Jump start

What happens to the karma balance on a day like today. Spare the air day. Free mass transit until 9 AM. Too bad I did not hear about that until it was in the past.

As I was about to drive 8 miles to my office in the next town up highway 101, my neighbor indicated he needed a jump. His VW Passat was parked head in, in his garage. He has a steep driveway. I thought at first that we might push him out so my truck could be face to face with his car, on the level street, but no. He had just l o n g enough jumper cables; I put the truck as far as I could into his garage, at a perilous slant, and held it there while he performed the hook up between my battery and his.

I had fired up the 98 Ford Ranger and backed out as usual; that is quickly with no time to waste gas and smelly exhaust in front of my house. I do not let the truck 'warm up' before driving off. So on a slant and unable to turn off the engine, I needed to get the idle up before it stalled cause it was not warmed up. Kicked off my left strappy clog and moved my left toes into position across my right foot on the brake, in order to rev the engine and keep the idle going.

See my truck is a standard five speed, the break pedal is small, not double wide like on a automatic. Only one foot fits and there is no way to switch feet without letting it roll slightly. Not an option under the circumstances, and no the parking break will not hold the truck from rolling on an incline. I was real happy with myself at the time for having the coordination to make that genius move.

But, I was reminded later, not only had a I made a sinful solo commute on 'spare the air day', but I had enabled another slacker to do the same. Ha! Good Samaritan my eye! I was so proud of myself, so proud to be an American, so proud of the Discovery space shuttle's successful launch just moments before.

Modern life is confusing. Did we waste fuel and pollute the environment or make a giant leap for mankind and maybe do a good deed for the day. I would feel better about the karma balance if I could walk to work.