Lebanese man and the Thrift store.

I have planned to have Halloween party at my apartment. This last week I got strep throat AND had my wisdom teeth removed. So, I havn’t had much time to gather my costume. This afternoon in between classes I decided I would run to the near thrift store and pick up what I needed.
While driving over the newly built 35W bridge I began to have some unnecessary uneasiness as I am SURE this new bridge was built was last! But who is to know for sure? It might be silly but that is really what I was nervous about. About ½ a mile later the car in front of me slammed on his brakes and I almost hit him while going 65mph on the Freeway. His front Right tire had BLOWN and was throwing chunks at my car as he decided to continue driving on it. I tried to get over and wave him off the road but he insisted to continue driving on the tire that was non existent. He pulled onto an exit and proceeded UP the exit. We were not going very fast so I got up on the side and “ran him off to the side” he was forced to pull over. I got out and told him that he can not continue driving on his RIM! He is going to wreck even more of the vehicle.

“No tire.” He exclaimed. “ I have not tire. Must continue to drive.”
“sir, I have the same car as you, I will give you my spare tire. You can not make it any further driving on the rim of you vehicle.”
“You help me? Oh God Bless you!. My tire go flat, I say, Oh Jesus, Oh Jesus, send someone. You must meet my wife and children.”
He then called his wife as I began to unload my trunk into my backseat in hopes to reach the tire and still have time to run to the thrift store.
“Where you live?”
“Plymouth. But I go to school in Minneapolis, I am just running errands right now. Where are you from?”
“Lebanon. Now live St. Paul. But come here before you were born, 1974.”
He smiled looked around and continued,
“ I believe in God, do you believe in God?”
I smiled and said, “ Yes sir, I believe in God!”
“He sent you to me today. Thank you!”
Much to both of our surprise the tire didn’t fit because I have sport version of the jetta! So we decided to just put one Lug on REALLY tight and head up the ramp.
“I know a place near by. It is just up the road.”
“ I will follow you. Just drive VERY slow.”
We began to drive and I followed as I prayed the tire would not bend or give way. About three miles in I was wondering if his “just up the road” meant the same as it does to those who live in Upsala! But we arrived at a place called Rani Engineering about 5 miles later.
“My brother owns this. He will help. I will give you tire back. Thank you so much!”
After removing my tire and getting a business card from his brother I knew I still had about 20 mins to try and get to the thrift store. He explained to me that his brother and this company was in charge or rebuilding the 35W bridge. They showed me the plans and all the extensive planning and labor that went into it! It was reassuring and breathtaking. It was time for me to leave. We began to walk out the door.
“Please wait right here. Don’t move I will come back.”
I was a little shocked as he ran around the corner. A little concerned for the first time in this endeavor I tried to listen carefully at what he might be doing or where he was going. This was difficult as the traffic from nearby 35W was drowning out even some machines that kept the building running.
-what if he comes back with a gun and shoots me? Or worse a knife, he will stab me and leave me for dead. Did I lock my car? Is going to steal my purse? Should I keep waiting.
-he returned with a BIG smile on his face and a bunch of fruit in his hands. He wanted to repay me somehow and these were in his car.
How foolish, of course there are still good people in the world. He wanted to tell a man he worked with the story of how I stopped, the man responded, “ we are all in this together!”
Yes. We are. We are all in this together.
And if you are wondering… I still went to the thrift store and found what I needed in about 4 mins and still made it to class!