“This Is Why I Love This Place”
Breaking Down
At The Side Of The Road
In Little Rock, Arkansas.
I’m continually asked how I like living in ‘the South’, how I like life in Little Rock.
This is why I love this place.
Driving home from a routine appointment at the doctors, at the UAMS Medical School hospital, our car just suddenly stopped, as we turned out of a main intersection – completely blocking a lane of traffic.
The car would not move.
IMMEDIATELY, two women came out of the side building beside the lane we were blocking to say “we work at UAMS, we’ve just moved into this building today, and we’re just about to pull out of these parking spots. If you can get your car in here, you’re welcome”. We explained the car simply wouldn’t move. “Well then”, they said “if you want to push it into this spot, that’s great. If you want to leave it here overnight, that’s great, but lock everything up.”
They came right back.
Told us “here’s the number for the UAMS police in case you need it.”
They turned around and came right back.
“Y’all need some water?”
And returned with a bottle of water for each of us.
They wished us luck, told us to be safe, and again stressed that we could call the UAMS police if we needed to.
As they were leaving, they pointed out the numbers on the building, so that we could give an accurate address when calling the Motor League.
A police car pulled up.
Oh no, trouble!!
Not trouble at all.
The sweet young Arkansas policeman wanted to know if we needed help.
When we said we had already called the Motor League, he asked: “When did y’all call?
I could get a tow truck here for you quicker!”
We realized that we wouldn’t have to put any money out upfront if we continued with the Motor League, which we explained to him. He thought for a minute and said:
“Well then, let me pull my police car in behind your car, with my lights flashing, to keep you protected.”
Love this place.
The tow truck driver pulled up, and said:
“Give me a minute I’ll have us all rolling out of here”
Leery about asking if we could get a lift with him, (we were marooned 4 miles from home if the car was pulled away), I didn’t say a word.
He looked at me, unrequested, and said:
“Are you all coming with the car?”
Trying to figure out where we could both sit, we opened the door and there was a back seat, a front bucket seat, and an ice cooler and air conditioning in his tow truck.
“Make yourself comfortable” he said, “let’s roll”.
The designated garage we were taking our car to was a 4-minute drive from home but a 25-minute walk in 90+ something degree weather.
I asked if he would mind, or if it were possible, or if he had the time, to drive us home.
He smiled, said “Certainly!”,
and four minutes later we were standing in front of our home.
•The helpers from the medical center,
•the bottle of water,
•the policeman who was TRULY there to help rather than patrol us, parking in his own car to help protect us
•this sweet helpful tow truck driver who OFFERED that we come along for a ride, and then took us the extra little piece home – all the while INSISTING that he would not leave us at the corner, as we had asked, but would take us right to our front door.
Love this place.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Mark Biller
Rabbi Mark Biller