Yesterday I went to Fort Wayne with family passengers in my car . . . and, as you can guess from this post’s title, I heard a thumping on Anthony between State and Crescent. And it wasn’t the rhythmic little sounds you sometimes hear on roads with patches or snow. No, the tire was flat and I pulled into a BP station and thought, “Okay, I am living in the moment; I am not anticipating worse-case scenarios. Well, I did have them on my radar, but I decided one glance at that was enough.

I started shooting air into the tire and much too my amazement (Didn’t I pick up that phrase from some Christmas poem?), the tire stayed inflated. For how long I had no idea, but I gave it a try and we got to Glenbrook Mall and Sears Automotive Center. I went in and mentioned that I had a tire emergency. They took it off and looked at it, thinking maybe it had been a funky kind of rim/tire/cold weather thing. But it was not.

I realized this car was still on its “When Der Bingle was in Georgia” tires and they were all potential problems. So four new Bridgestones. The guy at the store said I would notice a difference in the ride: I guess so. I did have the feeling I was riding on air glued to the highway.

When I got home and the phone rang from Quentin, I told him the story and he said I should have gone to Discount Tire. He’s got my mother’s strength of character and Marine training . . . Say, that combination could be scary . . . and,  by God, he would have pushed that car to Discount Tire while listening to directions from his GPS.

I whimpered that it was cold and I had passengers and I knew where Sears was. I have no true grit. I told him to start up a three way call with his dad, including me in about five minutes after I had settled down with a drink. The call came and Der Bingle asked how things were going here and I said to Quentin, “You tell him.” So, he did – including the part about Discount Tire. And when I mentioned to Der Bingle that I didn’t know where Discount Tire was, he replied, “Well, I think it’s right there on Coldwater.” ** Of course now every time I see one of their signs, my mind will read, “WIMP.” Not accusatory . . . just quietly matter-0f-fact.

Actually, Discount Tire is an okay place. Once when Mother had some car trouble in front of their store, the guys came out and helped. She offered to pay them and they refused, asking her to think of them the next time she needed tires. Yes, my mind’s eye will read “WIMP” but my mind’s ear will hear a soft blending of Quentin’s and Mother’s voices sighing “wimp“.

should have gone to Discount Tire . . . should have gone to Discount Tire . . . should have gone to Discount Tire . . . should have gone to Discount Tire . . .

**HA – Discount Tire i s on the corner of Coliseum and Industrial . . . about 1,000 feet beyond Sears.