Samedi
Good morning. While waiting for news of my car … I did another puzzle, they certainly can keep one entertained, and of course the results are bright and colourful. I noticed that the puzzles I seem to like doing are not only cheerful but reminiscent of another time. Time when life was slower. People more open to being neighbours, new discoveries were viewed with reserve but boy, a drive in an old vintage pickup was a treat… You would see old cars being repaired and lovingly restored. On Sundays, there was a sense of pride as you drove the car/truck out for a drive that saw you driving the dusty backroads, taking turns you knew would take you into cottage country.
You could sit along the side of the road, especially at little “pull off” parks… where you could let the dogs get some exercise, sit at a picnic table and dig into the sandwiches you had made that morning for the little excursion. The “out houses” were maintained by the local communities or county park workers. It was a different pace and a different “world”.
Now everything is fast, fast foods, paved roads that lead you quickly from one destination to another, a drive to the country, means a long trip, across the miles of city/sub-burbs and big shopping centres.
When my car died on me .. yes again… the dealer was not optimistic, this is late November here where I live, everyone is in a rush to get their winter tyers on their cars.. We have had no snow yet, but there have been signs it is on its way. When my car simply refused to open for me or start, I was told they couldn’t tow it out of the garage, until a way was found to get the car out of park mode.
The CAA driver (I had called for a tow truck after the dealer advised me that would be the only way to get the car to them.. and this would mean an emergency call, AND the first possible date they could give me to look at the car would be December 10.) Imagine my chagrin. But.. no choice .. so I booked for Dec. 10.. and knew I’d be without a car for weeks .IF the Tow truck driver could get it going or out of the garage.
Bless his heart, he wouldn’t give up, he got the manual out and began to leaf through the pages, it was a wonderful sound to hear the car’s engine come to life. … then crashed when he informed me that the car was not responding to the engine going, it wouldn’t read the key fob. The man kept at it.. and bingo, the car responded, he quickly got me to get in the car, and said he would follow me to the dealer. When I drove unto the car lot he honked, waved and kept going to his next call.
Of course the next bit was being told it didn’t look good, BUT the Service Advisor I deal with at Surgenor is Kevin Gammage ( I secretly dub him, Superman) took charge … sent me home by Uber… saying he would get back to me once they could look at the car… reminding me… it could be awhile. This I already knew since the gal in Service had already told me of their backlog and that my car would likely not be seen till December.
To my surprise Kevin called me late afternoon to tell me they had looked at the car, and he thought they saw the problem.. and there was a part for it in Montreal, he would let me know further news when he could. (It was the same issue as last May when critters chewed the wires to my car) The long and the short of it is… Surgenors had my car ready for me to pick up yesterday afternoon.
People ask me why I continue to go to my dealer with my car, (its a 2019) I don’t know about other dealers, this one is a cut above… I have over the years dealt with other places, this is not the first car I’ve owned. However, this is the first place in these modern times that I don’t feel like a number when I go in.. they recognize a loyal customer and they provide a service that is exceptional. I am not alone, when we go in for service, I hear the banter and the exchanges while I wait my turn, they are going to send a follow up (which now seems to be common practice everywhere) on how I enjoyed my experience… You all know what my reply will be… It was WONDERFUL.. in this impersonal day and age.. where people talk of service but don’t deliver.. Surgenor Ottawa, delivers!!
If you’re going to do it, do it joyfully
If you have to do something choose to do it with joy and enthusiasm. By doing so, you will experience a deeper sense of beauty. (PL2014.23)
I did not get the name of the tow truck driver, but I will be placing a call on Monday to CAA, (this is like AAA in USA)… people are quick to give a bad rap to these drivers.. Everyone I’ve encountered has always been so helpful, and this fellow was a gem, he wouldn’t give up, I am grateful for his “makoto” (sincerity)
Have a good day everyone, now thanks to Kevin and the team at Surgenor (he didn’t do it alone, I thank everyone who helped get me back on the road) I can deliver food donations to the foodbank out in Mountain today, do my drop offs at the pharmacy etc. etc. Life is Good!
Oyashikiri
CAA Canadian Automobile Association
Surgenor Ottawa 939 St.Laurent Blvd. Ottawa, On.K1K3B1
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