Tip of the Day:
Don’t put diesel in your car.
Yah, don’t worry, I’ve heard it all. My friends gave me enough shit for this that you can keep your hostile commentary to yourself. I still can’t believe I did this to myself either. I’m not even going to explain my logic I just fucked up and it’s too late and now everyone has a funny story to tell their friends and family. You’re welcome.
After filling up my gas tank to the brim (with diesel, of course) I headed out and at the next green light my car decided to just not cooperate when I was pressed the gas pedal. I was able to get the car to slowly crawl to the side of the road and immediately called my mom realizing I was three and a half hours away from home and pretty much stranded. Trying to remain calm I explained everything to my step dad. ALL the buttons were flashing: my battery, my oil, my engine and I was alone. Alone and clueless about cars. My step dad talked me through changing my oil thinking we could at least get one of the problems out of the way. Then, I look up and see a huge fire truck pull up behind me. I’m thinking: great, I’m going look like a fool when they easily fix my car (…little did I know). Unsuccessful, they invite my into the truck as we all wait for a policeman and towing company to show up. I’ve never been in a fire truck so might as well make an adventure out of this. As I’m talking on the phone with my stepdad to update him on the whole situation he asks me if a tanked up any time recently. I’m like heck yeah I did, I made sure my gas was full and ready to go, so that’s definitely not the problem. Then he asks me what I tanked up with, 87 or 88. Immediately I panic thinking about that diesel label I so confidently chose and choke it out.
A couple agonizing seconds of silence pass by and he finally says my name (clearly very angry).
I’ll save the details of that conversation for my own memory and I wish you could see how the firemen tried hiding their laughs after I told them. What the heck, everyone had to hold in laughter as I avoided eye contact and told them I put diesel in my car. After my adventure of driving around in a tow truck, talking to all the understanding Firestone employees, I ended up having to stay one more night in the great state of Iowa just to get made fun of all night and the next morning by my lovely friends. I know they’ll never let me live it down and I guess I’m kind of grateful because at least (by turning this into a traumatizing event) it’ll hopefully never happen again.
Although it was very stupid it was an honest mistake and it did teach me a few lessons.
1.Listen to your grandpa when he teaches you about cars instead of thinking you’ll just learn “in the moment” because the whole time I was in this moment I was wishing I knew what I was doing.
2.As independent as I think I am, as much of an adult as I see myself, my mom was still the first and only person I wanted/ needed when in trouble and I need to appreciate her more no matter how excited I am to be doing things on my own.
3.Shit happens. This shit may have been all my fault but it was still a lesson learned and it’s all part of this beautiful mess we call life.
And lastly,
4. Don't put diesel in your car.
