I played my card...

Every now and then, like every woman, I've played that helpless female card to elicit some man's sympathy and get help. It works really well getting your bag into an overhead bin on an airplane. But, most of the time, I keep that card put away and shoulder my own burdens. I put on that "I am woman, hear me roar" attitude.

Today I found out that I have another trump card. It's the "Air Force wife whose husband is deployed" card. I unintentionally used it today and discovered its power. I certainly don't plan to use it often, but it sure is nice to have it in my hand when I really need it.

Here's today's tale...

Back on November 14, Jacob rear-ended someone in his car in Montgomery, Alabama, where he goes to college. He called USAA and his car was towed to a collision center there. It had some body work and mechanical work, suspension and wheel on the front right. We paid the $500 deductible and Jacob got the car back just in time to drive it home for Thanksgiving.

While he was home, I sent him to Pensacola Honda with his car for regular maintenance. At 90K miles, it needed several things done, another $500. In addition to that, Honda discovered that the car had a leak at a fitting on the back of the radiator, not something fixable, so the whole radiator would have to be replaced. The leak was probably a result of the accident, but hard to prove. Estimated cost: $708.

At Jacob's suggestion, Wil called USAA anyway. They sent another adjuster out to look at the car at Honda. But before USAA could inspect the car again, Wil deployed. Jacob had to go back to school without his car, so Steve drove him. The car was left at Pensacola Honda and I had to take responsibility.

I didn't hear from USAA, but I got a phone message for Wil from the collision center in Montgomery and a phone call from Honda wanting to know whether to fix the car or not. By the time I got home yesterday, it was too late to call anyone, so I went online to see if there was any information in our account on USAA's website. It looked as if USAA was turning it back over to the collision center in Montgomery. I groaned, thinking that somehow we'd have to get the car back to Montgomery to have it repaired.

Promptly at 8:00 am today, I got someone to cover my class so that I could start making calls. I decided to start with the collision center in Montgomery, because USAA's report said to contact them for details. The phone message had been from a guy named Larry. I swear his voice sounded just like Larry the Cable Guy.

I introduced myself to him on the phone and explained that he couldn't talk to Wil, because he was deployed. I had no intention of eliciting sympathy. I just wanted to explain why I called instead of Wil. However, Larry immediately told me not to worry about anything, that he would take care of everything for me. He came across as sympathetic, helpful, and even a bit protective. I was a little taken aback, but, oh well, I just went along with it!

He got the name and number of my service advisor, Bob, at Pensacola Honda, promised to take care of it for me and call me back with the details. As soon as I hung up, I called Bob to give him a heads up. Within minutes, Larry called back. He said he'd told Pensacola Honda to order me a new radiator. Then he said, "I told them to expedite it and get you back on the road as soon as possible. It should be ready by tomorrow afternoon."

He sounded as if he thought I was stranded without a car and needed him to take charge and rescue me. Of course, I have my own car and Jacob was already back at school, so they didn't really need to have the new radiator sent overnight, but I surely wasn't going to tell him that! If it made Larry feel good to be my rescuer, far be it from me to deny him that satisfaction!

I did double-check to make sure USAA was going to pay for the repair. He reassured me they would. Then he said, "Now, if you have any problems or you don't get your car back tomorrow, or Friday at the latest, you just call me back and I'll take care of it." Of course I thanked him profusely.

In hindsight, I may have gushed my thanks with a little extra southern accent. Though he didn't actually say it, I could almost hear him thinking, "Now, now, don't you worry your pretty little head about it, God bless you!" I could envision his chest puffed out ready to fight my car repair battles for me--poor little Air Force wife whose big strong husband is away fighting for truth, justice, and the American way.

So, I guess I played that card today and let Larry be my hero. No harm was done, the car will get repaired, and I don't have to pay $708. Of course, USAA had already decided to cover the repair cost, but it was really nice to let Larry handle the details.

I'm tucking my "poor little Air Force wife whose husband is deployed" card safely away, just in case I ever need it again.