Joe the Landscaper & my truck

Ugh. It's been hot lately. Really hot. The kind that makes even those of us who love summer a bit cranky. Leaving work after a long today, I was hot and sweaty and just wanted to go home and take a shower and try to cool off. Get in my truck, put the key in the ignition and turn and...nothing. It's dead. Really? I walk up to a group of my partners in the middle of their team meeting and fill them in on what's going on. One of them has pair of jumper cables, but doesn't know how to use them. I think I have a pair of cables, but am not too sure. One has a good car and is willing to help, but has no idea how to use the cables. This is going to be fun. At this point I look around and ask if it isn't time for Joe to come back? Joe is a morning regular customer at the Starbucks store where I work. He usually comes around around 5 a.m. before work and comes back again in the afternoon to study for school. He works doing the landscaping at a local golf course. He seems like the kind of guy who will know how to jump start a car.

At one point Colleen and I decide we are going to try this on our own. I find a pair of cables in my car and pull them out thankful there are instructions on them. Her and I look them over laughing as we try to figure out which ones go where and in what order. My old eyes are having a hard time adjusting to the small print and I ask if I can go get my reading glasses. It is the blind leading the blonde here and I am not too sure we are going to be successful. It's hot and we're both tired and, in between giggles, I am pondering how it is that I am 39 years old and have no idea how to jump start a car. I've always been impressed that I usually carry a pair around, but have somehow escaped the need to use them.

Finally, Colleen notes that Joe has indeed returned to our store and decides she needs to go get him. He comes out with her lauging at the spectacle of two of his regular Starbucks Baristas trying to figure this out. We might be able to make a great cup of coffee, but mechanics we are not. Thankfully, Joe knows what he is doing and after a couple of tries my old truck starts right up.

You know, we might have figured it out eventually. Or my husband might have made the 20 minute drive from Castle Rock to rescue me. But I was thankful that I didn't have to wait much longer on such a long, hot day to go home. Thankful that there are people like Joe willing to take a few minutes out of the end of their day to lend a hand. Even if the hand he lent came along with a few laughs at our expense.

Two things I promise after this....Joe will not need to pay for his next couple cups of coffee as they are on me and I promise to learn how to use those cables!