Baby on board
Thursday April 09th 2009, 6:30 pm
Filed under: Friends

I was on the phone on hold. On holdonholdonholdonholdyourcallisnotreallyimportanttousorwewouldanswerit borrrrrrringgggggg…

I have got to come up with a way to hold a phone close enough to my ears so I can hear on it while being able to knit. I already always have it on speakerphone as I hold it up.  There’s got to be a way.

I glanced out my window; the young mom across the street was standing looking in the window of her new car. That was a bit odd.

And still was a few minutes later.  (Still on hold.)

And still was a few minutes later. (Still on hold.)

I hung up on the voicelessmail and went over there to see if I could help. I’d guessed right; her baby was locked in there. Her own car, you couldn’t do that, but this was a rental and you could.

She’d called the rental company.  They told her it would be at least an hour and were not the least bit moved by a crying small baby locked in a car.  Could a friend go and pick up a spare key from them? No.  She called a tow truck; he said he couldn’t get to her anytime soon either.  Bag that. She called 911, and the firemen and a firewoman were wonderful and came straightaway.  They had the equipment to hopefully unlock the door, but said they would break a window if need be. The mom said fine. They agreed with her that her baby was all that mattered; he was pretty distraught in there.

I was impressed at how gentle they were with the mom.  The older of the men told her he’d done that too once back in the day with his own baby.  The firewoman smiled at the baby and told the mom how cute he was.  They not only helped her with her car, they helped her feel supported in a situation that was very hard on her.

Good folks.  I was impressed.

And the knitter in me is wondering what to make her small son to help her feel better…


19 Comments so far
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There is a new book out having to do with “on hold” the title of which I don’t exactly remember, but it was something like “Your call is not important to us”.

I’m not impressed with the car rental company, but the fire department is the way to go. Every time I fall down, I call them, and they are as you described; prompt, kind,friendly and efficient. (Honest, I do my best to not fall, but there are times…)

Humor time –
The Picnic
A Jewish Rabbi and a Catholic Priest met at the town’s annual 4th of July picnic.  Old friends, they began their usual banter. ‘This baked ham is really delicious,’ the priest teased the rabbi. ‘You really ought to try it. I know it’s against your religion, but I can’t understand why such a wonderful food should be forbidden! You don’t know what you’re missing. You just haven’t lived until you’ve tried Mrs. Hall’s prized Virginia Baked Ham. Tell me, Rabbi, when are you going to break down and try it?’
The rabbi looked at the priest with a big grin, and said, ‘At your wedding..’

 
The Usher
An elderly woman walked into the local country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps,  ‘Where would you like to sit?’ he asked politely. ‘The front row please,’ she answered.
’You really don’t want to do that,’ the usher said ‘The pastor is really boring. ”Do you happen to know who I am?’ the woman inquired. ‘No.’ he said. ‘I’m the pastor’s mother,’ she replied indignantly.’ Do you know who I am?’ he asked. ‘No.’ she said. ‘Good,’ he answered.

Comment by Don Meyer 04.09.09 @ 6:54 pm

Glad to hear it ended well. It’s tough being a parent!

Comment by Allison 04.09.09 @ 8:18 pm

Alison: Wow, what a rental company. Idiots. I know you won’t mention the company name but I sure would love to know what to avoid….

Anyhow, baby needs a very snuggly toy, don’t you think? Shall I send one out? I have one in my stash just for babies that need them. How old is the cutie?

Mom needs, I think, a washcloth and nice soap, perhaps? She needs something for herself, certainly. Is she feeling better now?

Did you ever get through the hold on and we’ll be right with you messages?

Comment by sjanova 04.09.09 @ 8:35 pm

So why does the fire dept think a baby locked in a car is an emergency, but the rental company doesn’t? What would constitute an emergency to them? Glad to know that everything ended well and I second the vote for a toy to hug!

Comment by Kathy in San Jose 04.09.09 @ 11:13 pm

I love mittens on a string but your climate is too mild. How about a Fireman’s Hat? There’s one on ravelry.

Comment by LynnM 04.09.09 @ 11:42 pm

Wait, I’ve got it–A Superhero’s cape! Emily had a cape with her Snow White Dress when she was about 2 and a half and got a lot of use from it playing dress up.

Comment by LynnM 04.10.09 @ 3:17 am

That is a very scary situation. The rental car place has no concern for their current or future customers. I hope she sends a letter to someone in charge.

Comment by Sonya 04.10.09 @ 4:42 am

I sure hope that your neighbor mom never uses that rental company again! And if I were her I would call the powers that be of the car rental company and give them a piece of my mind for not responding to an emergency. Glad it all turned out well.

Comment by Jody M 04.10.09 @ 6:17 am

I think most fire departments open – or try to open – cars in an emergency. What constitutes said emergency varies, but all consider a child inside an emergency!

Comment by Channon 04.10.09 @ 6:45 am

That was very kind of you to go over and be with her at such an emotional and difficult time. I’m sure she appreciated your just being there but, knitting something…priceless! And thank you for sharing the story…it’s so good to hear the good stories! This one should have made the news! (Except that young mother is probably very glad it didn’t. 🙂
Thank you for sharing…a heart warming story!
Abby

Comment by Abby 04.10.09 @ 7:54 am

Who are they kiddin’? If our calls were important we would not be on hold in the first place.
(Sorry to use your comment section for a soap box.)

Anyways, hope you get something figured out to help with the interminable put-on-hold problem. 🙂

Comment by Toni Smoky-Mountains 04.10.09 @ 8:10 am

Alison, you could knit that precious little one a teeny blankie (maybe 12×12″) — sew on some blanket binding around the edges and he will have something to comfort him in stressful times. And, as it’s small, it can stay in his carseat for when he’s there.
Hugs, Nancy

Comment by Nancy 04.10.09 @ 8:50 am

I have a huge horror of locking a kid in the car by accident. I can see how it would be easier to do by accident in a rental. I think if I ever have a rental and a baby at the same time I will simply not lock it, after reading this. I’m glad she had somebody to wait with her. Being the mom, you just can’t fall apart, and it’s nice when someone shows up that you can lean on a bit.

Comment by amy 04.10.09 @ 9:29 am

I saw that MochimochiLand had just released puppets and thought of you! (though they’re bigger than the little finger puppets you’ve found and given away in the past). http://mochimochiland.com/shop/

I’m not affiliated in any way, other than being tickled by the creativity and funny in these patterns. Perhaps a child-safe little toy as a snuggie?

Comment by Deb 04.10.09 @ 9:39 am

If rental companies cannot be concerned about emergency situations, how about having them pay for “On Star” or a similar service for helping out their customers? I might be motivated to rent a car with that if I was using a rental in a strange city and few choices for getting help.

Comment by Melanie Zahara 04.10.09 @ 1:11 pm

Glad to hear SOMEONE found it important. I vote on finger puppets or something snuggly.

Comment by Alicia 04.10.09 @ 1:44 pm

The rental company was clearly heartless, stupid and the employee was not qualified to do their freaking job. Would it have killed their bottom line to call a freakin gcab, give them the freakin gkey and tell the cab driver to drop it off at the mom’s feet and bill the freaking rental company?

Argh. This kind of thing pisses me off.

Did they have to break a window?

Comment by Carol 04.10.09 @ 2:54 pm

There are all kinds of little bitty blankets with an snuggly animal head (bear/rabbit/monkey) in one corner. . .that would be appreciated, I am sure. I made one that doesn’t have any stuffing, but the little monkey face is a pocket in the corner. . .where is my link?. . .oh! Here it is:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/PKJewelry/baby-blanket—sock-monkey-style

It’s just a basic washcloth pattern, made bigger, with a pocket and a crocheted edging. . .you can make it whatever size you like!

Comment by Pam 04.10.09 @ 2:57 pm

What a frightening experience for both mom and baby. Glad there were so many compassionate people who came to her aid.

Comment by Joansie 04.12.09 @ 6:07 pm



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