I am a decade-plus late writing this....
Some time in the early to mid 1990's - At Thanksgiving, I was driving from Logan to Salmon, in the first car I ever purchased. It was an ancient Nissan 200sx, which I paid around $1500 for. Sometime shortly after passing Idaho Falls, the Engine stuttered, then stalled. I pulled over, unsure what I should do. I tried unsuccessfully to get the car started again. Then I sat in my cold vehicle, watching other cars pass by, wondering if someone would notice my plight, and contact the police to assist me.
I sat for probably 20, 30 minutes. Feeling just a wee bit stressed out, when a passing pickup truck pulled to the side, then backed up to me. Out of the cabin climbed 3 young men - I would guess they were 14 to 16 years old. They were genuine country boys. They came over to my car asked me how I was doing, then set to work trying to solve my car problem. I learned they were from Mud lake Ultimately their efforts were unsuccessful, so one of them jumped into the back of the pickup to make room for me, and they drove me into Idaho Falls, to a shopping center, where I would at least have access to a phone and food.
Roughly ten years later, My brother and I were driving to Salmon with some friends over Christmas break, I don't recall now if it was in Mud lake, or Terreton, that my Brothers card sputtered to a stop. So here we were in the the dark, around 6 or 7 pm, trying to decide what to do. Once again, a pickup truck, with three teenage farm boys pulled to a stop, and went to work trying to solve our car trouble. Once again, they were unsuccessful, so they helped us get the car to a safe spot for the night, made a recommendation for a garage to take it to in the morning, and made sure we were safely on our way, all crammed tightly into my little car.
So ten years later, I wanted to say thanks to the people of Mud Lake and Terreton. Thank you for raising exceptional young men, who were willing to come to the aid of stranded drivers, and who went the extra mile to make sure we were safe, and that our basic needs were met.
I also once had the misfortune to break down in Mud Lake one weekend when my roommates and I were returning to school. We were treated in a like manner. The family who stopped were on their way home from church. They took us home with them and called someone to come look at my car. That man towed my car to his shop and worked on it for several hours to help us get back on the road. Years later I applied for a job in Terreton. I did not get the job, but I still think that it would be a nice place to live if people are so willing to go out of their way for a stranger.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing that, Christine! Of course now I am questioning the wisdom of posting a thank-you on the internet. I am having doubts anyone from Mud Lake or Terreton will actually see it. Apparently they are all out driving the roads of central Idaho, patrolling for stranded people. ;)
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