All I Want For Christmas Is Four Wheel Drive

I left work early today to try and make a 5:10 dentist appt. Stepping across the snow and ice I walked the 1/2 block to my little black Nissan.

When I turned the key over, I let the car idle a bit to help warm up the engine. After about a minute (it's hard to be patient when it's -3 degrees outside) I shifted the car into reverse and spun my tires.
So I put it in drive and spun my tires.
So I put it in reverse and spun my tires. Then, with a burst of energy, I popped up on the mound of ice, landing partly on the car behind me while my two back wheels floated in the air.

Good Grief.

At first I tried waving down strangers to help give me a push but no one would stop. Finally I called Chris saying I was stuck on top of an ice mound and I couldn't move my car. He offered to call his friend and have them come meet me to help push me out.

As I waited, I saw a car down the street having trouble getting out of their parking spot. Well, I thought...better make myself useful. So I hopped out of my car and ran over and offered to give a push. The guy said he didn't need my help but noticing my car balanced beautifully on top of an iceberg, he asked if I happened to need some help.

I thankfully said yes.

And then came two other men, walking past, who stopped to try to help. We pushed my car back and forth for about 40 minutes with no avail. We borrowed a shovel from the car lot across the street to try and shovel the snow out. Well, that shovel bent when hitting the ice. THAT'S HOW HARD IT WAS. So we found another metal shovel that was able to chip away a bit of the mound.

At this point, we were all growing concerned about possible frostbite so the four of us ran into the condo building next door to try and warm up. About 5 minutes later, Chris and his friend BK showed up with rope and an SUV. They took a look at my car and their mouths fell wide open. The question on everyone's mind was 'how the heck did she get her car in that position???'

So after some brainstorming, BK and Chris thought it best we try to pick the car up and shift it to the side. It was impossible to drive and being that I was suspended on top of another car, they were afraid I would rip off both bumpers if they tried to push it. So the 5 of us crowded around my trunk and on the count of three we lifted my car off the ground and shifted it one inch.

Then we did that again.
And again.
And again.
Until both back tires were on the ground and the entire car was off the car behind it.

Then BK and Chris tied a rope from my car to BK's SUV and we pulled my car out of the snow/ice mound.

It took 90 minutes but finally my car was on solid ground.

I'm thankful for the angels that appeared in my life today. It was one of those humbling moments were you realize no matter how strong of a person you are, sometimes you need the help of others. And you have to hope that there are kind, generous folks around willing to pitch in. So this year I am thankful for the kindness of strangers. And friends. And boyfriends.