How many women does it take to change a tyre

Well that all depends on whether the tyre wants to be changed! 
Which leads me to a story about the changing of a tyre or three.
Its amazing how an event can lead you to understand and realise more about yourself, even if it is doing something like changing a tyre. In all my years of driving, I have managed to avoid ever having to change a tyre – and I’ve had a few flats.  Somehow there always seems to be a man turn up that is more than willing to flex his muscles and get his hands dirty.  I still believe and hold dear the idea that men and women are just different and that we possibly slip into gender roles innately and comfortably  

So two months ago I found myself with a flat tyre in a quiet city street.  I had never got the jack out of the wrapper let alone used it, and I found myself feeling overwhelmed and anxious while trying to nut out how to even use the jack and change the tyre, let alone drive the 100 kms to get to work on time.
Of course a lovely man came and helped me and I graciously accepted the gender role happening.  He was unfamiliar with the type of jack also and so we worked as a team, and I watched each and every move he made with interest and calm.

Not two weeks later I was driving out to a friends farm along a newly graded track leading to her home.  It was a long way from any man, muscle or roadside assistance, and so it should happen that I ran over a very sharp object puncturing a tyre and there before me became the opportunity to once and for all change a flat tyre completely on my own.  This time I met the opportunity with confidence and excitement at being given the chance so soon to learn and refine my skills.  My darling female friend was impressed beyond words, I was impressed beyond words – Things were changing.

Fast forward to a week ago and I was heading to the hospital to see my mum who had just undergone open-heart surgery.  I looked down at my car sitting in the same street in the same city with the same flat tyre that had stressed me just those few months ago.  And I knew I had grown, I knew delightfully and stoically how to deal with this little obstacle and in fact I found comfort in the knowledge of just how many miles I had traveled in such a short time.  The changing of this flat tyre was symbolic of what changes had occurred internally.  And for that I was grateful and proud.  

 

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