Despite feeling like she’d been hit by truck, MFO took her cough and self across the bridge last night for a meeting of archeologists. Seems like she’s always meeting about something. It was held at the little brew pub (oxyura jamaicensis) over on the Solomons, there were libations available, but of course the focus was on the archeologoy meeting. Really! Anyway, upon exiting the meeting, she got back in the MOMSTER with a couple of carryout Pizzas (which are always good from there) for our dinner, started it up, and began to back out of the parking space. Soon after the Yukon began moving she became aware she had absolutley no control over where it was going, because the steering wheel just spun. We’re not talking about turning hard, it just spun free, like a roulette wheel! Start again, same deal. With the help of some of the people in the meeting, the MOMSTER was sort of guided back into the parking spot, albeit somewhat akimbo. I was summoned to retrieve MFO (and dinner) and drove over the bridge and confirmed the wheel was like the wheel of fortune, completely disconnected from the car. Why this happened at rest, although we're very thankful, remains a mystery (mystery music inserted here, answer to be revealed later, hopefully in Act Three). So we returned to the digs and ate the pizza, watched Antiques Roadshow and called it an evening. So, as the curtain closes we see the Feeder tossing and turning in bed, envisioning a morning full of arranging this and that, being forced to endure long waits, writing huge checks, etc..
ACT TWO:
Arising this morning we both remembered that we had arranged for On Star when MFO was starting her cross country journey last year. So, we drove again across the bridge and found the vehicle still there (no worries about that!), fired it up, and pressed the blue button. “Hello, Mrs. Moody, are you having a problem with the Yukon?” How they do this is beyond me. “yes, we are”, and described the problem. “I’m sorry you’re having a problem, I will run an on demand diagnostic and see what it tells us”………………I am showing there is something wrong with the driver air bag, I’ll connect you with the technician, and then I’ll come back and arrange the tow for you at no cost of course” YESSSSSS! The technician couldn’t do much except express sympathy and confirmed the air bag code, and then back to the faceless lady in the radio. "Where would you like the vehicle towed to? Yes, Winegardner in Leonardtown is fine. I’ll go off the phone and we will notify you when the tow person will arrive". At this point, I envisioned a long wait so volunteered to go back over the bridge to Starbucks for coffee. I also filled up the flutter mobile (at now $3.79/gallon for God’s sake!). Got the coffee, back over the bridge again and when I returned (~20 minutes later) I was very pleased to see succor had arrived!!
MFO confirmed that in the mean time, she received three calls, one to tell her the tow was arranged by {...} towing company and the truck was on its way, second to confirm that he was ten minutes out, and the third from the tow driver saying he sees the car.
Without steering available for the disabled vehicle, it was a bit dicey getting it on the roll-back requiring the poor driver to realign his truck several times, but finally it lined up
And with a little help from the owner
We finally got ‘er done!
So, we followed the truck over the river and through the woods to Leonardtown we go..
With a little help from friends,
a resting place was designated, and the momster was desposited.
So as act two closes we are awaiting “the call” from the friendly dealer folks (we may not be able to get to it today, Ma’am, but we’ll call).
Curtain….
As an intermezzo here, I would like to say that without the On Star assist this play might have been a tragedy rather than (hopefully) just a drama. They were very courteous, patient, and did not leave us until they knew we were on our way to the next act. Having just the “emergency” package is not all that expensive, and can be worth its weight if you have a spouse or yourself that is out there all alone. Another luxury that is now a requirement..
Act Three
Stay tuned…and be sure to
DFD
PS: only foodie content besides mechanical woes is that the Pizza's from RD are quite good.
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