The Boy Scouts, Car Care, and Hurricanes

Written by Gary Boldizar, Service and Parts Director At Fiesta Ford

“Be Prepared… the meaning of the motto is that a Scout must prepare himself by previous thinking out and practicing how to act on any accident or emergency so that he is never taken by surprise.”

The first line of this article is diametrically opposed to the
quote directly above it: I waited until the last minute to write
this and I’m glad I did.

The last minute in this case happens to be Monday, August
21st, 2023, the day after Hurricane Hilary dropped 3.8” of
rain on Palm Desert. Despite having been, over the course
of my lifetime, a Boy Scout, an Eagle Scout, an ROTC Member,
a business owner, a homeowner, husband and father,
and currently the Service and Parts Director at a very large
car dealership, I was woefully unprepared for the 48-hour
event which I now call H.H.W. (Hurricane Hilary Weekend).
If my father was watching me from Heaven, he would have
been very disappointed late Saturday evening as I searched
my home, which was pitch black, for a simple flashlight. I do
not ever recall being in my home when there was no light at
all. No little orange light from a power strip, no VCR clock
blinking 12:00 at me over and over, and zero light coming
in from any window, regardless of direction. I stepped on
my poor Pomeranian twice while trying to find my torch, as
our English cousins would call it. The whole thing was still
on my mind the following day, so I decided to re-educate
myself on the origin of “pitch black.” My Webster’s New
World Dictionary, 1983 paperback edition, defines pitch
black as “very black” and pitch dark as “very dark”. I felt like
Winnie the Pooh and just said, “Oh bother…” Then I started
torturing myself all over again, wondering how is it I could
not find a flashlight when finding one was pretty important,
while the next day I knew exactly where my 40-year-old
paperback dictionary was. Moments like this, my mother
would have exclaimed “Oh my corn!”

So my deadline is approaching and the magazine is asking
if I am still submitting an article featuring the five favorite
summer recipes voted on by the employees of Fiesta Ford
and Fiesta KIA in the I10 Auto Mall. I replied the Hurricane
of 2023 inspired me to write about disaster preparedness,
particularly how it relates to automobiles, and received a
thumbs up for the idea. So with 4:59 p.m. looming, I’d better
write something useful.

What I want to say is that the absence of any serious earthquakes,
hurricanes, hail storms, or meteor showers gone
bad, had given me, Mr. Eagle Scout, a false sense of security
which resulted in frustration, embarrassment, and
hundreds in vet bills for Sammy on the horizon. He was
not injured, just mildly traumatized, and therapy sessions
are already scheduled with his therapist. I go through this
every time we move; if you’ve ever had a Pomeranian or
Chihuahua you know what I’m talking about.

Everything I’m going to list below you already know. I’m
the one who couldn’t find his flashlight, so I’m doing this
as much for myself as a public service. So here are, in no
particular order, Gary’s Top Ten Disaster Tips:

1. Keep a flashlight in every room close to the entrance.
2. Keep two flashlights in your car.
3. Once or twice a year, when you change the batteries in
   your smoke detectors, change all the batteries in all of
   your flashlights. Don’t be penny wise but dollar foolish.
4. Ideally, your flashlights should be the same size batteries.
5. Once a year, replace your wiper blades. It will not seem
   like a waste of money the first time you need them.
6. When getting the car serviced, if the battery tests weak,
   replace it. Or at least get a second opinion. I promise it will
   seem fine until it’s time to evacuate for Hurricane Michelle.
7. Get a bell for your dog’s collar. Consider getting one
   for yourself as well. Your dog will thank you for it. Make
   sure to put it where you can find it.
8. Keep your car’s fuel tank at or above half.
9. Keep a “Just in Case” overnight bag in your trunk with
   a change of clothes and toiletries. You don’t need to
   buy new. Last year’s fashions, the ones you’re about to
   donate to Angel View, will work just fine.
10. When you leave the house, always wear clean…
    Oh bother…
    
    For all your car needs and tune ups, visit our Quick Lane
    services on site at Fiesta Ford located on Varner Road
    between Jefferson and Washington, for appointments
    or inquires call us at 760-775-7777. Show the ad on the
    right for discounts on Oil Changes and more!
    Stay ready, and stay safe!