Nate's Passion Adventure

[Nate]

This isn't so much about the conference itself, so much as the pitfalls that I endured getting there/back.

Two nights before Passion, my car (which was in seemingly good condition, despite the mess in it) decided to just up and die on me. It wouldn't start at all (and probably still won't, I haven't messed with it since I've been back). Fortunately (or so I thought), my dad's car was available. There was a snag, though. My mom's husband had driven on the rim of one of the wheels when he got a flat tire, so the rim was jacked up. I took it to a repair shop, and they assured me they could get the rim in working condition and put a tire on it...and they did, or so I thought. So all seemed well. Until I started driving to Passion.

Unfortunately, this car had a myriad of problems:

1. My mom's husband owns this car now, so he's been using it for a while. So it smelled like beer and cigarette smoke. Ugh.

2. I noticed the car was 10,000 miles overdue for an oil change.

3. Around 50-60 mph, the car shook horribly.

4. Whenever going up a hill, the car shook horribly.

5. When applying the brakes, the car shook horribly.

6. The left turn signal was broken, in that it didn't blink when used...it came on solid. In newer cars where the rear turn signal is a different light, this wouldn't be so much of a problem...thing is, this is a '91 model, and the turn signal in the back is the same as the brake light, just blinking. Since it didn't blink, I got a few angry horns from people who couldn't tell that I DID have my turn signal on...

However, it had four tires, and best of all, it actually STARTED. Despite its problems, it would get me where I needed to go...I thought.

Around 150 miles from my destination, the car started shaking horribly...even more horribly than normal. And I was well above 60 mph, and not on a hill. I cringed, saying, "I hope it's not what I think it is." As the car behind me passed me on my right, I looked over and saw them pointing down at my tires...and realized yep, it's what I thought it was. I pulled over to the right shoulder and got out, and saw a flat tire...the one with the SUPPOSEDLY repaired rim. Fortunately, I had a spare tire! So I pulled out the jack and the spare and the wrench and...kicked futilely at the nuts on the tire...I was too weak to get them off. Stuck on the side of the road, unable to get a spare on...in the middle of Tennessee...but I had a cell phone.

For lack of other options, I called mom and told her the situation. She called AAA, who informed her that even though she was a member, they couldn't help me unless I was one. So she got me signed up over the phone, I talked to them a bit (I was roaming on my cell phone, which ate up almost all my minutes), and got some help. Turns out the tire guys had tightened the nuts on the tire TOO tight...even with the proper tools, the mechanic who helped me had a hard time getting the nuts off...so I wasn't as weak as I had thought! Yay!

Unfortunately, I was doubly screwed, as it was Sunday AND New Year's Day...and rims are hard enough to find as it was. I had no choice but to drive the remaining 150 miles on a half-size spare tire...keeping it below 55 on an interstate that had a speed limit of 70. But, I hoped I would be able to find help once I arrived at Passion.

Explaining the situation to Osaka's dad, he made some calls, gave me a contact number, and her uncle (I think) was able to snag me a rim, which Osaka's dad gave me the next day. I was relieved...finally I had a good rim and I'd be able to make it safely home.

Until I took the car to Firestone, and was told that the rim I had been given was slightly bent and no good...but, hope was not lost! They gave me directions to a hubcap place where I could get a replacement rim and bring it back to them, and get it replaced!

So I set out eagerly to the hubcap place this morning...only to find that not only did they not have the rim I needed, but that none of the parts stores in town did...and that finding the particular rim I needed was akin to discovering gold nuggets in your backyard.

So anyway, after all this, I sit here on my computer. I have driven 508.6 miles on a half-size spare tire. Through mountains, keeping it at a maximum of 55 mph...both of which, as you may remember, caused the car to shake horribly. This turned a normally 8 1/2 hour drive (according to mapquest, but if I had been able to go my own pace the whole way probably would've been 7) into a 13 1/2 hour drive. I left Nashville at 1:00 PM and walked through my back door at 2:20 AM.

Passion was awesome, but this drive was horrible. However, I have a couple of things to say:

1. I've made 6-8 hour trips multiple times before, but never carried a cell phone. If I hadn't had a cell phone this time, I don't know what I would've done...thank God that He gave me the intelligence to bring one this time.

2. Half-size spares aren't meant to be driven on continuously for 700 miles (I drove the car around Nashville too, which accounts for the other 50). Thank God that He kept the tire inflated the whole time...and that none of my other tires went flat.

3. I dunno much about cars...but I know a lot about motors (from the Navy). I know that oil keeps a motor lubricated. Without lubrication, a motor will seize. This car was 10,000 miles overdue for an oil change. I don't know how likely seizure would have been (I don't know about car engines specifically, just motors in general), but seizure WAS entirely possible. Thank God that He kept the engine functional the whole time.

Yeah. So...even though the drive itself sucked...God was totally looking out for me this time...so I'm really grateful to Him.

And that's the end of my show...DONK!

[AngelSakura]

XDD Quite an adventure. Thank God He kept you safe. I'm glad you had fun. ^^

[Ratrace]

Ahh... persistance. Where would we be without it?