Getting a flat tire in Amish country...

[KIN]

Last night on my way to a homeschool Mom's night out, I hit a large pot hole and my tire immediately went flat. I pulled to the side of the road and called dh (I know, I know, sexist - but I don't want to change a tire!). Anyway, the Amish man who lived across the road came over to see if I was O.K. I told him my dh was on the way. He said "Come on over and pull into our shed so you can be warm." It was in the single digits here last evening. So, I pulled into his shed. He rigged up a large halogen light run by a generator. Dh showed up. The Amish man said "I could get my such and such drill to help." Dh said that would be great. The man hooked up a drill to an air compressor and zoom our tire was off in no time - just like NASCAR! He drilled the tire back on and away we went. :)

This is the 3rd flat tire that I've ever had, and the 3rd Amish man to help me. :) So, if you are ever in Amish country and get a flat - take the help that the Amish man offers. :) Thought some of you might enjoy a peak into my community!

[Michelle in MO]

much good, solid character exists within the Amish community. I'm thankful that your flat tire situation was resolved! :)

[AnneJ]

It is so nice when people are genuinely nice and helpful. I hope if I ever have a flat someone will help me (I don't know how to change a flat either).

[Jean in Newcastle]

It sounds like his garage is more high tech than ours is! (halogen light, generator, air compressor!) I think you hit that pot-hole at exactly the right spot!

[Blue Hen]

Aren't they the most wonderful folks?

Reminds me of getting into a huge accident just after crossing some bridge in the NYC area, and on a freeway. I was very lucky and was the only car able to drive away; except for my flat tire. Finally I was given permission by the police to move my car, and change the tire. I pulled my car off to the berm, and started pulling everything out of my trunk. I was between homes at the time so it was packed. On the other side of the barrier were people, loads and loads of people who had come to this spot to watch the clean-up from this multi-car accident. Not one person offered to help me. Not one. Still to this day this shocks me; maybe even as much as wondering how I ever made it out of the accident with only a flat tire. Several folks were taken off by the ambulances, and somehow I didn't even get a scratch. DH was around 800 miles away too. Too far to call for sure.

Glad there was someone to help you!

[KIN]

Oh my! I don't know what I would have done! I guess I would have gotten out the manual and figured it out.

I forgot to add that as we were talking to the gentleman, we discovered he is my 1st cousin's husband's brother. :) Oh ya, we're all related around here. :)

[imeverywoman]

:)

[Kelli in TN]

One of our best vacation adventures involved deciding to take a impromptu drive through an Amish community in Illinois when we were traveling to northern Illinois to see the grandparents.

I am convinced the van would have broken down anyway, but because we took this side trip it broke down in this Amish community instead of on the side of the interstate.

A wonderful non-Amish man happened to be driving his tractor down the road. He called his wife on the cell phone, she came and picked up the kids and I while the farmer got my husband to a reputable garage with the van. They entertained us all afternoon, I stayed in the warm house with my current nursling at the time but the farmer took the children and my husband all over the place and introduced them to all his Amish friends.

It was just the most wonderful adventure. Four hours later our van was fixed and we were on our way again. The kids talked about that afternoon for years!

[Friederike in Persia]

from any man nearby. I thinks it's partly because people are genuinly helpful here and partly because they ALL assume a woman could never fix a car. There's other sexist stuff that bothers me, but this one is just fine!:)

[RoughCollie]

That's a great story. I enjoyed reading it.

Your comment (quoted below) reminded me of a practical joke I played on my former husband. His car had a flat, and it was parked in our driveway. He took my car to run a few errands, planning to change the tire when he returned.

I got out the owner's manual and changed it for him. The spare looked just like all the other tires.

When he returned, he thought for awhile there that he was going nuts ... he knew he'd left a flat tire behind, yet there wasn't one on his car.

He then figured a *male* friend had stopped by and changed it for him. He was surprised to find out it was me. I guess I taught him a thing or two about women.

Oh my! I don't know what I would have done! I guess I would have gotten out the manual and figured it out.

[Jean in Wisc]

We had our truck stuck in the driveway, and they brought the horses over to pull us out. I put the photo up on Wordless Wednesday (http://shadesofwhite.typepad.com/shades_of_white/2008/01/wordless-wedn-2.html) a couple of weeks ago.

We have good neighbors :-).