I told myself this time it would be different. I would be successful. I would remain calm.
I would get my car in and out of the car wash without difficulty.
But once more, I stopped the works, made the horn blare and embarrassed myself.
See, since we bought the Nissan Leaf, I've run into trouble at the car wash.
For some undefined reason, I cannot get the car into neutral in time for the belt to grab the car and pull us forward.
The first time I assumed it was just because everything was new.
I felt much the same when I tried to drive the car off the lot at Ken Garff.
I was ready but the car didn't move when I told it to.
I soon learned that in order for the car to go, I had to put my foot onto the gas pedal (in an electric car there is no gas pedal) and the brake.
In this case, I had to push the start button and put my foot onto the brake, then put it into "D" for drive and slip into motion.
At the car wash, it had to be in neutral but try as I might, I couldn't find the "N" position.
The kid running the place shut everything down and came over to help. People behind me sighed.
He figured it out and the car moved on through.
The next time I thought I had mastered the move but again, I couldn't get the car into "N." Everything stopped and I felt stupid.
This kid said, "You have to push it over to the left."
I told Marc about my problem and he guffawed.
I asked him to go with me and guess what? He couldn't get the car into "N" either. The car wash operation came to a grinding halt.
The kid helped us and we got our car cleaned.
We told some friends and family about our situation and they had all kinds of helpful stories about how they knew people whose cars stopped and others ran into and over them.
Then we drove by the car wash and saw it under repair. The conveyor belt had broken.
So I was nervous this last time but I stopped in a parking lot prior to heading in and practiced.
I thought I had it mastered.
But no, once more I sat there and argued with the gear shift knob, moving it up and down and sideways until the kid asked permission to reach in and over me and put it into "N."
"Thank you!" I breathed as the brushes and water started going again.
"You just have to hold it for a minute," he said.
I dunno. I think I tried that.
I believe I need to get out a hose.
Car washes are something which have worried me since a child! It would be my worst nightmare to be stuck in a car wash (not least because of the embarasment of failing at something which most people do quite easy). I feel your pain, but your recollection of the event made me laugh - sorry!
ReplyDeleteHarvey Hamilton @ All Seasons Valeters
Oh dear! It's always the way isn't it? The things that we worry about seem to keep building and building in our minds and then you end up getting so nervous about something going wrong that you get clumsier and make it go wrong. Keep trying- better luck next time!
ReplyDeleteArlen Greenfield @ Clean Get Away
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ReplyDeleteThere’s nothing to put a big monkey wrench in your day quite like getting into an accident or having your car break down. I really feel for you! It was lucky that that kid was there to be able to assist you in pushing the car after it decided to break down on you. Hopefully things get better for you!
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