It started out normally, in perfectly innocent fashion, but after I’d packed up the I’d books sold on eBay since the day before and was heading to the post office, I noticed that a warning light on my car’s dashboard was on. Something wrong with a tire? That hadn’t happened in a while. I jumped out and looked at all four tires. Sure enough, one was not just soft, but flat.

   I went in to call AAA, and having done so – they told me that it would be an hour before help came along – I went back out and heard the radio playing. I hadn’t turned it off before getting out. I got in and reached for my ignition key, The thick, stubby end wasn’t there,  Gone. It had exploded apart, leaving only the thin metal part in the ignition. I tried puling it out, but was a total no-go. Eve with pliers, it wouldn’t budge.

   So, two more phone calls, One to Goodyear to replace the tire, and then to a local locksmith. I have an appointment with the former for Tuesday – why so long, I don’t know – and the locksmith came around one o’clock today.

   But what’s going on? What’s the connection between a flat tire and an ignition key with its head blown off? Same time and place.  I don’t see it, but there you go. It happened.  Any explanations?