Author: jgamblin

Being mad at a flat tire doesn’t put the spare on.

I remember a summer about 15 years ago when I was with my Grandfather somewhere in southern Illinois and his truck made that familiar flop…flop…flop noise of a flat tire.  He was either being lazy or trying to teach me a valuable lesson that day because I got to change the tire.

It was 115 degrees outside. I weighed all of 125 pounds. I didnt know how to change a flat tire.

I was mad.

He walked me through climbing under the truck to get the spare tire that was bolted to the bed down.

I was mad.

He walked me through loosening up the lug nuts. He walked me through jacking up truck. He walked me through taking the flat tire off.

I was mad.

Once I got the tire off the truck and on to the side of the road I kicked it. I don’t know why.  I was 16 years old and dumb is about all I can come up.

I was mad.

My grandfather then looked at me like I would look at an idiotic 16 year old today who just kicked a flat tire and said:

Being mad at a flat tire doesn’t put the spare on.

It didnt sink in at all that day. I finished putting the spare on. Got back in the truck and pouted all the way back to St.Louis.

I luckily don’t get many flat tires. I had a flat tire on Sunday afternoon and as I was waiting for my wife to come and pick up from the garage where I was getting it repaired I remember this as vividly as if it happened last month.

My grandfather passed away 7 years ago this month.  I miss him and his guidance nearly everyday. I just hope that I can take this great advice and apply it no matter what kind of flat tires life hands me.

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