Brian’s fitness journal after a brain stroke
Today was supposed to be relatively straightforward, but it turned into an unexpected interstate adventure.
I had my hematology appointment, and my wife had taken one of her rare days off from work. Normally, I would take an Uber to the appointment, but since she was available, she offered to drive me instead. It was a nice change.
Unfortunately, her car apparently had plans for the afternoon, too. We had barely entered the interstate on our way home when the brakes suddenly began making a horrible grinding noise. That was accompanied by the unmistakable smell of something burning near the tires.
Neither sound nor smell inspires tremendous confidence while traveling at interstate speeds. We immediately pulled over and stopped beneath an overpass. Once safely off the road, we took out our phones and began looking for a tow truck. That should have been simple, except our location introduced an unexpected complication.
Because we were directly underneath another road, GPS insisted that we were actually on the road above us. Technology is marvelous right up until it confidently announces that you are somewhere you are not.
After some explaining, we finally managed to convince everyone, including the technology, where we actually were. A tow truck was dispatched, leaving us with about forty minutes to wait beneath the overpass. Eventually, the truck arrived and carried my wife’s car to our regular repair shop. We left it there overnight and took an Uber home.
So, ironically, despite my wife taking the day off specifically so I wouldn’t need an Uber for my hematology appointment, we ended up taking one anyway.
Life does enjoy preserving the original plan whenever possible.
Once we finally arrived home, I returned to ordinary life. I showered, started the laundry, and began cooking. After an afternoon involving failing brakes, interstate shoulders, confused GPS coordinates, tow trucks, and an unexpected Uber ride, mundane household chores felt remarkably peaceful.
Then we checked the mail. Waiting patiently in our mailbox was an invitation encouraging us to rejoin AAA. Perfect timing. Absolutely perfect. Apparently, AAA’s marketing department has achieved a level of situational awareness our GPS hasn’t.