At first, I saw the day as an opportunity to catch up on a bunch of chores that I needed to do, so I was very annoyed when my car picked that day to act up. But it ended up being just fine, with an outdoor lunch with my husband and a reminder of just how nice most people really are. Sometimes, we just have to let go of our expectations and appreciate what is, you know?

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  11. AAA is such a fine organization. I’ve belonged for years and years. They’ve unlocked my car, jump-started a battery a time or two, and on one horrid occasion provided a tow from the middle of nowhere to a garage. It is more convenient to wait at home for them to show up, but your lunch turned out nicely; at least you had a good sandwich and pleasant company! Well, and a new battery in the end — along with a great title for this post!

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    • Thanks! I’m not so good with titles, but that one seemed so appropriate. And yes, we’ve had good luck with AAA. They’ve saved us more than once. I think I need to put their app on my phone, because the only problem I had this time was that when I called, I got their automated system. And after answering all their questions, they send they were ending me a text to confirm my location and I needed to respond to it, while I was still on the phone! I had no idea how to do that without ending the call, so that’s how I ended up waiting for a customer service rep who couldn’t understand half what I was saying. But once the assistant showed up (and he arrived earlier than they had predicted), everything went very smoothly. So I do appreciate AAA very much!

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  12. I’m so glad everything turned out okay! Your husband is a peach to come sit with you until the car was fixed! And the owner of the bakery was kind to – I’m wondering if this was some sort of divine intervention to get you to “stop and smell the roses”?

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    • Honestly, it sort of felt that way! At first, I was worried what I would do with a sandwich that had lettuce and mayonnaise on it and so would not survive the heat while I waited for the assistant to arrive. But then my husband showed up, the owner of the bakery offered any assistance needed, and then the AAA rep came much earlier than expected….and I realized all that worry was for nothing! What really happened was my hubby and I had a nice lunch on the patio….how bad can that be? Definitely a “stop and smell the roses” moment.

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  15. Yes, letting go of our preconceived ideas of how something is supposed to go down is almost always best!! I am glad that your car problem was only the battery and that it got taken care of without too much hassle.

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    • Thanks, Meg! We were relieved as well. The radio kept coming on, so we were afraid it was something other than the battery (there are so many computers on cars these days.) But the assistant said that sometimes there’s enough juice in a battery for the radio and lights, but not enough to start the car.

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  20. Ann, a very nice combination here of reshuffling the priority deck while also living in the moment. Since life is so unpredictable, it helps to be receptive to reacting differently and pivoting to something much more manageable…even enjoyable. You assessed the situation and made the best out of it!

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    • Thanks, Bruce! It took me a while to make the shift, but once I did, I kind of thought, “this is rather nice, actually.” I buy sandwiches at that bakery all the time, but it’s the first time I’ve stopped to eat them on their patio tables. And I’d known that the owner was nice, but I hadn’t realize just how nice he was until this happened!

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  21. What a lovely story! It’s amazing how what started as an inconvenience turned into a pleasant lunch experience. Do you think this experience has changed your outlook on unexpected situations?
    Have a great day!
    Steven
    TEXAS TOWS INC. Dallas Towing Service
    texastows.com

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    • Thanks so much Steven! And yes, it has helped me remember to make the best of things when plans change. And, if possible, to even enjoy it…which was possible when I was sitting in the sun, eating a sandwich with my husband. Thanks for reading and commenting!

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  22. I am glad that your story had a happy ending…It is an awful feeling when we are away from home and something goes wrong with our car. Your husband was sweet to arrive right away and you could have a sandwich there together. You do have a very good attitude about things and that goes a long way. 🙂

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    • Thanks so much Caree! I wanted to write about it because I think we all need to be reminded to just go with the flow when we have to. And also that sometimes those unexpected changes can be good things. I know I need to be reminded of that now and then….

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  26. This a good example of when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Or in your situation, make a picnic lunch. Sorry about your battery though, it’s one of those low-level worries I carry with me every time I drive somewhere.

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    • I love the way you put things, Ally! And yeah, I always worry about car trouble in a very inconvenient or dangerous place too. I was lucky my battery decided to conk out at our neighborhood bakery/deli. I could have walked home if I’d had to, and I knew the owner of the bakery was a very nice person who would help if he could.

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  28. You never know what life has around the corner. Just two days ago, I was enjoying my hobby of metal detecting and I asked a woman sitting on her porch if I could detect in her yard. She said yes. My wife comes with me sometimes and sits in a lawn chair under a tree to watch and enjoy the weather. Next thing I know, she is on the porch with this woman chatting up a storm. It was a great experience for her and probably for the homeowner. You just never know!

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  31. I have a back hatch door that has been stubborn of late. If it doesn’t close properly, the light stays on and drains the battery. I carry jumper cables. It’s surprising how many people are willing to help, if you have the cables.

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    • We used to carry cables, and I’m honestly not sure when we stopped doing that. But you’re right, it’s a good habit to get into….and one I think I’ll be embracing again! I’m glad you’ve run into nice people who are willing to help too.

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  33. I can see where all these “inconveniences” could merge into ruining your day, Ann. Good for you, going with the flow and trying to see the brighter side of the picture! And hey, having a new battery and a pleasant outing can’t help but be win-wins, right?!

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  38. Thanks for the reminder to STOP, BREATHE, WATCH, LISTEN, and BE. That’s exactly what you ended up doing, and thanks for writing this reminder. Also, I chuckled because I just asked my guy if we wanted to send a check to renew our AAA membership (going on 30+ years). He said “absolutely”! 🙂

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    • Yeah, it’s come in handy more than once, so we always renew our membership. I’ve heard some complaints, but our experience with it has been mostly good. Thanks for reading and sorry for the delay in my response to your sweet comment!

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  39. I like this, especially the part about your husband bringing his key lol

    Glad to know I’m not the only person married to a man who things he has the magic touch when it comes to thinking of things I may not have.

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  40. Hi Ann – oh the curveballs of life – they can definitely change your day – like last week when I took a soothing bath and went off to get my hair highlighted only to return and discover that the tub water had somehow flooded through the ceiling of our family room…

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