Lessons Learned

Funny how parental philosophies are passed down.  It turns out, in discussion with one of my younger brothers, that our father (a career car mechanic) passed down his philosophy on vehicular preparedness equally well to his six daughters and sons. If you had spare keys, jumper cables and an ice scraper always in the car, you were prepared.  

I've retained this lesson so well that 40 years after my Dad taught me to drive, I still have an ice scraper in my car, and I live in Las Vegas for pete's sake.  How funny is that?  Somehow I think it would be bad chi, or joo-joo, or luck to not have that ice scraper in the trunk.   

As for the jumper cables - they went in the storage room one day after suffering merciless harrassment from friends who thought the picture of me jumping my car battery too hilarious for words.  I could do it - but, besides the chance of it being needed about nil with a leased fairly-new vehicle - it's easier to call the free roadside service than worry about getting dirty.  And when the teen-age child of one of those friends was totally puzzled as to what the things were and what you used them for - well - that was just too insulting.  Hell, I know people that don't have a clue as to how to even open the hood of their car.

The spare keys are a little harder in today's world of keyless entry, but the two extra's that came with the car are in good places.

Thanks, Dad.   

Today?  You better have the cell phone charger, the credit card, and a roadside assistance contract.