Monday, December 21, 2009

Non-Quitting Spirit at 6 AM and 22 Degrees Fahrenheit

I've lately been following a martial arts blog called Indomitable Spirit, and my school urges people to have a non-quitting spirit; I tapped some of that spirit at 6 AM today.

Yesterday's snowstorm dumped more than a foot of snow on my town on Long Island. I got up at 5 AM this morning to head to the gym before going to work. As I suspected, a snow plow had piled up snow around my car after I cleared it yesterday, so it took a lot of work to get the car out on the road.

Once on the road, I eventually heard a "thump thump thump": The telltale sign of a flat tire.

It was about 22 degrees outside (below freezing, for people accustomed to the sensible centigrade thermometer). First official day of winter.

I considered my options--drive to the mechanic's on a flat? Call for a tow? And realized that just changing the tire was my best option. I was a little worried somebody would slide into me on the icy road, but it was so early (about 6 AM) that only one car drove by.

Would I have had the spirit to change the tire, and the strength to loosen those lug nuts, if I weren't studying martial arts? I don't know; but I did get the tire changed, drove to the station and got on the train to work.

It's got to get easier from here on this winter.

Right?

2 comments:

Michele said...

What a day! I can't imagine changing a tire in the snow.

Yesterday, I went outside to warm up my car before taking my daughter to school. I locked my keys in the car with it running. Of course...I do not have a spare key (long story).

As I am waiting for the locksmith to arrive, my daughter tells me she must be at school by 9:00 because she has a part in Mass.

So I am with you...it has got to get easier!

Indomitable Spirit said...

Hi Bob

A *foot* of snow???? Jeez, Edinburgh has ground to a halt with about a quarter of that! Actually, we're spoiled in this city - we don't generally get an awful lot of snow, so we forget how to deal with it.

Glad that ol 'spirit' was there for you though.

bests

Avril