December 17, 2015

Thankful Thursday

I don't normally join in Thankful Thursday. Not because I don't have anything to be thankful for, but because there is so much to be thankful for. But today I am especially thankful for a Texas Highway Patrolman who stopped to help me.





A heavy, plastic tank I was carrying came loose in the back of the pickup and I happened to notice it floating up and down in preparation of being flung out of my pickup and into the windshield of the car behind me. (I googled to see if there is a better way to describe that, and found that there is an actual name for that! It's called the Bernoulli Principle. And now that you know that too, back to my story.) I changed lanes and exited before the tank launched itself into traffic, but then I couldn't lift the tank and couldn't loosen the ratchet straps that had been holding it in. I think the man from the tank company didn't tighten them enough, and he thought two straps criss-crossed over it would do. The patrolman replaced those two straps and then added the third around the tank and snugged it up to the cab of the pickup.

Soon after, it got dark and then I hit Dallas rush hour traffic and construction zones. I couldn't see the tank at all after it got dark, but could see about four inches of that last strap when I passed under a streetlight. By the time it was totally dark, there weren't any more street lights but I knew by then that the straps were holding and the tank wasn't going anywhere. So I am doubly appreciative.

Wretch that I am, I didn't look at his name tag or ask his name, but I'm going to see if I can find out tomorrow so I can send a proper thank you. Since it happened so far from home, cookies or anything like that is out. Maybe a gift certificate to a chain restaurant? Any ideas?



7 comments:

  1. Actually just taking the time and trouble to find out his name and thanking him will make his day. Our police officers are only getting negative feedback right now and this will mean a lot to him. Hope you can locate him.

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    1. I hope I can too. I called the office nearest the place it happened, so maybe they will call back.

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  2. Cops here can't take gratuities, so a gift certificate probably isn't appropriate. A letter of thanks is more than enough and it will end up in his personnel file. Those are good things. You need the date, the time of day, where you were or as close to identify his beat, and try to describe the officer as best you can. Trust me they will find out who that officer was.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

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    1. I'll ask if I find the right office. I've bought lunch for police officers before - by paying for theirs right before I walked out the door. lol

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    2. Yes, the lunch thing will work. I hadn't thought about that. You go girl. ☺

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  3. Finding his duty station is key. Normally, patrol work a large area and are usually stationed out of a highway department building in the county they are patrolling. I hope you find him.

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  4. Glad you found someone who could help. In addition to the thank you to the patrol man, a note to the company that loaded the tank might be a good idea too. They obviously need to train their workers better.

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