Labor Day – Service & Gratitude

“Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” One of my favorite quotes from Teddy Roosevelt. How often do we reflect on how others providing excellent service positively impacts our lives? How important also that they follow the maxim I first heard from Grandma Dierker – “If you don’t have time to do it right when will you have time to do it over?” I had two such opportunities to reflect based on events that happened within 24 hours.

We left for the hospital as soon as my daughter was admitted expecting our now first grandchild – Woo Hoo! A healthy baby girl born July 8, 2022. It was supposed to be an uneventful 11 hour drive to North Carolina. That was before a right rear tire puncture on I-75 just north of Williamsburg, KY. AAA said it would be 90 minutes before help would arrive – did I mention it was pouring rain. Less than 10 minutes later the driver from Bolton’s Towing & Repair in Corbin, KY pulls up. An incredibly friendly gentleman, especially considering the weather, has the spare on and we’re driving again in less than 20 minutes. Sorry I didn’t get his name but that was incredible service when we needed it most.

We stayed overnight in Clinton, TN to be near the Walmart Auto Center when they opened the next morning. This one didn’t go our way – none of that tire in stock. After calling a number of shops I reach Jimmy of Matlock Tire Service & Auto Repair at their West Knoxville location. He assures me they have the tire in stock and he’ll keep a bay open and a tire technician at the ready so we can get on our way. We arrive a little more than 30 minutes later and I’m thinking – “oh sure they’ll have a bay ready!” I turn over the keys and settle into one of the nicest waiting areas (seriously well-appointed with free coffee, bottled water and a fast wi-fi connection) thinking this is going to be a while. I hadn’t finished my first coffee and my wife and younger daughter had only just returned from the coffee shop next door when I’m told the car is ready. What? They did exactly what they promised!

We arrived to meet our granddaughter on the day she was born and I have Bolton’s of Corbin and Matlock Tire of West Knoxville to thank for that. Their employees work hard at being their best every day and their service positively impacts people like our family every day. Remember to thank the person who helps you have a better day – even if it is “just their job.”