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This afternoon I came across a stalled vehicle in one of the busiest intersections in town. Inside was a young mother with two small children strapped in their car seats in the back.

She was in the left thru-lane going straight, and I was beside her in the left turn lane — intending to turn. This poor girl was frantically trying to start her stalled junker of a car with tears just streaming down her face. Oh. It was just heartbreaking.

When the left-turn arrow turned green, I pulled in front of her and got out to try to help. If nothing else I could let her use my cell. It was obvious that she didn’t have one. We called her brother who couldn’t get off work right away, but would come as soon as he could.

We put the hood up on the car. Then, I piled the kids and her into my car and we went to the little Starbucks on the corner to watch and wait. A half-hour later her brother came with his pickup to tow the car home for her. The kids found it a big adventure and mom had calmed down a bit by then.

What really irritated me was the reaction of drivers to this poor girl.  Do you think anyone would stop and try to help her? No, no. They honked, whipped out around her and flipped her the bird as they hurled profanity out the window like she intentionally stalled her car to impede their lives. I’ll tell you, I was quite appalled at my fellow citizens.

But, boy, I’ve been where this young mom was today.  I’ve had my share of clunker cars. One was a big boat of an Oldsmobile with power everything — brakes, steering.  All well and good until the car just died on the interstate one time! Back in those days, when the car died so did the power steering and brakes! Imagine that going 55mph with a tot in the back!

Anyway, alls well that ends well and I made a nice new friend.