The Mom Mobile

   Our main mode of transportation is a little red mini van I have lovingly dubbed the Mom Mobile. It joined our family not long after Steven was born since we needed something that would fit all of us.
   It was somewhat old already when we got it, but is decidedly older by now. It has been faithful and problem free until recently when LV and I went on our weekly grocery run.
    We had loaded all our groceries in the back and were heading back to the interstate to head home. As we approached the on ramp our van died. There was no warning, no coughing, sputtering, or limping along, only the very abrupt silence of the engine shutting off.  We coasted to the side of the road and sat there helplessly as traffic kept whizzing past us. LV got out to see if there was an easy fix. There wasn't so it was finally time to make use of the Triple A service we had been paying for, for years already.
     A cheerful lady answered our call, but then promptly put us on hold and we sat there watching the minutes slip by. Finally LV tried starting the van again, and this time it started right up, with a break in the traffic we were on our way.
     We approached a red light, stopped, and the Mom Mobile decided it's tired and shut off again. There was no resurrecting it this time. LV got out to push it off the road, back into a parking lot. A good Samaritan pulled up next to us and seeing what was happening he hopped out to help LV push. I managed to steer it properly which was just a little difficult seeing that I had to keep my eyes on the mirror to see where I was going, when it seemed much easier to simply watch the guys laughing and talking right in front of me as they pushed us to safety.
      After thanking our helper he was on his way, and LV continued his call with Triple A. It took them ridiculously long to finally get us connected with a tow truck, and then we had to wait patiently for it to arrive.
       When the tow truck finally arrived it didn't take long to get the van loaded up and we got in to head home. The driver was an interesting character who viewed life with a glass half empty and rapidly draining perspective. He drove well below the speed limit the entire way home, but we finally made it. Happy and relieved to be back safely with our family.
      The next day LV diagnosed the problem to be the fuel pump. He replaced it and I'm once again enjoying a Mom Mobile that runs great.