June 13th, 2014

Well, Pat's Porsche almost got me killed on Wednesday. My car was in the shop, so Pat wanted me to go to Easy Auto in Emeryville to get a couple of parts (seat belt holder broke). So, I got in the car and well on my way on Hwy 580, and ju...st before the Keller exit, with traffic flowing 65-70 miles an hour, in the third lane over going up a hill, the engine stopped humming at its normal sound, and the power completely disappeared. Frantically, I tried to get over to the side, but at those speeds, with my car losing power all the time, it was an iffy proposition. It finally came to a dead stop in the second lane, with traffic whizzing by on both sides, and piling up behind me. I couldn't restart it, nothing I could do worked, and the horns started blaring. It was amazing I wasn't plowed into 6 or 7 times. Luckily, an angel in a tow truck behind me saw what was happening, pulled ahead of me in the first lane with his lights on and started directing traffic around me. Then he had me put it in neutral and slide backwards over to the shoulder, with a little push from him. Then he disappeared up the road without another word.

Left on the side of the road, I got out my cellphone (which luckily had a charge, which it usually doesn't), I was able to call AAA and get a towtruck sent out. While I was calling, a police car came backwards down the shoulder and stayed with me until the tow truck came. Turns out, the battery had a bad cell, so the alternator gave up the ghost, and the starter had to be replaced, as well. Who knew?

Just grateful to be alive, today.

Oh, and here's my latest entry for the Porsche Art Show Parade this week. Vote for me for Viewer's favorite!