Big John Lipscomb

I have had more than my share of roadside breakdowns because I have always driven older cars and trucks. Yesterday, I had my race car hooked up on my trailer and was heading down to a race track in Missouri, I decided to drive my old but trustworthy ’84 Ford step side truck. It leaks a little oil but that keeps me from having to change oil, as I just toss in a fresh quart every month.

It was over a two hour drive and a little nerve racking with the wind, causing my hobby to swing back and forth as I plowed forward. I had just passed a sign informing me that I was about thirty minutes from my destination where I could vent all my frustration on asphalt one quarter of a mile long. I had just finished the thought that I was going to make it after all, that’s just when the truck quit.

Now this has happened so many times and rather than get angry I just grinned and said out loud- “Okay, I get it.” acknowledging my infringing upon the perfect order of living a spontaneous life. I coasted about a mile before pulling over. I guess that’s the physics of it. Going 70 MPH with 10,000 pounds on a flat road and shut it off, you’ll coast about a mile.

Anyway, I had just popped the hood and checked spark and fuel and saw that my fuel pump had gone out, when an unassuming man pulled up and asked if I needed help. I said, “Sure, I need a Monday rather than a Sunday, and I needed a NAPA Auto Parts store within walking distance.” Anyway, the guy was very pleasant and told me he’d give them a call, which he did and confirmed that they had my pump in stock. He then proceeded to offer to go get it. How far was this? 22 miles back from where I was.

Now I know you are thinking, gee whiz, you are one lucky guy, but at the end of this story, I’ll share the truth of it to you. By the time I had removed the power steering and the fuel pump, he arrived back with the part I needed and 6’ of fuel line and hose clamps which I had neglected to ask for. He then handed me the receipt and said, just mail me a check! I smiled and said, paying was not a problem and handed him the cost plus $40. He smiled and gave me back the extra money and said with full understanding, “What, you don’t want me to get any good karma?” We both grinned and he drove off.

Folks, I know that only the few of you that live the spontaneous life will believe me when I say, this has happened many, many times to me. Out of nowhere, a person will walk up and hand me the most incredible solution to my immediate problem.

A year ago, I was standing in front of a beautiful leather jacket at Sheplar’s Western Wear that I wanted to buy for my wife, but could not because I was $300 shy, when a lady walked up, smiled and said, “I have this coupon that they mailed to me but I can’t find anything to buy, can you use it?” It was a 50% off anything in the store to our favorite customer coupon. Even, then, I was pleased but not surprised because like I said, it happens to me constantly. My wife looks great in that jacket and I think of the other lady every time she wears it.