Buttercup.....

This has officially been one of the longest days of my life, OK, year. It started out normally: wake up, check email, eat some oatmeal. Then I decided that since it is Labor Day and I have the day off, I would head home to Buena Vista to hang out with my siblings and ask my parents some life advice. I made it as far as Golden. I was passing through an intersection when my '85 Nissan konked out. This situation has happened before, but when it did, I simply replaced the battery and checked the alternator. When the alternator test showed that it was fine, I didn't give breaking down a second thought and went about driving as usual. Well, today wasn't quite as simple.

I pulled to the side of the road and popped the hood. I decided, alright another new battery just to get the darn thing home. But I didn't know where the nearest auto parts place was and I wasn't even sure it would be open Labor day. Then all of a sudden as I was cursing my car and staring stupidly at my cell phone as though it held the secret to my dilemma, a beater red Acura pulled up behind me. The two individuals who saw my plight and sought to perform their good deed of the day smelled heavily of beer and cigarette smoke and who knows what else. They didn't have jumper cables and so asked me if I wanted a ride to where we could find some. They didn't feel right about leaving me on the side of the road alone. Unfortunately. In this day and age, apparently "normal" people feel uncomfortable pulling over to assist damsels in distress and so, lacking other available options, I hopped in their car to find an auto shop.

After jumper cables didn't work, I assured the gentlemen I would be fine on my own. I walked a mile to Checker Auto Parts and purchased a new battery. A man saw me standing there and recognized me from the shop where we had borrowed the cables from. He asked if I would like a ride back to my car. The thought of walking the three or so miles back to the highway in 80 degree heat carrying a 100lb. car battery just didn't seem appealing somehow. So I acquiesced. After changing the battery and pounding on the cables a bit, we decided it actually wasn't the battery after all, but the wiring and cables connecting the juice to the starter. Pity. It was going to be an ordeal to get Princess Buttercup home by supper time. The kind gentleman left to go back to his shop and I was left to figure out a way to get back to Boulder. After all, there wasn't much I could do on the side of the highway in Golden.

The bus stop was about a half mile away and a kind local firefighter saw me truckin' along down HWY 93 and decided to give me a lift. Good Samaritan numero quatro. Once at the bus stop, I found out I would need to take a bus to down town Denver and then catch one to Boulder. Apparently RTD does not offer all of it's route options on Holidays. Unfortunately. There are much weirder people in Denver than in Boulder. I found out today just how sheltered I am on a daily basis. One strange trip to Denver, one trip back to Boulder and one hour of waiting for the bus to my casa. After all is said and done today, my car is still in Golden. I am home in Boulder. I have no idea how I am going to get my car back tomorrow. Cheers.