A lovely weekend?

So, I know this blog is supposed to be about Alaska and all my adventures there, but today's post is not. I spent the weekend at my parents' house, or rather camper. Everything was fine. Then, I started home. I had been noticing a strange noise coming from my car all weekend. Sort of a high pitched whine type of noise. I asked my dad about it, and he told me it was nothing to worry about. Well, he was wrong.

On the way back home, my car shifted hard from one gear to another. I knew what was happening. The transmission was going out. This the SECOND time this has happened in SIX WEEKS!!!!! For those of you who are not drivers yet, a transmission is a few thousand dollars. I tried to limp the car back, but to no avail. It started acting funny, so I pulled over. I wasn't just on a small street either. I was on State Route 30 in Mansfield. This is probably the busiest road in Richland County.

I called home, very upset, and asked for the number of a tow truck. My parents asked if I had AAA. I replied of course not. I'm moving to Alaska where there are no roads!!! So, I spent the next half hour trying to arrange something to get myself and my car back to Tiffin. I didn't relish the idea of driving from Mansfield to Tiffin with the tow truck driver, but I would have.

Luckily, my Aunt Elaine came to the rescue (again). She drove to pick me up and arranged for a tow. However, then the fun started. As the tow truck driver, hereafter referred to as Mountain Man, was getting my car up, Elaine wondered why her hazard lights were no longer working. She proceeded to get into her car and attempt to start it. It didn't budge. So, not only was I stuck in Mansfield, had a second transmission fail, but my ride's car had a dead battery. We waited for Mountain Man to finish fiddling with my car to tell him that Elaine needed a jump. When we did tell him, he shook his head and informed us that on the "big truck" they don't carry jumper cables and a battery. What??? What tow truck doesn't have that stuff. Mountain Man called in and they told him they didn't have anyone to send. So, he said he would have to turn the truck around to face Elaine's car.

Let me be very clear. Cars and trucks were rushing past at 60-65 miles per hour the whole time. Nobody had stopped or slowed down the entire time I was there, and this guy is going to turn around a tow truck in the middle of traffic, with my car on the bed!!! So, while trying to refrain from having a heart attack, I watched as Mountain Man turned the truck around to give us a jump. Now, he didn't pull off to the shoulder. He just sat in the left lane blocking traffic while he did this. Fortunately, it didn't take long.

Finally, we were on our way. We made it back to Tiffin without too much more trouble. In my favor is the fact that my grandparents have an extra car. So, I am not without a car, but I did just remember that I left all my luggage, including toiletries and such, in Elaine's car. . .