Dressed to Impress (but not to change a flat tire)
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (128837)
Gainesville, Florida
September 6, 2016 7:11pm CST
This morning, I had to take my truck to the dealership to have them examine an electrical problem I was having. I called a co-worker and asked if he could swing by and pick me up to give me a ride to work. He was happy to help.
As we pulled out of the dealership and were headed to the office, he blew a tire and we had to pull over to the side of the road. Seeing that he was dressed up in a fancy business suit today, it looked like I was going to be the one to change the tire, broken ribs and all.
When I offered to change his tire for him, he insisted that he could do it. I told him not in those clothes, he would get them ruined. So, I stepped in and took charge of changing his tire (and getting extremely dirty in the process). But it saved my co-worker from ruining his business suit!
It was only afterward that he noticed me grimacing in pain. He asked me if I had hurt myself while changing his tire, and I told him about my broken ribs from over the weekend. He was really upset, and said he would rather ruin a set of clothes than see me injure myself worse. I laughed (which hurt), and told him he was dressed to impress today, and it was important that he continue to look dapper! We both had a good laugh at that one (of which caused me even more pain).
Have you ever stepped in to help someone change a flat tire?
16 people like this
15 responses
@puddleglum (1380)
• United States
7 Sep 16
Good for you! 
That was kind, and I hope you didn't make your injuries worse. I've only ever changed my own tire. I also got dirty in the process. I used to live where I didn't need a car, so I haven't been a car owner for that long.
That was kind, and I hope you didn't make your injuries worse. I've only ever changed my own tire. I also got dirty in the process. I used to live where I didn't need a car, so I haven't been a car owner for that long.6 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Sep 16
I was in a lot of pain today, but I don't know if it was the result of further injuring myself from changing his flat tire, or because I couldn't take the pain meds my doctor prescribed (they would knock me out, so I can't take them while at work).
4 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Sep 16
@puddleglum I took some Advil today and it helped a little, but tomorrow I'm going to try some Alleve and see how that works.
4 people like this
@puddleglum (1380)
• United States
7 Sep 16
@moffittjc It could be a combination of the two. Does it help to take something milder, like an over the counter pain reliever? I guess it probably doesn't for that degree of pain.
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
7 Sep 16
Wow not in years, I have AAA so I call and let someone with work clothes change it, lol
5 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Sep 16
I have AAA as well, and thought about calling them, but my co-worker needed to get to a business meeting quickly, and I didn't want him to miss his meeting while we were waiting on AAA. Besides, he came out of his way to pick me up, so changing his tire for him was the least I could do to thank him.
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
7 Sep 16
@moffittjc Yah well you are a strong young man, me weak old lady lol
3 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Sep 16
@BelleStarr I'm more like a mediocre middle-aged man! LOL
3 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Sep 16
Yes, his clothes were saved! I may have punctured a spleen or something from aggravating my injury, but thank goodness nothing happened to his clothes! lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Sep 16
@ramapo17 Yes, I totally thought about that! But trust me, I was extremely slow and careful in changing the tire! The last thing I needed was to aggravate my injury further. He was actually getting impatient with me because I was going so slow! lol
1 person likes this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
9 Sep 16
@moffittjc Did you ever stop to think that the clothes could be cleaned but fixing your body isn't always 100% full proof? You are not as young as you think you are. You can't afford to have any issues with your body or your kids will have to take care of you.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Sep 16
I seem to be a magnet for people who need help jumping their batteries. Maybe it's because I drive a truck or something, but it seems like a week doesn't go by without someone asking me to help jumpstart their car!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Sep 16
@ramapo17 Thanks! Let's just keep that our secret!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Sep 16
I've helped Vince change the tyre on the bus because it's a bit of a big job for one guy and although I mightn't have been a huge amount of help, the extra pair of hands did help. I can imagine it was pretty painful for you though. Your friend might have been wondering what was taking you so long - if you were a bit slow. :)
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Sep 16
I was definitely going slowly, and he definitely noticed! He kept asking me if I wanted help, which I translated to "Hurry up, you're taking too long!" And in your case, I could definitely see how it would take an extra set of hands to change a tire on a bus!
2 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
9 Sep 16
@JudyEv I remember once when we had a flat tire in our big RV. I get very quiet when I get nervous. We had service calls for the RV and they got out to us rather quickly. We didn't care as we had the RV and everything we needed in it. Full refrigerator, bathroom and comfy couches. And most important we had air conditioning.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Sep 16
@moffittjc We've had three blowouts on this bus - two on the same trip. Luckily they were all outside tyres.
2 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
7 Sep 16
That was very nice of you to do that even though you were in such pain. What a nice guy. I am sure he appreciated it.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Sep 16
I felt bad for him, not because he couldn't change the tire due to his choice of clothing, but that he got his flat tire because he went out of his way to pick me up. Had he not come to get me, he probably wouldn't have gotten a flat tire (he ran over some debris in the road that sliced the side of his tire).
3 people like this
@epiffanie (11327)
• Australia
10 Sep 16
That's a nice friendship you two share .. .. I hope your broken rib is healed now ..
.. I hope your broken rib is healed now ..2 people like this
@epiffanie (11327)
• Australia
12 Sep 16
@moffittjc friendship has to start somewhere 
2 people like this
@epiffanie (11327)
• Australia
16 Sep 16
@moffittjc oh okay! I think that's where many Aussies find friends.. at a local pub as they call it here ..
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Sep 16
He actually just started working at our company, so he's not even really a friend at this point. he's just a co-worker, but he's a really nice guy so we'll probably end up being friends!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Sep 16
Oh geez, I'm glad someone stopped to help you! I would be pissed if a pregnant woman was stuck on the side of the road trying to change a tire and nobody was stopping to help.
2 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
9 Sep 16
@jaboUK I was 8 months pregnant when I had a flat tire and I was on the middle of the George Washington Bridge between New York and New Jersey. I called for help as I had the service.
Did you know that the bridge was swaying back and forth. I was ready to have the baby then.
2 people like this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
9 Sep 16
@moffittjc I know you have to get the jack on the car just right. I would be afraid that I would put it in the wrong spot and jack a hole right through the car...lol.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Sep 16
If you can get the car jacked up, and the five lug nuts off the tire, then you've just accomplished three quarters of what it takes to change a tire!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Sep 16
@simone10 I think that's the hardest part of changing a tire--trying to find the place where the jack is supposed to go under the car! Why can't the manufacturers make it easy for us? lol
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
7 Sep 16
Jeff, you are a very special human! Not many of us would have endured the pain. I'm glad at least that your co-worker realized the good Samaritan you are. Prayers continue for your healing. And stop that laughing, you know it makes it worse
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Sep 16
I'm trying my hardest not to laugh! But I am a jolly, happy person by nature, so this is really proving difficult to do!
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
7 Sep 16
It has been many years since I changed one at all I can't recall. I started buying AAA+ road service some years ago for us and my daughter so I would just have to make a phone call.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Sep 16
If we weren't in such a hurry this morning, I would have called AAA. But sometimes they take forever to get to you if they are busy, and I didn't want to sit on the side of the road for an hour waiting, when it would only take me five minutes to change the tire myself!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Sep 16
@JamesHxstatic Too late! My kids already killed me by making me laugh this morning! The one instance when the advice "laughter is the best medicine" doesn't work!
3 people like this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
7 Sep 16
Too many times to count @moffitjc and I'm a girl. Most of the tire changes were for guys. Geez, seriously?
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Sep 16
@nanette64 I can change the oil, but I've never done a tune-up before! I've changed out headlights, gas tanks, carburetors and manifolds, but never did a tune-up! lol
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Sep 16
I guess you showed those boys a thing or two! They probably looked at you and said "She's a keeper!"
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
8 Sep 16
@moffittjc LOL; I can change the oil and do a tune-up too.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Sep 16
@Lucky15 Okay, then it's our dirty little secret just between us!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Sep 16
Thanks! But don't tell anyone I am a kind-hearted gentleman! I want to keep that a secret! haha
2 people like this
@Lucky15 (37391)
• Philippines
8 Sep 16
@moffittjc hahaha.
*whispers, yes...will surely keep it* ;))
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
7 Sep 16
that was good of you...but you should not tak risks
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Sep 16
Life would be very boring if we did not take risks!
2 people like this
@ValueAdder (409)
• Philippines
7 Sep 16
I admire you for volunteering to be of help to a friend who is well-dressed for something important. Moreover, you have the heart to really be of help to your friend even if you have some pain in your ribs. It is what impressed me. Anyhow, the two of you had a good laugh together even when you were dirty changing the tires. I had the experience of helping someone change tires but not me alone while he's watching. We are together doing it.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Sep 16
He kept offering to help, but I wouldn't let him. I didn't want him to get dirty in his nice business suit!
2 people like this
