I’m back, did you miss me? The past couple of weeks have been interesting to say the least. As I look ahead to challenges that we all face everyday, I try to see the positive side as well. Take last week for instance; I now look at it as an adventure to share with all of you. I had an occasion to be traveling south on Abbott Street after buying gas at the Valero Station in Salinas at the beginning where traffic builds due to the construction of the new Amazon warehouse.
As you all know, I drive a 1956 Ford pickup, my speed is dictated by the speed of the trucks that filled both lanes of the road. I was getting a little tense as the cars on both sides of me kept changing lanes. They weren’t getting ahead of anyone, just changing lanes. All of a sudden a lady in a little Volvo wanted to get into the lane, in which I was traveling at about 3 mph. I felt a surge of adrenaline for a split second, but there was a huge truck right behind her. I wasn’t in a hurry so I mumbled a few expletives and paid attention to what was happening around me.
Did I mention that it was a rare warm day in the valley and that my truck has a small radiator and heats up if not allowed to show off the speed of which it is capable? I needed to be moving at or faster than the traffic around me. That wasn’t a problem until that lady jumped into my lane and my truck died. So there I was, sitting in front of what looked like every car and truck in the valley.
Just about the time I was going to cry, a guy behind me jumped out of his car and asked if I needed help. I looked up and gave thanks to a greater power and together we rolled my truck into the corner of Abbot Street and Speckles Road. I lifted my hood, which opens opposite of what your hood opens. It sort of warned trucks that some guy was holding up traffic. I have done a lot of silly things in my life, but this might be right at the top.
Truck drivers make their living moving. A wounded pickup was not their fault, just some impetus to making money. They went around the corner just barely slowing down, about three feet away; I was worried that if they tightened up their turn they would tear the bed off my truck. So to illustrate the love for this vehicle, I moved from front to back and shortened the distance between their turn and my truck. I was literally protecting it as I stood at the back of the bed. For some crazy reason that gave me solace.
I was alone so I had no one to assist me getting off the road, so I called for a tow truck and was assured that one was on the way. The trucks turning were able to complete the turn, but were very close to my truck. I was still waiting on the tow truck when one of California’s Finest Highway Patrolmen stopped at the rear of my truck and asked if I could move. I pointed out that the front tire on the right side was bumped up against the parking barrier, and because of the heat and the fact that I’m a senior citizen, I was unable to move my pickup alone.
At this point, Officer Duckworth told me to get into the cab and put it in neutral. I told him that my front tire was turned into the curb and that I couldn’t turn the wheel or push my truck over the curb. Then there was a path of very soft dirt and would he be so kind as to call for further assistance. It should be pointed out that I have owned the pickup for over 50 years and had invested a lot of money to make it right. This was the first time it had ever let me down.
I was a little concerned that Officer Duckworth was going to use his push bumpers to move it. I expressed my concern and again he simply said, “Just get in and put it in neutral.” I did as he asked and all of a sudden my truck started moving. I was startled for sure. Officer Duckworth was pushing my truck out of the danger zone using only his strength; did I also mention he was in pretty good shape? But to me this was amazing. You know how you often get a little nervous when a CHP car starts to follow you? Maybe you aren’t going much faster than the speed limit but still… He was pushing me about that fast it seemed.
When he stopped, he approached me. I commented that I was sure they didn’t teach him that in the Academy. He smiled and asked if there was anything else he could do. I was very impressed by his concern for me in that very dangerous intersection. I know that most officers are fine men and women who risk their lives on a daily basis, but this was above and beyond the duty, given the traffic in that intersection.
To my surprise, once my truck cooled off it started and I carefully turned around and returned to Gonzales. I’m sure Officer Duckworth just thought he was simply doing his duty as he had been trained. But to me he showed strength, bravery and care beyond the call of duty. Officer Duckworth, with a cool head, turned what could have been a very dangerous situation and safely sent me on my way. Thanks Officer Duckworth for keeping both of us safe.
God Bless.
