Friday, May 10, 2013

INFINITE GRATITUDE: MD TOWING

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

I know I promised you a second movie weekend today, but life intervened. I had a crazy experience yesterday. I did something plenty stupid, but it turned into an opportunity for me to be amazed by the determination of a human being and to be filled with gratitude

Sometimes stuff happens with cars. 

This is not my vehicle, but I wish I had photos of what happened with my Nissan Sentra yesterday.

I did something yesterday afternoon that had me cursing; you do not want to know what came out of my sweet little mouth.


Remember how I told you we had so much rain last weekend that my backyard turned into a lake? I was complaining about the noise from the frogs (see HERE).

I have a detached garage. It's in my backyard. I like putting my car in the garage. It stays cleaner and cooler. But to get to the garage, I have to get through a very narrow part of my driveway that includes a particularly narrow section where the chimney on my house sticks out on one side and my neighbor's fence is on the other side. So I like to go down my driveway nose first.

To get out nose first, I back out of the garage and pull into my backyard. Then I backup onto the concrete next to the garage and I'm ready to roll.

After all the rain, I pondered whether it was wise to drive into the yard. Being a somewhat foolhardy soul, I chanced it. And it worked three times. 

All I needed was one time that it didn't work, and that time was yesterday. I got stuck in the mud in my own backyard.

When I realized I absolutely could not get the car out, I opened the door and stepped into the water, my cute little feet in adorable sandals sinking into the mud. 

Then I did what any intelligent person would do: I burst into tears. A lot has been going on in my neck of the blog lately, and I reached the end of my rope. I called my friend Carol, and sobbed to her the story of what I had done. Don't you have Triple A? she asked.

No! But I have Allstate Roadside Assistance, I told her. It's a good thing you asked me because I completely forgot that I had it.

So I called Allstate Roadside Assistance. They connected me to MD Towing. Still crying, I told Alex at MD what I had done. He said he had a guy who was only a mile away from me, and he would send him right over. I said, That's great, but there's no way to get a tow truck down my driveway. Alex said not to worry.

Within a few minutes, George arrived, wearing a shirt that said Tony (but I checked later and learned his name is definitely George). George comforted me as I wailed about my troubles. Then George tried valiantly to back his tow truck down my driveway. There was no way. The space was too small. 

George took measurements and called someone with a slightly smaller truck. That's when Michael arrived. Michael tried valiantly to back his truck down my driveway. No dice. He tried and tried, and he thought and thought, but finally they had to call the office and say they couldn't do it. They suggested that I look for someone with a small pickup truck or jeep. I didn't know anyone with a small pickup or jeep, but I started calling and texting a number of friends to ask for advice.

Then the phone rang. It was Alex from MD towing again. He said, I have a man coming to you with a smaller truck. He's leaving right now.

Pretty soon, Michael returned with a tire service truck. He brought Scott with him. Scott got out and helped Michael back the tire service truck slowly down the driveway and through my narrow gate. When Michael stopped, he couldn't open the door of the truck because my deck was in the way. So, naturally, Michael climbed out the window, balanced himself on the deck rail, climbed onto the back of the truck, and hopped down behind it. He needed to move the truck a bit to have it in just the right position, so he hopped back on the truck, balanced on the deck rail with the grace of a tightrope walker, and climbed back into the window of the truck.

He got the truck exactly where he wanted it, climbed back out, and hooked a chain to my car. Scott got in the car and put it in reverse, stepping gently on the accelerator, while Michael jumped up and down on the taut chain. 

The car moved a little.

Michael tightened the chain a bit; he and Scott repeated the procedure.

The car moved a little more. 

Then Michael did something completely unexpected. He grabbed the chain with both hands, yanked on it, and jerked the car free of the mud. 

I could. not. believe it.

With my car back on the concrete, Michael slowly took the truck down the driveway, with Scott again guiding him. Then Scott straightened out my car so I could drive out nose first.

For now, my car will stay in the driveway. I have some ideas about what to do with backyard. I don't have a place where a drain can be put in, but I've been getting suggestions from people about fill dirt and gravel. 

By the way, George was shocked at the amount of water in my yard. Michael explained it easily. This is Murray Hill! he said. It's a swamp. These are my old stomping grounds.

So that's the story of what happened to me yesterday. It's the story of an unfortunate experience with a very happy ending. I was amazed by the determination of an angel named Michael. That man was going to take care of my car if it killed him.

And nobody from MD Towing laughed at me or made fun of me. They said they'd seen far worse things. 

But now, I'd like something from you. I'm going to post an online review of MD Towing that will go on their Web site. And I'd appreciate it if you would 1+ this post and tweet about it. Or if you can take the time and you have unlimited minutes, please call 904 838 5284. You'll get MD Towing. Tell them you read about them on my blog, and thank them for helping your friend Janie. 

Today, I am filled with gratitude for Michael and MD Towing and for the persistence of human beings.

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug




35 comments:

  1. I just called them to say thank you!!

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  2. There are still mighty good people in this world, and I'm glad you found some today. When I am don'e with work later, I will call them.

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  3. Evidently, the guys at MD Towing don't buy into that crap about customer service being dead. Thanks for the feel-good story.

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    1. Customer service is alive and well at that company.

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  4. That's just so delightful to hear! :):)
    I had this old Hornet--was on my way to work, hit black ice on an entrance ramp to a freeway (in Wisconsin), spun completely in a circle (and I wasn't going fast-the ramp was on a hill) onto the freeway, slid off the road nose first, and buried the entire front end in a fresh snowbank. I couldn't even open the car door because packed snow was more than halfway up the door. I was stunned and just sat there--thinking. I had no money for a tow truck. (This was long before cell phones.) I was going to have to climb out the window and walk to the nearest phone...but I didn't want to have to leave the window open because it was still snowing fairly hard and when the snow plow went by again...

    There was a knock on the window!--right by my head!--scared the living shit out of me!! A large young man was peering in my window, two more were standing silently behind him in snow to their knees, and I could see a pick up truck pulled off the road (a dangerous thing to do in a snowstorm in the first place). I cautiously rolled the window down.

    You okay? he asked.
    Yes, I hit the ice and spun off the road.
    We saw. Do you want us to get you out?
    (I thought he meant get me out of the car, you know, and maybe give me a ride to a phone--hurray!) Yes! Thank you so much!

    He waved the other two over and they silently dug away the snow from the side of the car so I could open the door. Waved me to go up by their truck. I stood there in the snowy, cold wind next to their pickup and watched them dig out the car with their bare hands and kick away snow with their big boots. I thought--goodness! Maybe they are going to try to pull Herb Hornet out with their pickup truck!?

    They cleared away enough snow from the front end (the back end wasn't in the bank) so that they could all three stand in front of the car--and my jaw dropped as they picked Herb up and shifted that car over a good foot!! Then they silently went to the back end and did the same thing--and then back to the front end--like you'd move a heavy piece of furniture across the floor when you're alone, you know. But in order to get the front end out of the depths--well, the car ended up on the road facing the wrong way. The one who had knocked on my window walked over to me and asked--You want me to turn it around? (I probably looked distressed as the traffic had increased--and it was a big highway!)
    Oh, thank you!! Yes!!
    The other two young men got back in the truck to wait, he turned the car around for me, and as he got out I asked him--Do you guys all work out or something? You are all so strong!

    Farmers, he said--and walked away.

    They waited for me to get back on the road and that's the last I saw of my three muscular farm-boy angels. You don't forget kindness like that. You'll never forget Michael. :)

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    1. Thanks so much for sharing that, Rita. What a great group of young angels you met.

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  5. Dear Janie, I just called them and thanked MDTowing. I told them that I live in Missouri but if I were in Florida I'd always rely on them! And I said that I hoped their business would prosperous. The man with whom I spoke seemed so appreciative.

    What an experience and how wonderful that this happened. It will make a great story for Elisa's "Random Acts of Kindness" postings later in May. Peace.

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    1. Aren't people amazing, Dee? What kindness! They helped me, and then you (and some other people) have already made the effort to thank them. I love good news.

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  6. It's too bad that good service is the exception these days. But isn't it great that these guys were determined to help you no matter what. Very uplifting.

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    1. I make a point of telling everyone when I find a business that offers good service. It's my little way of encouraging people.

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  7. It won't let me reply up under my first response, but I did call them and thank them. And thank you for letting us get in on the opportunity to share niceness-

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  8. Sounds like you need a hug. So here's one just for you: HUG!

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    1. I feel so much better now. You really are the mama.

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  9. MD Towing rocks!

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  10. Learn to back up. It's easy.

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    1. Easy for you. Not for me. I tried and broke a mirror off the car.

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  11. What a hoot. I thought my back yard was a mess :)

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    1. We southerners. At least I don't have a junked car in my yard.

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  12. What's the address of the website so I can 1+ too? What a great bunch of guys!

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    1. Just click on the button at the bottom of my post that says g+1. It will make my post available to everyone in your Google circles.

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  13. Hi Janie .. I don't expect the travel 'the pond' .. but what a great team - so nice of them. Talk about luck - I agree ...

    So pleased it all worked out .. but your puddles need a wee look at methinks!

    Happy Mother's Day weekend .. Hilary

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    1. I definitely need help with my puddles, and thank you for the Mother's Day wishes.

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  14. Aw, what a great story. I love how they took care of you, and definitely went above and beyond to help you out.

    I can imagine that getting stuck pushed you over the edge, after what you've been through, but hopefully this experience pulled you back up again :)

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    1. I needed a good cry. I feel much better today.

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  15. I will GLADLY do as you ask, if I can't figure out how. I might have to call them, but I'd sure prefer doing something that screams 21st century for me.

    I hope you game them a huge tip. Maybe $20 to buy lunch.

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    1. Oh, thit! as Wosie Mae says. I didn't even think of giving them money, but didn't have any anyway. I shall figure out a way to make up for this failing. If you want to 1+ the post, just click on the g1+ button at the bottom of the post, and it will be available to everyone in your google circles.

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  16. What a wonderful story and how great that you are showing your appreciation for these guys!

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    1. Thanks, Inger. They deserve positive attention.

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  17. Thank You for appreciating what my husband (Alex)and the drivers do..... They are all hard workers! It's hard to find good companies these days and just as hard to find good people who are genuinely appreciative of their work!

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    1. I'm so happy you got to read my post. I also wrote a review online. I love to point out good service and kindness when I see it. Thank you for visiting my blog.

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