How do you know you are from
Montana? You drive motor vehicles with
cracked windshields.
For the second time in a week my
windshield took another hit from a flying rock from the car in front of
me. For the second time in a week my
windshield sustained a chip in the glass.
For the second time in a week I threw my ordination out the window and
said words that would melt the paint off of walls. The world is beginning to look like a giant
jig saw puzzle whenever I drive thanks to the growing cracks and chips that are
in the windshield.
Now there are those of you out there
who probably think that I am kidding when I say that most Montanans have
cracked windshields . . . but, I kid you not.
Not one of the three vehicles that we own is without a crack or numerous
chips or pits. The children would have
had a blast years ago connecting all the chips and pits with a marker . . . now
I just get lots of creative reflections from the sun . . . sort of like a kaleidoscope
or having way too much to drink. All
three of the vehicles have cracks.
There is no worse sound to my ears—except
maybe the sound of a flat tire—than a stone hitting the windshield. THWACK!
The louder the “thwack” the bigger the chip. A chip would not be so bad except weather in
Montana likes to go to extremes—cold and hot.
When the temperature gets below zero those chips like to expand into a
crack. When the temperature gets above a
hundred and the windshield heats up to something over a 150 degree . . . well,
those chips and pits like to move around the windshield like a drunk map
drawer.
Plus, whenever I hear a “thwack” my
mind automatically hears “ka-ching”!
Ka-ching as in a cash register ringing up another sale . . . as in money
flying out of my wallet and bank account.
That almost hurts more than the damage done to my windshield. Needless to say, I am a little tight with my
money. Yeah, my wallet squeaks when I
walk across the room. Replacing
windshields is expensive . . . multiply that by three and you can see why I
cringe every time I hear the “thwack” of a rock hitting my windshield.
So, I drive with cracked windshields .
. . at least until we get through the rock and ice season here in Montana. I think that gives me about a two-week period
in mid-July to get all three windshields replaced. But, in the meantime, I drive with cracked
windshields. Unless I am driving into
the sun it is really no problem, but when the sunlight hits those cracks just
right it is like a light show at a Rolling Stones concert. The special effects are amazing as I pray to
God that I am still in my own lane.
I have been told that law enforcement
can pull people over who have cracked windshields in Montana and issue a ticket
for being a driving nuisance. I have
heard that, but I have never seen it. I
imagine that it would be more of a hassle because law enforcement would be
pulling over just about every car and truck with a Montana license plate. They would have no time to anything but issue
tickets for cracked windshields.
Cracked windshields do not bother me
as much as they bother the wife. I think
they add a sense of character and toughness to my little Volkswagen Jetta . . .
the wife thinks that they make her Toyota Tacoma look trashy. I figure that the cracks in the Jetta reflect
the driver . . . I have been told numerous times that I am a little cracked. Not really sure what people meant by that,
but I often feel a little beat up . . . so, why not my car?
I have been having a sort of contest
with the vehicles this winter. Our Ford
Ranger was winning, but the Jetta easily caught up this week. The Tacoma is a distance third. It is hard to say who will win at this point,
but I am betting on the Jetta because it is my winter vehicle. My goal is to make it to mid-July when I
replace all the windshields without any of them falling out. It is going to be close. Ya gotta love living in Montana!
5 comments:
It seems to me that the cracks in the windshield is a trademark of the Montanians, eh? Haha! I really don't mind having a few cracks in my windshield, as long as it doesn’t impede my view of the road. But then, it’s important to consider replacing it, especially when it looks like one more good "thwack" will shatter the whole thing. Take care!
Gale Freeman @ Crash Auto Glass
I can only imagine. It's either that the windshield can endure those blows and damages, or you get rid of it completely for a new one. It's really the fear of what comes next from that crushing hit that is really what can eat into your skin, though only for a while. Stay safe!
Brian Gunsales @ Bullseye Auto Glass Team
Uh-oh! I don't think having rocks fly straight to your windshield is a good sign. Although the roads may seem spacious enough to prevent a high number of accidents, being thrown off focus by a rock hitting your windshield could be dangerous. Just make sure to be extra careful, John! Drive safe!
Ginger Cain @ Ultimate Collision
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