Curb Schmurb

This is one of my favorite rental car stories...mostly because it's about Rita and not me =)

A couple of weeks ago we were in Albuquerque for the sad occasion of a memorial service. Even though we were only there for about five hours, we managed to thoroughly endear ourselves to Thrifty Car Rental.
It turned out to be a good thing we were 20 minutes early for the service, because on the turn into the church, Rita ummmm....missed?....the parking lot entry. But you know Rita, she is not one to let obstacles get in her way...even when made of concrete and painted yellow. So up and over (or through?) that pesky curb we went! While the ensuing impact knocked my Diet Coke flying, I counted myself lucky the airbag wasn't working that day.

Once the car finished its shudder and came to rest...I could tell we were in trouble. Mostly because my side of the car was sinking to the sound of "psssssssssssssst" emanating from the front, passenger-side tire. As I sat there, suddenly looking up at Rita, I KNEW it was not the appropriate time to start laughing. But when she asked me if I thought it was flat, I could only reply..."the tire or the axle??". tee hee?

The highlight of the event, however, was during the car return. I don't know how someone can hide one of those donut-looking spare tires - but Rita did it. Rita P. matched Juanita, our Thrifty Car Rental checkout girl, Move. For. Move. around that vehicle. Honestly...Rita somehow managed to keep herself between Juanita and the car at all times. It was a dance of deception, but a dance of beauty, nonetheless. And when Juanita finally opened the trunk (containing the flat tire/bent rim combo), Rita exclaimed "look at that big plane!" and slammed the lid as Juanita looked skyward. It was straight outta Monty Python, but it worked.
We only went 18 miles the entire trip in Albuquerque, but we needed 5 tires to do it. And SOMEONE lost their Platinum status at Thrifty Car Rental.
=) =) =)