I Won’t Be Home for the Holidays

Let me set the scene: it’s 2018, the day before Christmas Eve; I have a car packed full of perishable groceries, for a Christmas Eve feast for 25 out-of-town family members; and I’ve just picked up my cockatoo who was at the vet for an emergency procedure. It’s okay though: I’ve got this. My two elementary school-aged kids are in the car with the bird and half the grocery store, and we’re ready to head home and begin preparing for the festivities.

I turn the key, expecting to hear Christmas music flooding the radio and the rumble of the engine … but all I hear is the haunting “click-click” of a dead battery. After waiting a few seconds, I try again … still nothing. I take a deep breath, and think, “It’s okay, I’ll just call a tow truck.”

After calling the nearest tow company, I’m told it will be two hours before they arrive. Panic sets in, as I realize I have a couple hundred dollars in groceries that need to go in the refrigerator; I have two antsy and hungry children; and a squawking bird with a limited vocabulary, along with the charming but overzealous bell ringer in the background, wearing his Santa hat while clanging the donation bell – and he doesn’t miss a beat. We prepare to get comfortable for the long haul. Finally, after a headache-inducing two-hour wait, the tow truck arrives. We squeeze the bird, my children, and myself into the truck, and proceed to the auto repair facility. After waiting for the battery to be replaced, we’re finally headed home after a nearly four-hour ordeal. At least I have a good story for dinner the next evening, I think to myself.

Fast forward to Christmas Eve: I share my Griswold-esque adventure with my family. My sister-in-law, who never misses an opportunity to share her knowledge, looks at me in bewilderment and asks why I didn’t use the AAA Mobile Battery Service Program. “They come to you and replace your battery onsite!” she exclaims. Intrigued, I pressed for more information.

This holiday season, I’m prepared. With my AAA Membership, I can prevent being stranded by scheduling a free battery test with my AAA Membership at AAA.com/Battery. A Battery Service Technician will come to my location – home, work, hotel, etc. – to test my battery, free of charge. If I do find myself with a car that won’t start, my battery can more than likely be replaced onsite. After last year, it’s the best gift I could give myself!

Get a free battery quote at AAA.com/Battery.