no air, air

If you are a man reading this, thank you for all of those things you do for your wife, sister, girlfriend, daughter and girl friends that they don't want to do (and let's face it, can't really do well). If your a woman reading this, thank your respective man(s).

What's prompting this sudden display of gratitude for the (generally) hairier sex? Well, while my trip to Omaha this weekend was incredibly fun, stress-relieving and appreciated, it was also stricken with a temporary car crisis.

Before I left Lincoln on Saturday afternoon, I DID notice that the pressure in one of my tires was pretty low (shhh...don't tell my dad), but I figured I would probably be OK driving to Omaha, where I would find a place to fill it up with air. Meanwhile, Sunday morning both front tires were dangerously low and my friend Sara graciously offered to go with me to a gas station where we would try to figure out exactly HOW to put air in a tire.
Yeah, that didn't happen.

Two gas stations and two phone calls to each of our dads later, we were exhausted and had somehow managed to let air OUT of the tires...making them appear almost flat. Thankfully, when I called the friend I was supposed to pick up for shopping, she told me her husband would fill my tires with his personal air compressor. All we had to do was drive the five or so miles to her house, and somehow we got there without having to pull over on the interstate. He made it look so easy as he explained to me the nature of my tires and why I was lucky I got as far as I did with my carelessness while quickly and skillfully filling each tire. He reminded me of all of the great things my dad does for me, has done for me and probably will continue to do for me because he enjoys it.

I know that many women can and do manage their own vehicles, lawn mowing, branch cutting and bug killing very well. But I also know that men desire adventure and using their God-given strength and unique thought process, just like woman nurture and love with a fierce and fearless grace. Gender roles are OK, and I certainly learned that again this weekend.

So, thanks again dads, brothers and husbands of my good friends.
You guys rock.