The Two Most Important Parts of the Car

At least that is the way I felt as a female when I had my first real car, a family hand-me-down that Dad titled over to me. I now know that the significance of the title was that any and all upkeep, insurance, and its future on the road were completely up to me, along with paying for it all.

So when Pop said, you really ought to be buying a new set of tires, I kind of swallowed and said, "Okay. How much do you think they will be?"

He thought I should be able to get four tires for around hundred dollars (this was 1974 of course). I had just gotten my first real pay check that summer, and it was around hundred dollars. My visions of going on a spending spree for clothes quickly vanished. There was no way I wanted to spend my money on tires. But I had no choice.

Smart Dad. Recently I was getting tires rotated and balanced on one of our cars when an older man, fatherly type, said while we were waiting, "You know there really is nothing more important you could be doing than taking care of your tires."

He kind of startled me, because getting the tires rotated and balanced was not exactly my idea of a favorite errand. Since we were both waiting for the clerk, this gentleman made me think about something that had never quite sunk in from my husband before. (I'm sure he's told me the same thing.)

The man went on, "You know there is nothing more important, for safe driving than the tires, other than the driver. Tires are more important than brakes. Tires are what meet the road."

He also noted that having correct air pressure was very important, and that too few people paid attention to the build up of air pressure in tires on long trips, and how that could lead to blow outs and cars turning over. (Yeah, yeah, the lectures from husband and dad about checking my air pressure came to mind.)

Why is it sometimes easier to take advice from a stranger than from one's own husband or dad?

If you're interested, there is more information about:
The most important event of all time and
The most important Book of all time.

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Contributed by Melodie Davis from her weekly columnANOTHER WAY (http://www.thirdway.com/aw/).For information on using Another Way in a local newspaper, contact:ANOTHER WAY, 1251 Virginia Ave., Harrisonburg, VA 22801-2497; or call1-800-999-3534; fax at 540-434-5556; or email me at:Melodie@mennomedia.org