If you live in a state where it snows you likely realize the utility of cat litter while out on the road. St. Peter wrote that love covers over a multitude of sins. And not to mock this wonderful statement in any way, I will add that cat litter solves a multitude of traction problems after getting stuck.
We had a recent snowfall in town and I was going in for coffee. I drove past a guy stuck in the bank of plowed snow at a gas station. I looped around to help, pulling up behind him. Easy rescue.
It was 27°, he was wearing sweat pants and on the phone. I was in waterproofed boots and work pants.
“Do you want some help?” “I have AAA coming in a few hours.” Last try of the Samaritan part of my brain: “I can have you outta here in 10 minutes.” “Umm, ok.”
I handed him a shovel (I keep a few in the Jeep) and instructed him to clear a tire path to the main road. I started on my side of the car and after finishing realized he was back on the phone. “If you’re not working this, I’m leaving.” He hung up and got busy.
We had a path cleared. I scattered the cat litter before the front tires of his minivan. “Ok you’re good to go. Wait for a break in traffic so you can use your momentum to get into the road.” He nodded. Got in and took off, stopping suddenly due to traffic.
Stuck again.
Back in my Jeep, I restarted a Mozart CD.
A friend from the US Air Force commented once that it was common practice to ask a team to repeat back mission orders to verify.
There is a lesson here but I’m not sure how to wind up this post. Maybe we need to execute discretion in offering our resources to others? It is a quandry to me.