Solemn agreement

            I get to the dealer before 9a.m. to sadly replace my lower two panels of my back roll up door – panels that have 20 years of messages painted and repainted on! But I need them replaced as first of all, there are holes and leaks, and secondly I don’t want to be on the road when I risk the door breaking totally and not being able to open or, heavan forbid, close it!

            When I speak to the service guy, I’m told that they’re too busy to work on my truck today. Fortunately I had already emailed and talked with a manager over the phone – although it was a couple weeks ago – but he told me to bring in whenever I want to and they’ll take care of me.

            A white guy comes out, clip board in hand, and takes a slow tour around my truck. He seems genuinely sorry and explains how normally there wouldn’t be a problem but they’re short-handed today. I let the devastation show on my face, although I could rearrange my veggie oil pick-up for today and come back tomorrow or Thursday. I tell him I need it done by Thursday as I’m leafin the state and enquire when is the soonest he can arrange for it to be done – like in the afternoon or the next day or two.

            When he asks me if I mind if he takes of picture of my anti-monsanto mural and send to his wife who also hates Monsanto, I’m assured he will try his best to replace those panels sooner than later.

            And he does! He brings out several workers who all walk seriously around the truck until one work agrees he can do it if he postpones another job! This man tells me he is an immigrant himself as he nods solemnly in agreement with the message on the back of the truck.

            So now  I’ve new panels that blare white and empty – so I’ve a new space for a new message, even tho I LOVE the ‘grab your privilege like a bat & swing it at racism, misogyny, injustice. Maybe I can make that into a bumper sticker and find a place for it somewhere on my truck.