Saturday
April 27, 2024 
Nobody wants a flat tire. Especially when you’ve left your phone at home (darn), there’s no one else on the road, and you are a 78-year-old woman who hasn’t changed a tire since age 16, when you had to learn. Well, I am that woman.
I had just left a lovely gathering honoring volunteers at Tinicum Conservancy on River Road. I wasn’t far down the road, but far enough to take the risk of driving on that bum tire back to whence I came.
I was feeling embarrassed, helpless, and humiliated to beg for help, but I am writing to say thank you to the group of mostly strangers (I only knew one person by name) who responded without a second thought.
My flat turned out to be not an easy fix. The jack wouldn’t hold on the soft ground — but someone knew a mechanic down the road who had what was needed and drove off to get it. Someone else found rocks to keep the wheels stationary.
With the jack finally in place, another took care of putting on the spare tire which, of course, needed air. But someone just happened to have an air pump in his car that did the trick enough to get me home.
Talk about angels on your shoulder! Craig, John, Linda, Trevor, Maria and all those who stood watch giving advice and support throughout the ordeal, I am so grateful for your kindness, your expertise, your physical strength, perseverance and preparedness and, most of all, that you were there, giving me someone to turn to in my exasperation.
No one wants a flat tire. But everyone wants to know that someone cares and will take the time and effort to show it. Thank you all.
Patti Keyser, Revere
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