Two weeks ago, for the first time in my life, I purchased a membership in the AAA club. i have never needed emergency road service but thought the car was getting a bit older and maybe...

So today, we left work early just as the storm turned ugly and of course my battery was dead. After a few choice words and observations I remembered my new AAA membership, pulled the card and called. A very nice lady apologized profusely and said I would probably have to wait at least an hour and probably more because of the storm. She took my number and promised to call back.

I had my emergency kit handy. Pulled out a heavy afghan, a bag with extra hats, scarves and gloves, a candle, a bottle of water and settled in for all of eight minutes.

AAA called back. They would be there within ten minutes. Meantime I had called my service station and made arrangemnets to drop the car off after hours so they could replace the battery.

AAA arived - a coureous technixcian who also ap0ologized for the wait. i was moving in a matter of minutes. He waited to make sure I could get out of the parking lot - lots of snow. I drove to the service station and found Brian at the desk. He had heard I was coming in, checked his stock and had a battery waiting. Within minutes the battery was changed (four men to one battery - they wanted to get home too).

So I left my office at 3:15 and arrived home at 4:40 despite all the drama.

Kudos to AAA and McKinney's station, also a AAA facility.

Giant PHEWWW, I dodged that bullet from me.