My 9-11 Story, Part Two

Part One

So you all gave up on hearing more on this story? Here’s some more.

Everyone has a story of 'hashgacha pratis' how they were saved that morning. Some were late because davening went late, some people for some reason uncharacteristically stayed to help out with the children, some people’s trains were delayed. Read all the stories and everyone has their own little personal miracle. I have a story too. I was late that morning as well, but contrary to all the other stories, my lateness almost killed me. Ironic, no?

I woke up on that Tuesday in time to make it to Minyan. My usual poor attendance for Shacharis had me feeling good that I was finally going to make it. I got up, got dressed and got in the car to go to shul. As soon as I pulled out of my driveway, I realized I had a flat. C’mon G-d, can’t you see I’m going?! I finally get out of bed on time and you do this to me?

I pull back into my driveway to change the tire. Now you have to realize that, as a true Jewish boy, I know nothing about cars or fixing tires. In fact, until that day, I never changed a tire in my life. That’s what AAA or Geico are there for. Or friends you can call who do know how. However, I was determined to join the ranks of manhood by changing my own tire for once. I get out the donut and the thingamajig that you use to jack the car up. I find where in the manual it tells you where to put the thingamajig and jack the car up. Everything’s going smooth and dandy until I start taking the lug nuts off.

You see, no one told me you can’t change a tire on an incline, and apparently my driveway has a slight incline. So there I am, the rear of my car up in the air, and I’m grunting and sweating as I’m trying to get those damn lug nuts off, when I hear this unnatural groan come from my car, and it starts moving. I immediately know what happening and I jump clear. With a nice crash, my car falls down off the jack and rests on the partially removed flat tire.

Shit.

I may be a tough guy, but I know when I’m beat. Time to call the professionals. I call Geico and have to wait around till he gets there as I’m obviously not making Minyan today. The guy arrives and I give him credit for not laughing too hard in my face; though there’s no question in my mind that I’m to be the topic in the tow truck mechanic locker room later that day. Thankfully I didn't too any damage to the car and he can fix my mess. If I rush, I may not be too late for work so I stick around long enough to make sure he has the situation under control and then leave for work- leaving the wife to deal with tipping him.

Nothing eventful that I can remember happened on the train to work. I get to the subway stop at the office, walk up the stairs and can immediately tell that something unusual is up.

That’s it for now. Time to do some work.