There I was in a sequin santa hat, kidless, in our family burgundy vanagon, spreading hipster happiness as I drive through town on my way to pick up our donations from the Food 4 Tots drive at Stemma Brewery. I cleaned out the van in anticipation of some marketable photos for our social media and website to show how PNW Beer Moms are here to participate in making our community a caring place. I made sure to have some swag on and planned on taking pictures of hugs and hand shakes, but God had other plans. He had a lesson in humility at the ready.
I pulled up in front of Stemma, right in front of the big glass garage doors so I could easily load the donations. I turned off the engine and pulled out the key. I checked the address of the of food bank on Google and just as I was about to text my husband that the van "ran like a champ, didn't stall once" I heard a "click...click..click, click,click, cliiiiccckkk". The same warning I've heard right before the van stalls out when stopping. I instantly start to worry, checking that all the electronics are actually off and the keys are in my hands and so on. It made no sense that it could make a clicking sound with everything off! That's when I turned my head to see smoke starting to billow out of the engine. Like most VWs the engine is in the back where the trunk would be.
I jumped out and went to the back hatch, hoping I could open it and save the double trail jogging stroller sitting in the back, 5 inches above the engine. As soon as I put the key in to pop open the back, flame shot out from behind the license plate, right by the key hole. I jumped back, leaving the key in and thinking, "hell no, I'm not gonna die today! Let's not be stupid!"
I began to panic, feeling, useless. What do I do? Do I call my husband or call the fire department? I couldn't do both! I looked up to see the bar tender in the window and I screamed, "call the fire department!" At this point flames were spewing from the vents on the side of the van (and here I thought those vents were purely decorative!). With someone calling 911, I called my husband. With me freaking out, he asked if I could get to the fire extinguisher in the front of the van. So I got the extinguisher, had a few more moments of panic on how to break the tie and pull the pin, but before I knew it I was shooting flame retardant down the vents. The extinguisher ran out very quickly, although it still had liquid inside and I was wondering if I wasn't doing something right, when a nice young man from across the street ran over with another extinguisher and helped put out the rest of the fire! Thank you Jesus!
So there I was staring at a smoldering van, with a good citizen, and a crowd from the brewery (how is it that a good 20 people were there at 1:30!?), and the owners I was planning to meet up with, us all waiting for the fire department, feeling dumbfounded. I turned to them, still wearing my santa hat, and the van and parking lot covered in yellow foam behind me and said, "Well, I always like to make an entrance!"
The fire department arrived a few minutes later, but not before these pics of defeat where snapped.
I joked that if we moved the van at that moment, it would leave a yellow foam outline of 4 tires, just like a crime scene investigation. I also joked, "I guess it's time for that Subaru engine conversion!" (van life humor).
The fire department showed up and got into the engine, but not before carefully removing the stroller and various items from the back. Everything was fine! I was shocked. Even a PNW Beer Moms button keychain survived the flames! Now if that's not a product endorsement, what is!?They soaked the engine to put out the still smoking wires. My husband and toddler showed up and the nice police woman made sure to track her down a sticker. And then they left and everyone went back to their beers.
A few pity beers of our own later, my husband cleaned up the mess and I went home to cry. And yes, it's true, beer, in this case, My Daily Milk Stout, tastes even better after a traumatic experience.
A few hours later the van was towed home and parked in front, clean and looking fine, unless you took a closer look and saw the melted vent and smelled the melted wires.
But hey, who knows, we might fix it up again! But maybe not keep it. Afterall, what if the kids had been with me?! Which makes me very sad, because it was such a fun family van for outings and camping.
Two days later I returned to Stemma, unannounced, with no Santa hat, wearing no make up or beer mom swag, to pick up and deliver the donations. I couldnt help but wonder if all the fan fair and photo op planning went up in flames as God's way of giving me a lesson in humility. Afterall, I'm collecting items to help others and then turning it around as a marketing opportunity to say, "look at us! We did a good deed" when so much more needs to be done.
I still took some pictures so I could thank everyone for the donations and show that they went to the right place. I was super impressed with the Bellingham Food Banks program. They are the true heroes. And I am looking forward to getting some PNW Beer Moms and our kids together to volunteer there and am looking forward to an even bigger Food 4 Tots drive next year!
I pulled up in front of Stemma, right in front of the big glass garage doors so I could easily load the donations. I turned off the engine and pulled out the key. I checked the address of the of food bank on Google and just as I was about to text my husband that the van "ran like a champ, didn't stall once" I heard a "click...click..click, click,click, cliiiiccckkk". The same warning I've heard right before the van stalls out when stopping. I instantly start to worry, checking that all the electronics are actually off and the keys are in my hands and so on. It made no sense that it could make a clicking sound with everything off! That's when I turned my head to see smoke starting to billow out of the engine. Like most VWs the engine is in the back where the trunk would be.
I jumped out and went to the back hatch, hoping I could open it and save the double trail jogging stroller sitting in the back, 5 inches above the engine. As soon as I put the key in to pop open the back, flame shot out from behind the license plate, right by the key hole. I jumped back, leaving the key in and thinking, "hell no, I'm not gonna die today! Let's not be stupid!"
I began to panic, feeling, useless. What do I do? Do I call my husband or call the fire department? I couldn't do both! I looked up to see the bar tender in the window and I screamed, "call the fire department!" At this point flames were spewing from the vents on the side of the van (and here I thought those vents were purely decorative!). With someone calling 911, I called my husband. With me freaking out, he asked if I could get to the fire extinguisher in the front of the van. So I got the extinguisher, had a few more moments of panic on how to break the tie and pull the pin, but before I knew it I was shooting flame retardant down the vents. The extinguisher ran out very quickly, although it still had liquid inside and I was wondering if I wasn't doing something right, when a nice young man from across the street ran over with another extinguisher and helped put out the rest of the fire! Thank you Jesus!
So there I was staring at a smoldering van, with a good citizen, and a crowd from the brewery (how is it that a good 20 people were there at 1:30!?), and the owners I was planning to meet up with, us all waiting for the fire department, feeling dumbfounded. I turned to them, still wearing my santa hat, and the van and parking lot covered in yellow foam behind me and said, "Well, I always like to make an entrance!"
The fire department arrived a few minutes later, but not before these pics of defeat where snapped.
I joked that if we moved the van at that moment, it would leave a yellow foam outline of 4 tires, just like a crime scene investigation. I also joked, "I guess it's time for that Subaru engine conversion!" (van life humor).
The fire department showed up and got into the engine, but not before carefully removing the stroller and various items from the back. Everything was fine! I was shocked. Even a PNW Beer Moms button keychain survived the flames! Now if that's not a product endorsement, what is!?They soaked the engine to put out the still smoking wires. My husband and toddler showed up and the nice police woman made sure to track her down a sticker. And then they left and everyone went back to their beers.
A few pity beers of our own later, my husband cleaned up the mess and I went home to cry. And yes, it's true, beer, in this case, My Daily Milk Stout, tastes even better after a traumatic experience.
But hey, who knows, we might fix it up again! But maybe not keep it. Afterall, what if the kids had been with me?! Which makes me very sad, because it was such a fun family van for outings and camping.
Two days later I returned to Stemma, unannounced, with no Santa hat, wearing no make up or beer mom swag, to pick up and deliver the donations. I couldnt help but wonder if all the fan fair and photo op planning went up in flames as God's way of giving me a lesson in humility. Afterall, I'm collecting items to help others and then turning it around as a marketing opportunity to say, "look at us! We did a good deed" when so much more needs to be done.
I still took some pictures so I could thank everyone for the donations and show that they went to the right place. I was super impressed with the Bellingham Food Banks program. They are the true heroes. And I am looking forward to getting some PNW Beer Moms and our kids together to volunteer there and am looking forward to an even bigger Food 4 Tots drive next year!
So sorry about your van, very glad you and belongings were saved and proud of the donations our great group gathered. Onward to 2020!
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen!
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