My car broke down not 15 minutes later. I changed lanes, pressed the accelerator pedal and the emissions light came on. Of course, I didn't know it was the emissions light, so I kept driving - flicking the car manual while driving (we're not allowed to talk on our mobile phones, but this is apparently legal). It said that I didn't have to stop driving since it wasn't flashing. I figured I'd take it to the mechanics in the morning. No sooner did I dare to make that plan, than the freaking car started shuddering. Like the whole thing. I thought it might be trying to stall, or something, so I put it into Neutral but it kept shuddering. I stopped at the lights and tried revving it, since my transmission is weird and slow, but nothing. It sounded like it was insulted that I would try to fix it. I started freaking out and cursing my earlier glibness with planning a year of no big car repairs. Stupid self.
I pulled over into the nearby shopping centre, and parked it in the middle of two parks at the very edge. I know it is Christmas, but it was empty when I did this. I panicked, called my Dad - who pointed out that he was in Australia and thus unable to rescue me, and told me to call my Roadside Assist. Yeah, that would've been good to do first.
I called them. And I waited for over half an hour (20min tops, my ass!) for the guy to arrive. People parked around me, including a guy who decided that despite all the other freaking parks, he'd park in the park next to me - leaving like 20cm between our cars. My hood is up, I'm on the phone - don't you think that there might be a reason beyond I'm a girl and therefore bad at parking? Asswipe. So in that half an hour, how many people do you think asked if I was ok? NONE. They all stared though. How kind of them. I croatian waved back to them and they kept walking away. Asses. The Red Bull Promo girls were parked in their car opposite me. They gave a guy walking past a free can.....did they give me one? No. Stupid skanks.
Does this not scream, I am stuck here, give me a free drink or at least ask if I'm ok?Roadside Assist guy arrives, asks me what the issue is, tells me that I'm wrong - it's not the emissions light, it's the engine. Oh wait, I'm right. Like I wouldn't have looked it up? WTF? I'm a GIRL, not incompetent! He has no clue what it is, so jumps into his truck and calls for a towie.
Yay! I think, "I'm getting the fuck out of here!" What the hell was I thinking? Obviously the universe was fucking with me, and the tow truck that was going to take another 40 minutes. Whatevers. I sat and waited, and then waited some more. I considered taking pictures of everyone who stared at my car but didn't stop, or posting their vehicle registration details somewhere, but my camera died. Cos the universe wasn't finished dicking with me yet.
I ended up waiting TWO HOURS. In that entire time, one person asked me if I was ok, or if I needed to call someone. ONE PERSON. The hell? What is wrong with people? I live in NZ, we're practically stuck in the 70's, neighbours look out of one another, I never lock my car at home. Once I left my lights on in the carpark across from work, and the attendant called the Hospital to find out my number since she could see I have the parking label in my window, to let me know. Our cops don't carry guns. Moko the Dolphin was headline National news for three days - he's on the news every year. We're supposed to care about each other, or at least be kind. Fuckers.
I sent out a lot of curses today. I hope their mobile phones die just as they are stranded somewhere. I hope their nails break and they scratch their eyes (yes, I did this earlier today). I hope they are underpoured and overcharged all New Years Eve. I hope that their BBQ's on the beach over summer are tainted with little bits of sand.
I guess it's time to admit that I've only stopped once, but that's because people normally break down on the motorway and I'm too busy yelling at the fuckheads in front of me to drive properly or get off the road, to see them and then I've already passed them. But if I saw someone in the parking lot who had their hood up? I'd ask if they are ok. I wouldn't stare. What if I needed to call someone and I didn't have my mobile? What if I had a baby that was overheating in the sun, and needed to take them inside for a few minutes? What the fuck, people?
My car has been towed to my mechanic. No one is sure what is wrong, and since I have to go to work tomorrow because of the stupid funding applications, I'm taking my aunt's car and seeing the mechanic in the morning. Grandad and Dad think it could be something very cheap (like $10) or it could be $100s. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve - there is a snowball chance that it will be done tomorrow, and since I'm going away on the Boxing Day Stat Holiday (Mon) for 8 days, I won't have my car back until next year. I guess this means that I'm not taking my bike for training while camping.
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