the lights on the dashboard came on, but the engine didn’t start, and i could not shift the car into drive, reverse, neutral – nothing. the digital clock was flickering. then i could not turn the car off. this is a potential problem with a battery car. it’s a 2005 prius, basically a golf cart with windshield wipers. it was stuck “on” but unable to move in any direction. crazy.
i called the dealer and they thought it needed a new 12 volt battery, a google search confirmed that was probably the problem, and i called a tow truck to bring me and the car to the dealer.
when the tow truck arrived an hour later i asked the guy how he was doing and he said it was the best day of his life.
i thought he was being sarcastic. i said ‘oh really, why’s that?’
let me say that this was a good ol country boy, probably in his early 50’s, bald, scruffy gray beard, a little on the heavy side, cheeks full of chewing tobacco that he was spitting into a mountain dew bottle.
he said ‘i lost my daughter. about 10 years ago. her mama took her from me and i couldn’t see her anymore…(me: “oh, i’m sorry…”) on the way here i got a call from a girl in oklahoma city. my little girl called me and i got to talk to her for the first time since she was 5 years old. i prayed every single day for this to happen.’
he was crying. i was crying.
turns out she found him through facebook, is about to graduate high school in may, and has a baby boy. she saved all the letters he had ever sent her. he is now saving money to go out there and see her graduate, saying ‘that’s a big’un…can’t miss that.”
he dropped me at the dealer, i got a new battery, and went on my merry way.
