"If there’s a world here in a hundred years, it’s going to be saved by tens of millions of little things. The powers-that-be can break up any big thing they want. They can corrupt it or co-opt it from the inside, or they can attack it from the outside. But what are they going to do about 10 million little things? They break up two of them, and three more like them spring up!"
- Pete Seeger, in YES! Magazine

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Roadside Assistance

Today we headed home after a little over a week in Southern California. Traffic was horrendous, but the road was just the ticket for today's simple charitable deed.

The project:
Lend a hand to another traveling family.
While traveling north along the busy freeway I spotted a family wagon in a large pullout alongside the freeway. Two adults stood outside staring at a surfboard laying next to the car. I pulled over to offer a hand or use of the cell phone.

Turns out it was JUST as it had appeared. The couple, traveling freeway speeds, lost their surfboard off the roof of their car. They had looped around to pick it up, but were wondering how to better attach it to the rack. Apparently, the original bungee cord job didn't work out so well.

I had some extra rope in the back of the van (the trunk box) which I gladly handed over and we were on our way.

Time:
5 minutes

Why bother?
I never like to see a disabled vehicle alongside the road. Always feel bad for those folks. I REALLY don't like to see families there. Very unsafe. So if I can safely lend a hand and get someone rollin' again, wonderful.

Worth it?
Yep. They were friendly people who saw the error of their ways and looked to provide a better solution. And they were thankful for my bit of (non-elastic) rope.

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