Funny Story

I experienced one of my funniest stories ever today. I could bore you with the entire long story, but for once I'm going to tell the short version.

I'm driving my truck back from Fort Lauderdale with Eric Geiger (Executive Pastor @ Christ Fellowship), Debbie Sutton (Business Administrator @ Christ Fellowship) and my mother. I'm in the left lane of 836, a four lane highway (up by Miami International Airport). It is pouring rain. I played chauffer today, driving them around. And the exact moment they tell me "thank you" for driving them around, I run out of gas.

Not like gas warning run out. More like power steering fails, gas pedal stops, and I'm coasting.

I've got no shoulder to go left. I've got to cross four lanes to my right to get on the exit ramp. In rainy weather. In heavy traffic. In Miami (the rudest city to drive in for the second year in a row). On one of the worst strips of roads in Miami (I hate 836 by the airport).

I nearly bump into a guy that refuses to move (even though my hazards are on). I coast into the off-ramp going about 5 miles an hour. I coast downhill, excited that we may actually make it. I don't even make it off the ramp before the coasting stopped. And dead ahead, 100 yards away, is a BP Gas Station. WOOHOO!

I gotta give credit to Eric. He wanted to push my truck across the road to the gas station. Instead, I opted to run it.

Not at all embarassed, I run in the rain to the gas station. Buy 2 1-gallon gas tanks for like $10 a piece. Buy overpriced gas. Almost get run over four times crossing the road (oh, the chicken said to say "Hi"). And then I almost get clipped by an eighteen wheeler while I pour gas into my truck because the eighteen wheeler is too impatient wait for me to finish.

The great thing is, everybody in the car was upbeat and laughing. I got back in the car, soaked, started the car again, and drove on. The whole thing took less than 10 minutes.

Now honestly I could beat myself up because I let that happen. Or I can laugh hysterically because only Jeff could allow that to happen, and still come out smelling clean.

Moral of the story? I'll let you comment it. Send them my way.

Comments

[Maddy]

Hi Jeff!

I ran across your blog in a crazy way and I think I have all of the pieces put together. I just read about 100 mile challenge and I think that's great.

Miami is awful to drive in. Keep running and stay strong.

-Maddy

[Oscar Roque]

Take a number! There is nothing like running out of gas in a marked police van on NW 27 ave and 836. Talk about rude. I felt like frogger. Those of the "memories" that we will cherish as we sit back and reflect on our life and short time on this blue marble.
Take car buddy!