All we were trying to do yesterday morning was to get to our appointment at the therapy session that would be the start of our day which would sort of end by going to the Big Apple Deli for our Thursday vegetable-beef soup and a Reuben wrap. But as is the way of such things our plan did not get much further than the junction of Ives Dairy Road where it becomes the flyover at West Dixie Highway.
As we were making our turn, when the traffic and the light permitted, our car lost its electricity and stopped just a bit into the intersection of Ives Dairy and NE 26th Ave. Our 2006 Hybrid Lexus which had been back to the shop a couple of weeks before for a recall just refused to work. We lost our electricity and I was pretty sure I couldn't move the car with no power. (I was later informed that in neutral the car could be pushed). So, because we blocked the intersection for cars wanting to make a left turn, I waved those behind us to go around. Carol called our emergency service and we were told that Lexus would send someone and we could expect rescue soon. Soon became longer. Carol tried to get air and block the sun inside the car while I was outside.
Time did not produce a savior from Lexus but a nice lady from Fire-Rescue stopped her official vehicle and I assured her that I was O.K. I was only waving cars around us for they could make the left turn by going around us. Carol suggested I wave a white handkerchief so there I was using gestures and the handkerchief to show that those who chose the left hand lane could make the turn by going around us on the right. The traffic that wanted to make a left hand turn around us from the south could do so but it was a tight squeeze with traffic coming west from Ives Dairy while some were making their left turn to go south. It was a bit confusing but there was very little horn blowing and catcalls despite my athletic waving cars around me. That is where the "inner Traffic Policeman" came from. I was pretty easy to read with the way I waved my handkerchief and arms showing the path the left turners should take to get past us. I was quite proud of my skill.
Funny thing about the way people in very nice-looking and expensive cars hurried past in order not to have our bad luck wear off on them. However, they were balanced by the few offers of help by people in older cars and one fellow on a bicycle. We finally were helped by two officers (one was the fire rescue lady) and the man with a towing rig who was sent to try to get our electricity started but failed. He lifted us onto his truck and towed us to County Line Lexus.
In the end we were towed to Lexus who rented a "Loaner" for us from Enterprise Rentals. We learned, later in the day, that it would take about five days to fix the problem. "Traffic Policemen" do interesting work and get lots of exercise.