Day 7: Tow Trucks (30 Day Car Living Challenge)

Following the end of Day 6, the ventilation test works successfully and moves a ‘colder’ breeze into the car while I sleep. However, my long streak of peaceful nights would finally come to an end.

9/14/2018: Day 7: My first night confrontation

It is 2:43 AM, I wake up, I hear the roaring of a huge truck behind me. A bright, concentrated light shines through my opaque curtains. As the light moves around each side of my car, I then hear a woman say, “I think someone’s living in that car!” Getting goose bumps all the way up my spine, I briefly open my back curtain and see a massive tow truck right behind me! Throwing on all my clothes as quick as possible, I opened up my right side door without wearing any shoes, and I yelled “don’t worry this is my car!”

There were two people, an old lady scanning parking decals in the vicinity and an old man who towed the cars himself. I go and ask the man some questions (probably one of too many!), “Hello sir, do you have any issues with me being here? Do I need to move my car? Is sleeping in my car considered loitering or something?” After his eyes widened and took a couple of moments to register what in the world I just said. A couple of exchanges and a bit of confusion, the tow truck man eventually said, “as long as you have an orange decal and you are a KSU resident, you are allowed to sleep in your car.”  

Out of relief, my orange pass was on my window and I was in fact a resident. Who would of knew?! (I may sound sarcastic but in the heat of the moment I forgotten that I had the correct pass since. I recently switched it out and it slipped my mind.) Who was this old man and woman actually towing? Apparently it was the car right beside me! Sorry for whoever that happened to. However, I am so glad to not wake up and be a passenger in my own towed car! 

The adrenaline from my first confrontation kept me up long enough to find that 20 minutes later the truck returned to tow another car nearby. One of the residents came to the rescue and tried to save his visiting friends’ car. I hear mumbling and yelling, and unfortunately, the trucker defeated the hero and left with the car. The truck driving away, people in the vicinity start booing or criticizing the tower.

The hero that nobody wants but that everyone needs:

When you really think of it, the tow trucks are also heroes. They do the dirty work that no one wants to do to keep people from parking where they shouldn’t. Although it is against my agenda for car living, it is a necessary aspect of life for keeping the streets in order.

This image is a modification of the original: image courtesy of pxhere

On the other hand, every towed person’s car is a car desperately looking for a place to park.  I am sure spaces are especially scarce if you want to visit in one of the most concentrated fraternity and sorority apartment complexes in the city. (No I’ve never attended a party, I know what your thinking!) If all of the guest spots are filled up and you are here to see your friend, where can you possibly park? You would have to walk a mile or longer if you couldn’t park at my residential complex. 

This goes back to the tow-truck men and women out there. Although we may not always like them, they are doing a big service for the residents. Imagine if you were a resident that could not park in their own lot because you have hundreds of guests taking up the lots? That also makes sense. 

With the scarcity of parking spots, who gets towed, whether it’s fair or not is certainly not a black and white matter. It is rather a beautiful shade of grey, every action has its own consequences and purpose. It appears to serve one and harm another. Whereas in the big picture, it serves a greater function. Towing is a lubrication that keeps the grand system of society functioning smoothly. 

It makes one think, what makes someone an enemy? Is it because they go against our agenda? Does this enemy serve something greater on a grand scale? This could be an insight to further investigate down the road. 

In the morning:

Today is UNBELIEVABLY HOT, in the 90 degrees and up. The sun beams down with no shade in sight, today is not the day to chill in the car. I planned on cooking breakfast out of my car this morning, but I had an issue with my stove. For some reason it wasn’t lighting the propane. (It was either that or it was so bright outside that the flame was not visible.) 

Maybe I need to give it a second to release a bit of gas before the spark would catch flame. I brought it back to my dorm where it was dark to test it again. The spark did work, but I didn’t have the propane with me. The overall process is frustrating. The stove hasn’t worked out as expected, and hopefully I can figure it all in good time. Unfortunately, I cannot cook oatmeal out of my car today, so I will have to reserve to fruit and other dry foods. 

Click here to continue to Day 8.

Join the discussion:

  • Is there a “tow truck,” an enemy in your life that you hated?
  • Do you still hate them or have you changed your mind?
  • Do they serve for something greater than your own agenda?

Share you insights with us! – Justin

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