The First Time

We were driving to Rapid City for a medical appointment. We had gassed up the car in Hot Springs, driven five miles and the car stalled on the highway at the busy intersection of 79 and 385. Somehow Bob managed to get the car to the shoulder on the side closest to the truck stop.

We were fortunate that we were close to the truck stop and could use their phone to call the emergency road service. Neither of us have a cell phone and have preferred it to the constant contact with the noise of the world, but today I would have been grateful to have had one. At this time I was thankful to have a dead car next to the truck stop with the obliging people who worked there. After our first call to the road service and four return calls from them the tow truck arrived.

During the first phone exhange the road-side service said they would send a truck from Hot Springs. On a return call we were told that the tow truck was coming from 40 minutes away. Why? It was a mystery but we settled down for the long wait.

Another phone call and one of the friendly clerks told us that they said that the tow truck had broken down! Soon after they called back once again and once again the clerk came over, sat down with us and said that a truck was coming from nearby Hot Springs. Finally they had contacted a local service! They arrived 15 minutes later and we arrived home within the hour. During our lengthy wait the manager of the truck stop visited with us and offered a sympathetic ear to our dilemma.

Needless to say I missed the medical appointment. This was a first for me, as well as the use of the roadside emergency service. I guess there is a first time for everything during a lifetime and it came after many years so I shouldn't compain,

I guess that next time we not be so lucky to break down next to a friendly truck stop and I am now considering getting a cell phone to use on the road for emergencies that could occur. This will be another first for me.

Sigh! There comes a time to adapt to the changing world.

Oh, yes, the highway patrol stopped to assist but drove on when he learned we were waiting for a tow. I doubt that he would have remained for four hours and four return calls. But then we never had to find out.

One thing I do know is that there are advantages to living out here where many are ready to help in time of need. There are no strangers when one is in trouble, at least not here in the Black Hills of South Dakota.