Record highs today in Minnesota when I pulled over for an en route police car complete with lights and sirens. As I stopped, the tire jumped the curb. I didn’t think anything of it until I couldn’t move after the squad car passed me.
Now, I’m stranded yards from one of the busiest intersections in Minneapolis on the hottest day yet this year with a dead front passenger wheel. Completely unresponsive to the steering wheel.
After calling for a tow truck (“all my guys are pretty busy right now”) and pondering my next move, a mechanic from the near by semi-truck repair shop stops by.
“Hi, I’m Paul. It looks like you popped a tie rod end. I think I can pop it back into place.”
He came back with a hammer and got the wheel back on. Then, he blocked traffic as I slowly backed up into his parking lot.
After we’re safely out of traffic Paul continues, “if you can pick up a right tie rod end by 3:30, I could probably install it for you.”
Jen picks me up, we run over to a car parts shop, pick up the part and give Paul my keys, phone number, and the new tie rod end.
A couple hours later, Paul calls and I ask him what I owe him.
“Whatever you’d like.”
When we exchange car key for check, he shrugs, “the Lord told me to fix your car.”
Thank you Lord and thank you St. Paul.
Now that was a good day. Don’t see too many people like that and it makes you think twice about laughing at “my boss is a Jewish carpenter” bumper stickers.