451: My Car, Three Firemen and One Universal Invariant
Posted by Lucy on March 13th, 2010. Filed under: Uncategorized.Okay, so last Monday, I’m in therapy with Dr. Susan. It’s all fun and games, we talk a lot about my classes and the writing and I explained the three phases of Discovery, Writing and Revision for her (good practice for my speech at National, although I’ll worry about that later) and blah blah blah, our fifty-minute hour is up and I head out to my car. Which is on empty. Toodle down to the Shell station up the street, pull in, fill the tank…
… notice the pool of wetness at my feet…
Hmmm, thinks I. Although it would explain all the weight I’ve gained recently, I’m pretty sure my water didn’t just break. That means my car’s water just broke, and that can’t be good.
I glance around, trying to think of things other than my or my car’s water breaking that could explain the puddle at my feet. Rain recently? Nope. Melting snow? No. In the back of my mind, it occurs to me that something truly horrible might have happened with the gasoline, but that’s too horrible to contemplate. So, I decide to Mulder it out – I bend down, stick my finger in the liquid, and sniff my finger.
“Oh, crap,” I say, and then I duck my head under the car and see… not a drip, no no… a stream of gasoline gushing from my car’s tender underbelly. “Oh, crap.”
Sensing that this is a situation that one would describe as dangerous, I hotfoot it to the little mini-mart, figuring The Guy would know what to do. Because they must have given The Guy some training in dealing with dangerous, highly flammable and explosive materials since he works around them all day long. So I go inside, grab The Guy by the lapels and say, “What do I do now?”
“Huh,” he says. “I dunno.”
“Well, it’s not like I can smoke*,” I say, and plunk down a pack of gum for him to ring up while I call the Emergency Road Assistance number my insurance sent me.
“We don’t have you on our emergency assistance plan,” she says.
“GASOLINE! LEAKING! WANNA PAY FOR AN ENTIRE CAR THAT JUST EXPLODED? HUH?”
“But we’ll make an exception for you just this once,” she says. “Except we can’t until the fire department has cleared your car.”
“Oh, so I should call 911?”
“You haven’t called 911 yet?”
“No,” I say. “The Guy acted like it was no big deal so I thought that might be overreacting. And you know… he’s The Guy.”
I call them Fireguy 1, Fireguy 2, and Bill
“The Guy’s an idiot. Call 911,” she says, and hangs up. I take the gum, stuff three pieces in my mouth, and call 911. I tell them where I am and about ten minutes later, three guys show up in a big, green firetruck. They spread kitty litter all over the ground where the gas was and tell me I can call for the tow. So I call my insurance again, and I swear to God, they say, “It’ll be twenty minutes.” Then I call Jenny and tell her I need her to pick me up.
“It’s spewing gas?” Jenny asks, a lilt of hope tinging her voice. “Do you think it will, maybe, explode?”
In her defense, when I called the insurance company and they asked me what color the car was, I said, “Gold. And rust. Mostly rust.” Because truly… it’s a tossup. This is one terrible flipping car, and everyone hates it. Universally.
Forty minutes of small talk later (Fireguy #1 owns a ’94 Camry, a lot like my ’97 Camry, and he said he was sure it wouldn’t be that expensive a fix, it’s just the filler neck), Jenny shows up, says hi to the firemen, and looks disappointed.
“It didn’t blow up,” she says. “You gonna fix it?”
I hitch a thumb at Fireguy 1. “He says it’ll be a cheap fix.”
Fireguy 1 waves. Jenny smiles, then leans in. “You should have let it explode.”
Much time passes, and most of our entertainment is provided by the people who, despite the big ass firetruck and the orange cones at a gas station, which is the exact place you do not want to see a big ass firetruck and orange cones, keep trying to drive past them to fill up their tanks, much to the annoyance of Fireguy 1. Which I understand, because when you’re dealing with life and fire, oblivious people can be pretty annoying. Now me, if I saw a big ass firetruck and orange cones at a place with huge tanks full of highly explosive materials, I’d… you know… maybe go somewhere and get a sandwich instead. Then again, that explains a lot about me.
Finally, an hour and a half later, after much sturm and drang with the insurance company (“See, I don’t think your twenty minutes and my twenty minutes are the same thing, and considering that time is a universal invariant…”) the tow truck finally shows up, and as it hauls the thing off to the mechanic, Jenny and I get in the car.
“I told them you were divorced,” she says.
I laugh. Jenny’s funny.
“No, I’m serious,” she says. “The one guy’s married but the others – who knows?”
“Are you kidding me?”
“No. They asked me where we were from, and I said you were from New York, but he meant what part of town because–”
“I cannot believe you did that.”
“–it was taking so long for the tow to show up–”
“You’re like a sister. Or a pimp.” I gasp. “You’re a pimpster!”
“–and I said, ‘She’s staying with me because her marriage went belly-up.’”
I stare at her. “I cannot believe you did that.”
She shrugs. “Hey, when God sends you three cute firemen, you do what you gotta do. Plus, you got rid of that horrible car. This is a good day.”
“I’m getting the car fixed.”
“Well,” she says, and pulls out of the gas station, “we’ll see about that.”
So, all that to say… if you read about a mysterious explosion happening in the middle of the night at a Pep Boys in Cincinnati… maybe don’t say anything. ‘Kay?
*Yes, on occasion, I have a cigarette. No, I don’t want your opinion on this fact. Love you, Betties, but we’ll talk about that after my divorce, shall we?
March 13th, 2010 at 6:21 am
Wow, for once insomnia pays off. I log on and find this. Yay! (Yes, I know that it would have been up if I checked it at a sane hour, but I stand by my sleep-deprived logic.)
I’m sorry about your car, although I’m not sure if I’m sorry that it broke or sorry that it can be fixed, considering the way you talk about it. I am glad that nothing exploded, because we would have been sad if something happened to you.
I had a spewing gasoline experience years ago that, sadly, did not result in sexy firemen. Filling my car up to take care of an emergency situation at 4 in the morning, I discovered what happens when the pump doesn’t recognize that your gas tank is full. I was just standing there, waiting to be done, when suddenly my car is projectile vomiting gas all over me. I still had to drive across town to give my boss the key I’d forgotten to leave at work the night before, reeking of gas with the windows down. In retrospect, how stupid was I? Seriously, it scares me to think of what could have happened. But the station was closed with only pay-at-the-pump left on, I was exhausted, and my boss was not a nice person at all, so I doubt I was thinking straight. They should seriously teach gasoline safety in driver’s ed, though. ‘Cause I had no clue how to handle that situation…
Oh, and I’m sure we’ll keep our mouths closed about any and all perfectly legit explosions.
March 13th, 2010 at 8:23 am
I learn so much from checking in here. I wouldn’t have known to call 911 either. You’re not only providing entertainment: you’re saving lives.
March 13th, 2010 at 8:54 am
LOL. I’m glad you are OK, and hope the car passes on to the next life quietly in its sleep… and hey, nice firemen. I’d love to be a fly on the wall with you and Jenny sometimes – she sounds like a fairy godmother who’d deck you out in comfy jeans instead of a fancy gown and point you toward the firetruck instead of Prince Charming.
March 13th, 2010 at 9:02 am
Hey, I’m giving Obama a pass on smoking, cause I think he may be a little stressed. I don’t think it’s good for him, but he can only take care of a certain number of things at a time.
I’ll give you a pass, too. After all, I want a pass on those brownies I made.
March 13th, 2010 at 9:23 am
“Cute firemen” and all I can think is Fireman #2 and Bill are too young for me and Fireman #1 is too old. Damn.
I’m sorry for the Event, but events like this always make for great stories later. So I’m not TOO sorry.
Hope you find out the car is unfixable, but strangely worthwhile in insurance world, so they will buy you a new one!
March 13th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Well, the car has been saved. I think I need to name it. Something like The Beast. Betty and the Beast. Sounds about right.
Hollygee – did you say brownies? Yum!
March 13th, 2010 at 9:58 am
Please, Please, Please – compile all these conversations with Jenny, Sweetness and Light and put them in a book. Reading them puts a smile on my face and never fails to lighten my day. If “Conversations with God” can be a best seller, I certainly don’t see how “Conversations with Sweetness, Light and Fake Aunt Jenny” can miss!!
March 13th, 2010 at 10:20 am
Ahahahahaha! This is a riot! I’m glad you’re okay, and I GUESS I’m okay that the car is fixable (although that sounds a little iffy) and I’m SO glad Jenny could get there to rescue you AND make sure your immediate future could involve hunky firemen. I mean, she was clear-headed, not fighting insurance or panic, so she could see CLEARLY that this opportunity oozed of potential. Glad to know she’s got your back!
March 13th, 2010 at 10:32 am
LMAO “So, I decided to Mulder it out…” That’s priceless.
I’m glad you didn’t explode, but sorry about the car being fixable.
They really should train The Guys better if they’re working at gas stations. To all you gas station Guys out there, remember: gasoline is flammable, but it’s the fumes that are explosive.
@BooftyBetty, I’m with you. Too old, too young, too young — in that order. Since our Alpha Betty is only a year older than me, I’m guessing it’s the same situation. Though, who knows, maybe she’s a little more open to Sugar Daddy/Cougar situations than I am. I wonder why the firemen don’t look like that here? The only ones I know are all middle aged and very overweight. Which would be fine if I didn’t potentially have to rely on them crawling through a window and carrying me down a ladder to safety.
Oh, hell, I don’t even know what I’m talking about anymore.
March 13th, 2010 at 10:39 am
Bill is awfully cute. : ) Good for you that you have Jenny to point out the good things in life, sometimes we walk around with blinders on when we’re healing. It’s important to have a friend who scouts opportunities for you.
Great story. It was uplifting. I loved this line:
“It’s spewing gas?” Jenny asks, a lilt of hope tinging her voice. “Do you think it will, maybe, explode?”
March 13th, 2010 at 10:46 am
My car never breaks down in a way that requires cute potentially dateable firemen that my friend or sister can pimp me out to. Which is good, since I am married and inclined to freak out about possible explosions. Also I wouldn’t be able to make such a good story out of the experience. You are clearly up to the challenge though.
March 13th, 2010 at 10:47 am
I’m with Jenny on this one. It’s a good thing she was there to let them know you’re available. They are cute firemen (not keen on the moustache) but more important they are FRIENDS with more fireman. You do the math….
March 13th, 2010 at 10:59 am
LOL. I live a block away from the local fire station and often wish I had a pimpster when I walk by…
March 13th, 2010 at 11:00 am
Firemen = hot
According to a fireman friend though, the general consensus among firemen is they don’t have a great track record on marriage. But the guys I know are screamingly funny and smart.
March 13th, 2010 at 11:01 am
Fireman #1 is about right for me! (That Cougar thing is way overdone.)
This is an excellent story, and good for Jenny. We all need a friend like her.
March 13th, 2010 at 11:10 am
I dunno, a fling with a hot and utterly unsuitable fireman sounds like the best kind of divorce crazy to me. You might consider the efficacy of pyromania as a dating strategy. Go Pimpin’ Jenny!
March 13th, 2010 at 11:13 am
Geez, Alpha-Betty, we know you aren’t actively seeking, but when the Universe cooks up an elaborate plan to put three cute firemen in your orbit, don’t ignore it. We’ll just blame it on gas fumes and be thankful that Jenny was thinking clearly.
And let’s give kudos for the blunt speaking woman on the phone. “The Guy’s an idiot. Call 911.) That’s priceless.
Glad you and your car didn’t explode. Gas station fires are mega scary. One happened in town about six months ago and almost killed the guy along with his motorcycle.
March 13th, 2010 at 11:33 am
I vote for Firefighter #2. Not for keeps, of course. Just for, you know, stress relief. Then you can throw him back and
have a cigaretteget on with things.(P.S. I would never dream of giving my opinion on the occasional cigarette, seeing as how I still covet them, dream about them, et cetera.)
March 13th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
I say light ‘em if ya got ‘em. (Not really as I’m allergic to the smoke but you’re not blowing it any where near me so who am I to complain?)
Sorry this didn’t get you a new car or a new fireman. But it sounds like Jenny is working on both and I trust the pimpster to get things done.
Nothing but good times (and firemen) ahead!
March 13th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
I’m so glad that no one exploded literally. I think that the fireguys in Syracuse were even cuter (we had some come to our church 2 weeks in a row, once for a fainting choir member and once for burned popcorn) – but they’re there and we’re here.
If life gives you fireguys….
March 13th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
When you said you weren’t going to date again (I can’t remember how long but it was words to the effect of until hell freezes over) I had this little mental picture of Fate and Cupid sitting on a cloud somewhere, laughing their heads off, and planning to ruin all your plans by sending you perfect men. Watch out for random meetings with small flocks of doctors, fighter pilots or vets. All carrying orphan kittens.
March 13th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
@BooftyBetty, no fireman is EVER too young or too old. They’re well trained, they are!
Babe, gotta say I’m with Jenny on this one. What Shannan Said!! Firemen!!!
March 13th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Holy Almost Exploding Toyota! What an adventure!
I call them adventures because I tend to have this kind of thing happen to me. If you call it an adventure it makes it exciting as oppose to traumatizing.
So far my greatest hits include; my oven exploding at 1:30am while baking Halloween treats, “rescued” baby squirrel loose in the house for 2 days (Life Hostage assures me they don’t growl, but he wasn’t there when it lunged for me) or having to call 911 back to say it wasn’t a bear attacking my neighbor (who knew a golden retriever could sound so bear-like).
I love that Jenny was thinking about you when she saw those cute boy firemen. All I will say is #2 is kinda hot. He’s a fireman. You’re a romance writer. One might call that research….
March 13th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Um, no. Fireguy #2 is not “kinda hot”, he is SMOKING! (pun intended
March 13th, 2010 at 3:59 pm
I like Fireguy 2. Just sayin’
March 13th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
I like that your car didn’t explode and is fixable. When something goes wrong like that I always hope that it doesn’t have to be replaced which is very expensive. You don’t need that stress.
As far as firemen go, that’s your call. I love that Jenny wants a hot fireman for you. You may or may not want one at this point. They’re still fun to look at, though remember the Pet Shop Rule–just because it’s cute doesn’t mean you should take one home with you.
Love Betty & The Beast. Perfect!
March 13th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
I’m with Jenny on this. Fireman, never pass up an opportunity.
As for the car, sorry, I’ve been there and balls up is bad (unless you really do get a good explosion out of it, then they will show up with more than three fireman)! And Camrys have expensive parts usually.
As for cigarettes, its a blessing I’m not a chain smoker as I’m totally allergic to the darn things.
March 13th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Hooray for your pimpster!!!! When life gives you firemen…..
And as for cigarettes, my dear, I smoked two packs a day for a year after my divorce. I judge not.
Hope your car is miraculously healed…and turns into a Honda Del Sol.
March 13th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
Oooh I vote for the Beast turning into a silver Lamborghini Diablo as long as we’re fantasizing.
March 13th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
So glad you didn’t blow yourself or anyone else up. And bonus hunky firemen? Score. After all, handsome men are enjoyable to look at. We’re human, we enjoy beauty.
Speaking of beauty…has anyone seen the Fleggaard video? Because it’s awesome. (drink!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwtoQjNRHg4
(I guess just copy and paste.)
Fleggaard is a German warehouse store that markets to Danes. It’s just over the border so that Danes don’t have to pay the prohibitive taxes on products. Their motto is “Just over the line.” Their advertising agency has made a series of ads based on being “just over the line.”
And, because I am a simple woman with internet access, I checked out the interviews with the models on YouTube. I think, like, three guys are from the Pacific Northwest–where I am. That explains my jaw-dropping wonderment when I run into the local fire crew shopping at the grocery store. Eye candy, ahoy!
March 13th, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Love this story! Never look a gift fireman in the mouth. Now you have an excuse to go visit the firehouse, maybe take them a big batch of cookies as a “thank you.” Meet even more firemen…. definitely take Jenny with you.
BTW – just finished The Comeback Kiss. One of my new favs!
March 13th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
OMG, what a bunch of merry yente’s you all are! LOL, you’re killing me!
Well, yes, it’s never good to look a gift fireman in the mouth, and they were all lovely, but as I’ve said before – not the time for me. Right now, my focus is on my life and my kids, which keep me busy enough without a man to take care of. I like being selfish and on my own right now, so that’s where we’re leaving that!
But thank you for all the laughs, you guys are killing me! And the Beast sits in the driveway, happily not leaking fuel at the moment, although something else will surely rust off the undercarriage before too long – that car is a delicate machine held together with duct tape and chicken wire. And rust.
Mostly rust.
March 13th, 2010 at 6:04 pm
What TigerLily Betty said. Once you say ‘never’ you have to watch out. Jenny is a good Fairy Godmother.
On the news a day or two ago – Betty White will be hosting SNL on May 8. So if Lucy is Alpha Betty…who will Betty White be?
March 13th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
@ Tigerlily Betty – I love this idea of Fate and Cupid sending Lucy perfect men… and in a fairy godpimpster and there’s a great book premise.
March 13th, 2010 at 6:46 pm
I think it’s all hero worship with firemen. I’ve know a few in my day, and it’s only AFTER you know they are firemen that they turn from mildly attractive to smokin’ hot. (Get it? Smokin’? Oy. I should stop before this all goes very, very bad.)
I believe it has something to do with the chemicals we start pumping out when we realize these guys are willing to run into a burning building to save us. I like firemen. A lot. But they are willing to run into a burning building for anyone. For a damn cat, even. That’s sort of a turn off for me. I need a little less whorish hero. Someone only willing to risk life and limb for my round butt.
What you needed to do was give them Jenny’s number. She’s single, no?
March 13th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
@Lora – I’m more of an American muscle car kinda girl, but I like how your mind works!
@Lucy – OK, so you’re not ready now. Don’t close the door on a hottie fireman! Steff M had a great idea. Bake them some cookies. Something that says “thanks for the rescue, boys”. That way when you are ready you’ve already laid the ground work
March 13th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
@Camm: Betty White is of course OMEGA BETTY! The final and ultimate personification of bettyness
March 13th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Which one of you took the picture of the firedudes? I’m guessing it’s Jenny but I could be wrong.
I’m also guessing that it’s only a matter of time until somebetty recognizes them and tells them about this website. Now there’s a fly-on-the-wall moment!!
March 13th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Oh my god, that it so funny. (I mean once we know YOU didn’t blow up!) Nice looking firemen too.
Maybe it’s not nice of me to laugh about your car, but I’ve driven so many POS cars that I can’t help myself.
I can’t tell you how many cars I’ve had just stop running on the way to somewhere. No, really. Just stop. Done. Unfixable.
I’m a car killer.
March 13th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
btw – you Betties are nuts – Not a too old, or a too young in the bunch! Of course I’m headed toward fifty at amazing speed so it’s possible I’ve lost all sense of proportion.
March 13th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
I have no compunction against *looking* at men young enough to be my kid (or grandkid … I’m getting up there). I mean, one should never be too old to appreciate beauty, right? (Ah, Beauties and the Betties!)
March 13th, 2010 at 9:17 pm
@Lora – Betty White as Omega Betty is brilliant. I love it!
March 13th, 2010 at 9:39 pm
@ Lora – Yes, you are very brilliant. Always look forward to what you have to say. The Alpha Betty, The Bettys, and The Omega Betty.
March 13th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Or Betty White could be Betty Prime. (Kim Possible and Rufus anyone???)
March 13th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
@Glynnis (BettyX) Wunderbar!
Girls, you can directly click on the link. Go Now.
Although, I have to say, whenever I see male models, I have to figure there’s probably a 50/50 chance I don’t have a chromosome they may be interested in. But, damn!
March 13th, 2010 at 10:20 pm
@Lora Omega Betty is perfect for Betty White.
@Camm On the Jenny front, I believe she is a Fairy Godbetty
!
I’m with Lucy here on the look don’t get involved front; she has enough on her plate. Stress makes your life shorter and we know she is trying to de-stress and get into a happy with herself place. Fireman eyecandy is wonderful, but…it ain’t the time cuz Lucy says so.
March 13th, 2010 at 10:37 pm
I love that.
I totally thought the photo was a random one at first of random firefighters. Did not realize they were the real ones.
And, sadly, this gave me total nostalgia for my 1992 Toyota Corolla that I bought after having it checked out at a PepBoys in Cinci. Poor old Esther (she was a she) overheated a few months ago (with a 10 month old pit bull in it on her way to the first large adoption event I was allowed to run all on my own without any “real” staff, after my boyfriend’s car’s brakes had gone out after I thought “it’s newer, it’ll be more reliable!” hah. ) and it would have cost more than 1/3 what I paid for her to repair her so I had to donate her to the HSUS since really, I live within walking distance of a metro and don’t need to drive anywhere and have boyfriend’s new used car for kitty trips to the vet. But sometimes, I miss her. She was a good car. Got me from Cleveland to DC and gave me a lot of fun in Columbus my last two years of college
Good times with that girl. Good times.
March 13th, 2010 at 10:52 pm
I laughed so hard when I read this. all of it. I passed it on to a couple of friends, and told my mom who is sick and in the hospital. She really laughed. Brightened up the day for all of us(mostly because you didn’t explode) But my favourite part? In the picture they’re labeled fireguy1, fireguy2, and Bill. Bill. Not fireguy3. If I was reading the book with Cupid and Fate on the cloud and Pimpster Jenny, I would know Bill was the Guy -because really, it might not be the time for a man in your life but the stress relief possibility is almost too good to turn down. Hey you write romances. You know how that story ends. Which is likely why you hightailed it out of there. Too soon for that.
March 13th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
(Clearing throat gently) Young lady! Yes, you, Alpha Betty, you need to stop thinking of men as people you take care of. They’re adults–not puppies.
March 13th, 2010 at 11:16 pm
@ SueG – cheers to KellyJ for the Fairy Godmother name for Jenny. Not that brilliant today. Fairy Godbetty – excellent.
@KellyJ – Fairy Godmother who would dress Lucy in comfy jeans and point to the firetruck – excellent. Bet there would be a pair of beautiful shoes too. Ah…shoes.
Lucy – just a good laugh with eye candy on a rainy Saturday. Thanks.
March 14th, 2010 at 1:13 am
I think that may be THE BEST real life story I’ve ever heard. It has everything you ever need: excitement, danger, CUTE firemen, and a pimpster. It just doesn’t get better than that!
And p.s. who’s judging? Your life, your choices.
March 14th, 2010 at 3:55 am
@ Betty Proffer–Hear, hear!
March 14th, 2010 at 4:11 am
Lucy dear – there’s involved and there’s involved. I mean surely there is never a bad time to check out the length of their hoses. After all – yum!
And Betty X thanks for that Fleggaard thing. I’m still a little breathless.
Glad everyone is okay.
Jenny kudos for being the ultimate wingwoman!
March 15th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Stress relief. *Snigger*
March 15th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Only you know when you’re ready…. but it’s good to keep in mind that before you consider any proper dating it’s good to have a few rebound/practice runs, and firemen do, as a rule, tend to be sweet to the nth degree. And hot. No reason to forget hot.
Plus, hey, you’ve got two little kids. I don’t know about Ohio but here in Seattle as a general rule, you can drop into a fire station with little kids to ask for a tour and as long as nothing’s burning down right then they’ll show you (and, y’know, the kids if you remember to bring them) around and chat….
March 15th, 2010 at 11:03 pm
I still dream of smoking. So no judgment here. Though I will say I usually wake up afraid I’m burning the house down with the cigarettes. So even when I dream of doing something bad (and wonderfully addictive. Oh, cigarettes, I miss you so) I can’t do it without guilt and horror.
Three firemen? You know when you’re ready to date again you’ll never get three firemen at once. this was quite an opportunity bypassed. And I’m waiting to see news of a mysterious car afire in the Cincinnati region.
March 17th, 2010 at 10:54 am
Lucy, just think Halle Berry and Demi Moore and go for the younger guy! And you don’t have to keep the one you pick, you can just play with him for a while
And wouldn’t it feel good to use him and then walk away? 
And I just love Jenny. It’s always nice to have an embarrassingly pushy friend along with your best interests at heart.
But I have to share the time I was going to pick up my Aunt to drive into Houston for a funeral – about a 2 hour drive. I got out of my 8-year old oldsmobile and the driver door, as I flung it open, kept flinging and feel onto the pavement of the driveway. Obviously, we went in her car
Good luck!