It takes a Community to Change a Tire

By Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady

There is never a good time or place to have a flat tire.

But when I had a flat tire recently, I felt lucky to have it happen right in front of my loft building, Southside on Lamar.

It was not my best day. My flight from Florida was delayed several hours. I was lucky to be on standby for an earlier flight--but when I arrived back in Dallas, I discovered it would be another five hours before my luggage arrived.

I decided to go directly home as I had a press event that night and a press conference early the next morning. I arrived home from the press event to find a flat tire. How would I get to the early morning meeting? I had a spare but could not find my jack or wrench.

A helpful concierge at Southside on Lamar pumped air into my tire and suggested getting a product he called "fix a flat" before I drove far on it. It was very late at night and the only place open that might have it was Wal-Mart.

I emailed everyone in my loft building. The responses were amazing. My friend Lesa whisked me off to the morning meeting. She even went to a coffee shop for breakfast and then picked me up when I needed to get back.

So now I was home. But I still had to deal with the flat tire.  

I had a spare. I had the nuts. But I still had no idea where my jack or wrench was. 

A resident I had never met asked if I needed help. He had a jack and helped jack up the wheel. Then he found another neighbor who had a wrench. Another resident came by and said that although he had a different model car, he thought his wrench might work. He was right. I was very grateful.

I asked his name and which loft the lived in. Turns out Barclay was my next door neighbor. Better than the proverbial cup of sugar, I found someone with a wrench and he knew how to use it.

Of course, I could have called AAA. But then I would not have gotten to my meeting on time and met two nice neighbors.

Where do all these helpful people live? www.southsideonlamar.com

Lessons learned:

1. Try to have a flat before 5pm. It will be easier to have it changed or get what you need.

2. Be sure to have your own jack and wrench if you do not have helpful neighbors

3. Buy some tire sealant and have it in the car for emergencies like this

Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer who is a proud member of TAWA, The Texas Automotive Writers Association. Although she can’t change a tire, she has realized it is a good way to make new friends.

Read her stories on www.travellady.com , www.carladynews.com , www.yogayaya.com , www.cocktailatlas.com , www.chocolateatlas.com , www.coffeeatlas.com , www.teaAtlas.com