Yesterday, my Mom took my car to Warholak tire to get my tires looked at. As it turned out, I needed two new tires. I was able to get new-used tires that ended up being cheaper for me. My Car has never been there or any of my cars hasn’t been there for a very long time!
I am still driving (or rather, my Mom and/or my son) my 2012 Malibu. My Mom or I have always taken my car to Les Stanford because it was under warranty. Because, “Bea” (my car) is no longer under warranty, we go to the places that are more economically sound. These places include Puzzouli‘s Muffler and/or Warholak Tire.
I searched my blog and I was surprised that I had not written about this place! It’s on McGraw, right by my Parents’ house. The two brothers who own it knew my Dad well. I recall my Dad joking around with them whenever I went with him to get the tires fixed. They used to give out pens once your car was serviced. No, it is too expensive to provide their customers with pens.
They were the BEST pens in the world! My Dad used to tell them to give him two pens and I remember taking one of those pens to my first day of work, teaching.
My Mom called me from there yesterday and hearing their voices made me think of my Dad! The first time I was there by myself, I took my Dad’s car in for tires and I was in high school. I was wearing my softball hoodie that had my last name on the back. When I brought the car in, I told Paul exactly what my Dad told me to say verbatim and once I turned around and started to walk away, it was the only time I have ever been asked if, “I was a Rios.” He asked if I was Ray’s daughter and when I smiled and nodded he told me that, “[I’m] a lot better looking then your Dad and you tell him that I said so!”
Another time I was there, I was in college. I had my U of M sticker in my back window and Mike’s son was there. He was wearing a shirt that had Paul’s name on it. I think he was a couple years younger than me and he also attended U of M Dearborn so as I spoke with him and I called him, “Pauley.” I thought nothing of it but it wasn’t until the next time I came and spoke with Mike that he told me that that was HIS son and his name was NOT Paul.
Mike told me that he thought that his son must have liked me because no 20-year-old young man would let just anyone call him, “Pauley.”
When I heard my Mom talking to the guys yesterday, I could almost smell the waiting room that smells like my Dad‘s old truck growing up! I love that smell! Yesterday, my Mom and I spoke of my Dad a lot! Mike told my mom that my tires were good until the fall. It feels good that my tires are in good hands with Warholak Tire and it makes me happy that I believe my Dad is proud of me!