Damsels in Distress...What crap!

This morning I dropped my daughter off at school. On my way out to the parking lot I chatted with a fellow room Mother. We talked for a few minutes and went our separate ways. At that moment the school fire alarm rang - fire drill...hooray! I wait for my turn to drive off, when I notice a huge orange barrel (the kind used for construction) under the van in front of me. The van kept moving slowly and stalled. So what do I do? I stop and help her of course. She had no idea the barrel was there (which amazes me by the way). My friend Kathy and I try to pull it out for her. It was no use the barrel wouldn't budge....I had an aha moment - let's get the jack. She has the jack, but not the bar that turns it...Kathy can't find her jack. Emily to the rescue! I use the bar from my jack and get it started (even with the black widow spiders on the barrel)....slowly but surely I get the jack high enough for them to get the dented barrel out....It works - they pull it out and all is well. What got me thinking after this is that she should know how to do this herself. She should have a jack and know how to use it. She says to me that "oh, my husband usually does that kind of stuff." Well sure he does, but not in case like this. Isn't this a problem? I think so. Why is it that this woman wouldn't know what to do if her tire blew and she needed to change it? It is her responsibility as a woman and parent (her child was in the car) to be prepared for "little and big" emergencies like these ones. She can't allow herself to be left on the side of the road defenseless. What if it was a real emergency? What would she do? I'm sorry but in this day and age people rarely pull over to help. I wouldn't help just anyone (I'm ashamed to admit that) because I have to ensure my own safety. There are people out there who set up people to rob them or carjack them. It's horrible, yet true. So, I use my instinct and judge my surroundings...Is it safe? Is she alone? What is the scenario? Can I actually help or would I hinder the situation? I have a cell phone and I will call and notify highway patrol if I see someone who looks in trouble. That and I say a little pray like "Heavenly Father, please let that person be safe and taken care of."
Okay, so ladies and gentleman here are my thoughts...Ladies ~ rely upon yourself. Know how to change your tires. Know what the inside of your car engine looks like and what is what. For example, know the differences between all the fluids and how to fill them (make sure you put the right fluid in the right spot). Don't be left helpless. It is good to have a husband to help, but sometimes it would just be easier to do it yourself. Gentlemen ~ Teach your wives how to change the tires. Assist them in learning about their engines. Make sure they know how to do it right because they are often driving your family around and you don't want them to alone, worried and scared on the side of the road. There is always that chance that someone won't pull over and help. Sadly.
Okay and last but not least thank you to my friend Kathy for being there with me, because I wasn't alone and that made it possible for me to help. If you want to help someone who might be stranded on the side of the road, maybe sure you aren't alone. Make sure you are safe.