# 24

#24: Help a stranger with mechanical problems

My dad is pretty much the King of Tradies. I'm not. But I can do a basic oil change and am pretty convinving at poking around at some random bit under the bonnet and saying "nah, that's fine. Problem's gotta be somewhere else", in my best I-totally-know-what-I'm-talking-about voice. So I figured that since I was driving the entire way around a pretty damn big country, and seeing as its something I've never done, helping someone out with mechanical problems would get a guernsey on the List.

In an ideal world I would have crossed this one off by stopping for a couple of hot Swiss chicks stranded in the middle of the desert who would have repaid my mechanical aptitude with much love and affection, rather than two middle aged dudes in the middle of Coffs Harbour suburbia, but I guess you've gotta take what you can get. Anyways, one of these guys was standing next to their car literally scratching his head, so I figured this was my time to shine.

Turned out they had a flat tyre and no jack handle. Did I have one they could possibly borrow? Of course. Did they need anything else? An ingenius contraption made out of pipe cleaners and clothes hangers to hold up their busted muffler? A raw egg and some chewing gum to stop their critically damaged radiator from leaking out everywhere? No? You sure? Fine, whatever. It still counts.

The guys were pretty grateful, and that's fair enough - its not every day your guardian angel rocks up disguised as a van driving ginger hippie. But what got me thinking was this: I've seen lots of people stranded by the side of the road before, but I've never stopped. I always assume there's an RAC guy or a Tradie Dad already on their way, or someone who actually knows what they're doing will stop, or if I stop for them then I won't be able to rescue the two hot Swiss chicks who might be stranded just around the corner. But this time I did stop, and pretty much it was only because of the List.

So as an extension of that, could you say that the Van List is making a difference to the world? Making it a better place for all of us, individually and collectively? Bringing a little bit of light to those who need it most? Well yes, now that you mention it. You could say that.

You're welcome.