The Dance of Spices: Classic Indian Cooking for Today's Home Kitchen by Laxmi Hiremath

I am doing a cooking demo with Sprouts Cooking Club, September 1, at Kaiser Permanante, Oakland

$29.95

Hardcover

I was helped, not once, but twice, during the same incident.

My son was excited he got a job at UCLA. He flew down to LA with copies of birth certificate and social security card along with other immediate requirements. The first day at work was orientation and completing the remainder of the paperwork with HR.

He sent me a text message stating that he needed originals of the birth certificate and social security card. I was at the production site that day, and did not have the time to search for the originals. I new the passport was more easily accessible. I rushed to the nearest FedEx location in Pleasanton, it was late in the evening and I made it just before the closing time. The parking lot was full, without even thinking I parked in the handicapped parking. Believe me, it was the very first time I ever parked in the handicapped lot, and probably is the last time. I heard a harsh ‘screech’ and then a ‘click’ sound underneath. Something did not seem right. I started my car and very slowly tried to roll in the reverse. The car did not move at all. I got out and looked underneath. I found the parking lot divider where the wheel stops had two iron rods popping so high up that they pierced the plastic covering at the bottom of the vehicle.

I had to get the package in time so I got that out of the way. I came back to the parking lot and got into the vehicle; I gave it another try in reverse and forward but was unsuccessful. I thought I should first ask for help before calling AAA. I approached a gentleman in the parking lot. He took one look and said, where is the jack. I had no idea where it is usually located. We found it in the trunk. He maneuvered the jack underneath the jack point and raised the jack. He made it look so easy, the car went up a few inches. He asked me to start and pull the car forward, but it did not do anything. He continued expanding the jack again. I tried starting the car yet again. Walla! The car rolled back smoothly!  Before I could even thank the gentleman, he was gone in a flash. I got home and made sure there was no leak beneath the car.

The next day my son was anxious and sent a text asking when the FedEx was arriving. I replied back that the package would arrive before 5 pm. After an hour or so he sent me another text message that read as, ‘the HR is giving me a headache, I need the passport ASAP please can u call FedEx’. I called the FedEx 800 number and talked with a young lady. She was very courteous and ready to lend a hand. “Oh,” she said, “this is a very important document, I will call the driver right away and make sure your son will receive the package before noon.” Within a couple hours my son sent me a text message responding, ‘Thank you, Mom! I am holding the passport in my hands. I love FedEx’.

I express my deepest thankfulness to both the good Samaritans, whose names I do not know, so willingly provided all the help. I will remember them and the incident, always.