At 3 on Friday afternoon, I was getting on 95N from Allens Avenue when, all of a sudden, I heard a…read moreLOUD noise. Horrified, I watched my hubcap bounce up in front of my car - suddenly I felt everything leaning to the left. I was midway up the on-ramp already, so I knew I had no choice but to get on the highway. I managed to drive far enough into the breakdown lane to feel like I wasn't going to be hit by an angry driver. One hour, a long phone call to AAA, a million tears and a short visit from a (very comforting) State Trooper later, I was in a tow truck driven by the kindest tow driver I've ever met. My poor car rode on a flatbed behind us, looking so sad with its two flat tires.
We pulled up to the service station AAA recommended, only to be told that they were closing in an hour and would be closed the entire following week. Made sense, of course, as it was 4pm on the Friday before the 4th of July. I'd resigned myself to not having a car for the weekend, but for a solid week and a half? Eesh. Before I could start bawling again, though, my tow driver buddy Bill told me to hop back in the truck - he had an idea.
He pulled out his cellphone and dialed. Frank, he said, it's Bill. I've got a girl here, needs two tires, hit something on the highway. She's pretty rattled. Are you open now? Are you there next week? Can we come on over? With that we were on our way to Markos Auto Center.
By the time I climbed out of the tow truck's cab, Frank (Theofanis Markos, to be exact) was on the phone securing me two tires. He told me not to worry, that everything would work out, and sent me into his office to hang out with his funny, charismatic, sweet office manager, Robyn, and 4 dear old dogs.
In less than two hours, everything was finished. My car had two brand-new tires. The other two had been rotated. Robyn made me laugh 'til my sides hurt. I got to pet some dogs. And Frank bought me (and everyone) treats from the ice cream truck.
Oh, and prices were reasonable, too!
You guys, in those two hours Markos won me over for life. I can't imagine ever going anywhere else for auto repairs. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Frank and Robyn (and Bill from AAA).