Cingular's Curbside Appeal Saves the Day

Learning to drive with my father included one and only one lesson in auto repair: pull over, pop the hood, turn on the emergency flashers, and wait for someone to come. Between the lines: don't touch.

I invoked that lesson yesterday when my car overheated. It was a beautiful day, perfect weather for some roadside lounging. Next, I did what I could not have done 24 years ago, when I was tooling around Danbury in my parents' big brown utility van and the only phone I had was screwed to the kitchen wall. I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and called Cingular's Roadside Assistance number. For $2.99 a month, these guys are at my service at times like these.

Some lovely woman helped me get a tow to a garage in Newtown. I mentioned I had to get home to my daughter, and she had me towed within 15 minutes. It was a quick roadside lounge moment, to be sure.

As we pulled into the garage, Roadside called back to make sure I was being helped and that I was safe.

Within the hour, I was home with my daughter to enjoy some beautiful sunshine before her soccer practice. We did the only sensible thing two people with a little free time can do on a sunny spring day: we took the guinea pigs out for a walk in her doll stroller. Passers-by wondered how we could have such furry little relatives but were too polite to ask. One big happy!