"Can You Show Me"...

I got my first car during college. I bought it with cash I had earned and saved. An almost 15 year old Plymouth Valiant with the "straight six" engine and 3 speed manual transmission. Very white with a very red vinyl interior. It had no carpeting and a one speaker, AM only radio. Very boring and very reliable, but affordable... A short while later I fixed that problem. I found a newer convertible muscle car with a big V8 that was barely running. Without selling the Valiant I bought the convertible as a project car. It barely made it home.

I never took auto shop in school, but by the time I was done I could service and rebuild any part of that car. With the help of friends and by tackling the job I became a competent motorhead.

One summer, one of my younger sisters asked "can you help me with my car?". It needed an oil change and "can you show me how to do it?". By then I was used to turning down friends and acquaintances who would offer me a 6-pack of beer or some nominal fee if I'd do a tune-up (or more) for them. But this was different. She wanted to learn. Or so it seemed. I went with her to get the replacement oil and filter. I explained as I went through the steps for changing the oil. She was happy and I felt good from having done good.

About six months later that same sister asked "can you help me with my car?". Once again it needed an oil change. "But I showed you how to do it last time" was my response. "That was a long time ago and I forgot" was hers. "Can you show me again?". So this time I said I would talk her through doing it. She tried to coax me and persuade me to show her again. When that didn't work she went off to try to get a boyfriend to do it. I was left chuckling about it.

That sister now has a Bachelors degree in Business, an MBA and her CPA. She is no dummy. I still think back on her ruse and the value of playing the "can you help me" card, when it is needed. I still chuckle about it.

Did I ever help her with her car again? Let's just say that later on she figured out my weakness for a good fresh strawberry pie ...but that's another story...