The other day, I took my big white truck to Jiffy Lube because my garage at home was cold and I didn’t want to do my own oil change on the truck. Y’all will remember that I’m a retired diesel truck mechanic (among other professions that I’ve retired from), so I surely could have changed that oil and filter in a nano-second … but it was really cold out so off I went to Jiffy Lube instead.
I cruised down the street (without the trailer of course) and then around this corner and then around the next corner in that big white truck (which has the biggest engine that RAM makes for this truck, by the way).
I took the turn into the driveway of the local Jiffy Lube establishment. No other vehicles were in line for service right then, cool!
I stopped the truck outside the building and waited for one of the guys to direct me into whichever service bay they wanted the truck to be in.
Very quickly, a guy wearing a baseball cap came out and waved me over to one particular service bay and then asked “what service would you like for your truck today?” That “guy wearing a baseball cap” wasn’t a guy, she was a woman. And it turned out she wasn’t the front office service writer, she was the team lead technician out in the shop.
Ok, yes, I know … a “technician” who works at Jiffy Lube (even the team lead) may not be a full-fledged mechanic, but she must have a lot of mechanical savvy to do that work and to oversee the other techs who work there. All of them must have some mechanical savvy, and the team lead must have even more.
When I realized she was a woman, I admit I beamed and said “whoa, a woman, cool!” And she beamed too with that recognition and approval and admiration from me. I told her I was a retired diesel truck mechanic and her eyes got big and she said “wow, cool!”
I jumped out of the truck, handed her the keys, and said, “just an oil and filter change please, maybe an air filter too if she needs it.” She said “yes ma’am!” and grinned from ear to ear.
From the waiting room, I watched her for a bit. She knew exactly what she was doing with my truck; she had no hesitation about anything and her actions were swift and precise. She was a natural. And that’s unusual … for women and for men … being a natural mechanic has nothing to do with gender.
When the work was done and the bill was paid, I went outside to get my truck. She said, “nice truck” and I said “thank you”. She handed me the keys and then we stood and chatted for a bit. I asked if she had ever considered going to school to become a mechanic. She said she had, but knew she’d have to give up her day job at Jiffy Lube to do that. I said, “Do that! Go! You’re a natural! The world needs you!” She said her Mom says the same thing (her mom, turns out, had been a welder and loved it, but her dad didn’t like it so her mom quit!). We then had a long talk about quitting and fear and dreams … she had already had those conversations with herself, but never with another woman who had been through all of that (all of it!) but who hadn’t quit (me). I told her how much I loved being a mechanic and why … her eyes sparkled with the same enthusiasm.
Short story is that I have this woman’s name and email address and I very much will help her if she decides to become a car/truck mechanic (I know several women who are professional mechanics) or an airplane mechanic (I know one woman who is one) or a city bus mechanic (I know a woman who is one) or an elevator mechanic (I know a woman who is one) or a whatever mechanic.
But … ok, back at Jiffy Lube … I eventually thanked her and jumped up into my truck and started the engine, but I looked back before driving away from Jiffy Lube. She was still standing there watching me, not too far away. Out my open truck window, I said “hey, you can be anything you want to be.” She said, sincerely, “thank you … I will.” We both waved and I went on my way.
Women can be anything … we ARE anything, and everything. Men can be too. Whatever each person loves. I just hope this society we live in today continues to increase support for options for women and for men, more and more … the freedom to learn and to be.
You can bet I’ll stop back by that Jiffy Lube location to see what she’s up to. Will helping her change the world? Maybe not … but maybe it will. If I can help her, then you can bet it helps all of us.
Turn your sound ON for the video below. You can enlarge the video by clicking on the little square box in the lower right hand corner inside the video … and then re-start the video by using your mouse cursor to move the red line back to the left … or just let it play. Turn your sound on first.
Ann your blog post tonite gave me chills – in a good way – how lucky that Jiffy Lube technician got to meet you. You most certainly inspired her, if not, perhaps changed her life. Wonderful.
The whole thing still amazes me. When I say things like “whoa, a woman, cool!” to a woman in a “non-traditional” job, about 1/2 of a second after that has fallen out of my mouth, I think to myself, “oh my word I hope I haven’t offended her or acted too stupid.” But every time I say something like that to someone like that, she/they always beam and are SO very appreciative. It feels really good to be noticed and appreciated and admired, especially by someone who understands your path. thanks Robin. 🙂
How powerful!
Thanks Kinny. It certainly was, for both of us it seems.
I believe things happen for a reason, and you may have been there at the right time in her life to facilitate a positive change. Well done!
I like that thought Virginia. Thank you for that perspective. I sure hope the best for her, no matter what it is. And if maybe I could be a little bit of a positive influence, that would be wonderful. We all need help along the path.
Back in the 1930’s my uncle wanted to become a nurse but everyone made such fun of him and belittled him that he quit. Really appreciate that you included both women AND men in the quest for approval, Ann. More women are discriminated against than men that’s for sure, but sometimes men are too. Sure hope that woman at Jiffy Lube becomes a mechanic, that would be so cool.
Yes Nevada, you are so right. I’ve known two men who are extraordinary seam”stresses” (seam”sters”?). One is gay and no one thinks anything about him being so good at that. The other is a straight guy with a wife. He loves to sew and he’s VERY good at it, and he talks with me about people making fun of him … why? Why do we do that? I just shake my head and wonder.
Right on Ann! Whether that woman ever becomes a mechanic or not, I imagine she loved her talk with you and knowing that there are women who are real mechanics out there. I do hope she goes back to school though, that would be just super!
Janey
Thanks Janey. 🙂 I definitely loved talking with her, and I sure got the impression that she loved talking with me. I hope she goes back to school, but I may never know. I have sent her an email, but I haven’t heard back. Like Virginia suggested, sometimes we’re just in the right place at the right time … and maybe that was the one time that the door was open for her to hear what I had to say. I may never know what her future is. But, either way, I sure did appreciate having that opportunity to help a woman in a mostly-male job feel trusted and appreciated and admired, and know that the door is open to more.
I shared your blog post with my daughter who is a brick mason and is in school to become a wind turbine mechanic in California. After she read your blog, she called me .. she couldn’t hardly talk .. she was so moved by what you wrote and by the video. She said every woman who ever thought of entering a trade should have a mentor like you, Ann. She was already blown away reading your blog, but when she watched that video she cried. She knows what it’s like, she knows what it takes, how much it hurts, she knows what women have to go thru to find their dream. And she knows that some women are very simply, and very physically prevented from making their dream come true by the men in charge (or I guess at least some of the men, the men who have that power). She said she’d bet that you went through “stuff” too and would love to hear your story. She asked me to thank you, from the bottom of her heart. I told her to read your blog and get to know you. Ann, you are so kind. I’ve been reading this blog a long time and that’s one of the things I really like about you. But I know some of the stuff my daughter has been through .. and to think you have too, and yet you have such a deep kindness and love for the world and the people in it .. really blows me away. Sorry to go on for so long with this comment but it seemed important. Thank you!
Nebraska, your long comment is so very much appreciated, as is your daughter (and you). I do think about sharing my story, but it would be shared somewhere other than this blog … this blog is about travel and fun/interesting things. But I sure do think about sharing my story, all the details, the good and the not-so-good. I’m humbled by your daughter’s suggestion that I would be a good mentor to women who are considering education and work in “trade” occupations. So many professions, whether “blue” or “white” collar, are still pretty much closed to women, or are extremely difficult to get into. It’s changing, though so slowly. Do you think your daughter would be a great mentor too? I’m thinking she would, what a story she must have!
Near the very end of the video at the end of this blog post above, there’s a brief image of a Black/African-American woman who is in the US Air Force. I found out who she is … Major Christina Hopper, who graduated with honors and received her commission as the distinguished graduate of the US Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Program at the University of Texas, 1998. Besides being asked to and then implementing new training procedures for all new US Air Force pilots, she has flown more than 50 live combat missions and she was the first African-American female fighter pilot to fight in a major war. She has been awarded numerous medals. More info is here … https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/685696/womens-history-month-spotlight-maj-christina-hopper/. She’s also known for presenting at high school and junior high school Career Day gatherings. Not surprisingly she promotes the US Air Force to those young women, but much more strongly she encourages young women to follow their dreams, no matter the obstacles.
Nebraska … your daughter would be an excellent mentor as well. I’m so very grateful for her. And I’d love to know how things fare for her in the wind turbine industry. How important that is! And how important she is!
Way, way cool. Women rock beyond measure.
Indeed!