I’ll never forget the day the cowboy leaned down to the window of my Korean sedan to kiss me goodbye after a wonderful weekend at the ranch, and caught a glimpse of my low-tire light, lit up on the dash.
“Need air?” he asked.
“Nah,” I said, doing my best to channel adorably disorganized Penny from The Big Bang Theory. “It always does that.”
The cowboy pushed his sunglasses lower on his nose, the better to give me the death stare. “Stop in town and fill that tire,” he directed, “and get a can of Fix-a-Flat before you head back to the city.”
I rolled my eyes. His death stare grew more intense.
“Don’t worry,” I said.
But the cowboy, it turns out, isn’t a worrier. Rather, he is prepared, because that’s how cowboys and boy scouts are. I soon realized the wisdom in his approach. I got the Fix-a-Flat, and also decided to go all out and stock my car with everything a girl might need for the apocalypse, and, barring that, car trouble. Because I’m so nice, I’m going to share the list with alls y’all.
1. Jumper Cables.
2. Bottled water, and nonperishable food.
3. Fix-a-Flat and a working knowledge of how to change a flat tire.
4. A flashlight.
5. A fire extinguisher.
6. Tire guage.
7. Oil and funnel.
8. Cell phone charger.
9. GPS and a map.
10. First-aid kit.
I’ve also got toilet paper, a sleeping bag and mascara, just because you never know.
You’re welcome.
I would add a change of clothes. Preferably yoga pants. No lady wants to change a tire in her work clothes. I almost had to do this!
Great idea! Just one question: Where do you change? In the car? Eek!
My Daddy had my truck stocked with all of that from the day I got my license. I would add a knife… just because that’s a good thing to have. My dad is so sweet though, he wrote out instructions on index cards on everything from how to check each of the fluids, to how to get the spare tire down and change it, and stored em in my glove box. It’s good to be prepared!!
Jessi, the more I learn about your father, the more I like him. He sounds like a great dad!
I would add matches and candles to that list.
Great idea. Thank you!
ha. I feel like your Canadian counter-part. Last fall the cowboy I’m dating started asking about what I had in my car. And then gave me a stern “we’re getting you this, this, this etc etc. if you’re going to be driving out here”. It is a 3 hr drive from my city to the ranch and not a lot on the way.
So don’t forget if you’re in colder weather to have extra warm clothes. Heaters work great if the car is running, but break down or hit a deer and you’ll be mighty glad you have a warm hat, gloves and pants. Especially if you’re walking for help. Oh ya, and lip chap. I’m always looking for that!
I feel you, too, sister! It is really great to know someone else is going through the same kind of “baptism” in cowboy-world that I’m undertaking, and amazing how similar our stories are. Cut from the same cloth, you and I, and our two cowboys are cut from the same leather.
I love this list! I commute an hour to school one way and I don’t have much of these things. Thanks for the reminder! I can change a tire though… My single Mama won’t let me go get my drivers license til I learned how to change a tire and check the oil, brake fluid and radiator. I love that woman.
Wow, Beth! Your mom was on top of things! I love her, too, now.