It’s chilly this morning (Wednesday), but I think the wind has settled down compared to yesterday and the day before. I’m thinking about harvesting the last of the tomato and pepper crop and putting them in the garage. The butternut squash needs to be brought in, and can rest alongside the hedge apples from the osage orange tree. Why are there hedge apples in the garage? Well, I heard a long time ago they would help keep mice away. There has to be a good use for them because there are so many this year.
The words “so many” remind me of all the Halloween decorations in yards. Sometimes I do a double-take to see if it’s someone standing or a Halloween figure.
Don’t have a story to tell about the great grandkids this week, but I do have a story. Last night, I was watching TV about 9:30 when the phone rang. There was laughter on the other end, and I finally got the message that some friends of mine were stranded at CVS pharmacy with a flat tire. At that time of night there was no one open to fix a tire. I was laughing along with them, and they had called a 24 hour service they have for the vehicle, but put on hold and then finally the call was dropped. I said that I would bring the small air compressor we carry in the pickup that works when plugged into the cigarette lighter. We could blow the tire up enough to get them home, and then they could get the tire fixed/changed in the morning. Sounded like a plan.
When I got to CVS, I called because I couldn’t find them. Well, they were at the north end of the building near the drive-up. Yep, the tire was flatter than a pancake. As the little compressor did its job (which was a slow process), we were laughing at how it started at 0 and slowly the tire pressure came up to 4, 5, 6, etc. At that rate it could take a long time! So, when it got to about 27 or so, they decided to drive to a gas station and finish filling it with air. I said I would follow them to be sure they could find a place.
That was another experience. Somehow at a stop light I lost them and was following the wrong vehicle, but finally realized where I lost them. The first station had a machine, but someone pulled in ahead of them and was using it. The second station they put a quarter in the machine, but it wasn’t working. The next place they used a credit card but the hose was leaking more air from the hose than it was putting air in the tire. My friend was laughing and said, “I think it’s taking air out of the tire!” The fourth place required a credit card too, and it was pumping air in. ..for a while.
Finally, they decided to drive the several blocks to their home, use the little air compressor to finish blowing it up, keep the compressor overnight, inflate the tire in the morning and drive to the tire store.
After about an hour I was back home sitting in my chair. We had several times of laughter at all the things that were happening. It was decided that everyone needs one of those little air compressors in their vehicle. The machine is like a turtle, “slow but steady.” It will put enough air in to get you somewhere for help.
The tire had a visible nail or screw in it.
Sharon Chenoweth is a resident and farmer of McDonough County. Her column focuses on rural life and will be featured every other week in the Community News Brief Friday Edition.
