According to the numbers available for 2001, the Virginia State Police Motorist Assistance Program provided assistance to stranded or disabled motorists on 56,023 occasions. Whatever the numbers turn out to be for 2003, I will be counted among them.


This past Thursday, I was driving to Philadelphia when I hit an undetermined something known to us only as the "road hazard" which cause my brand new front passenger-side tire to become comprehensively, irrepairably, flat. I should mention here that it was pouring. The county officer who saw me pull over stopped, took one look at the tire and one look at wet, very pregnant me and told me to get back in the car and he'd send motorist assist. The fine gentlemen who came to my aid were good natured, quick and thorough. After putting on my doughnut spare, one of them escorted me to the nearest rental counter when I obtained the last available car and went on my way. Kudos and many thanks to the good folks at Motorist Assist. Not only did I make my appointments in Philly (3 hour closure on I-95 and harrassment courtesy of a truck driver not withstanding) but I was saved an incalculable amount of stress. Not the best beginning to a trip, but much better than it could have been, thanks to those kind men.


Once my business was through I spent some time visiting with my friend Anna who brought me the breast pump she borrowed and some of her canned goods to share by way of thanks. I have a pint of her dilly beans (which look spicier than mine), a half pint of eggplant relish and a quarter pint of her piccalilli. Clearly, I should lend stuff to Anna more often. I am really looking forward to the eggplant relish since, in my opinion, there is very little that's wrong with eggplant anything. I bet it would make an excellent pizza topping, in fact. If I hadn't planned spaghetti carbonara for dinner, I might be tempted to try it.