My Educational Electric Vehicle Experience
When my time at the IATE conference took a turn.
When I hopped into my friend Carrie’s Rivian after school on Thursday, I said, “I’m excited for the electric vehicle experience!”
We were starting out on our four hour drive to the Illinois Association of Teachers of English conference in Decatur, Illinois. Little did I know I would truly get the full electric vehicle experience!
When I relay the events of the weekend, words like doom and disaster might come to mind, but I will always look back on this weekend with joy, gratitude, and peace. Let me explain.
We weren’t on the road for long when I started to feel nauseous and dangerously close to throwing up. Carrie had some fashionable anti-nausea glasses tucked away in the pocket by the door that I put on right away, but we quickly stopped to eat, buy Dramamine and anti-nausea bracelets, and look up how to reduce car sickness in an electric vehicle.
By the time we made it to the university to drop off centerpieces, I was, thankfully, feeling much better. After that, we checked into our hotel and happily drifted off to sleep. In the morning, we got dressed, ate breakfast, and headed over to the conference. I had a lovely time reconnecting with a Nerdy friend, Gary Anderson, and a woman I did my Master’s work with. I went to sessions on book challenges and using video games in the classroom. I took notes as the keynote speakers, Carol Jago and José Olivarez, shared their words of wisdom with us. In the afternoon, I had the honor of interviewing José about his poetry and his writing process. After that, I went to one more session on reflecting on representation in our classroom libraries and in the texts taught throughout the school year. I chatted with some new teachers, ate dinner, and listened to author Joelle Charbonneau talk about teachers as superheroes.
It was a full day and a day full of reflection and connection.
And then I resumed my electric vehicle experience.
As we were leaving, there was a loud sound as Carrie was backing out. It wasn’t until she saw the tire pressure notification appear on her screen that we realized something was wrong. We pulled over to assess the situation and found a screw in her tire.
Not a big deal, really. We could call for someone to help us put on a spare. Except the car didn’t come with a spare.
Not a big deal, really. We could make it to a tire place. Except the car needed a very specific type of tire that was only available at a very specific tire place.
Not a big deal, really. We could make it back to the hotel and figure it out in the morning. Except the car was at 18% charge.
After some phone calls and several conversations, we decided to slowly make our way to the nearest charge point and figure out a plan from there.
We found a charger at a car dealership 2.4 miles away. Carrie got out to plug the car in, and I got out to break the news that I needed a bathroom. Luckily, we were right across the street from a gas station. At this point, it was 8:57 pm. (I know because I sent my husband my location as I ventured off to the gas station that felt like it was in the middle of nowhere.)
When I returned to the car, Carrie shared that she had called friends to come and pick me up and take me back to the hotel. It would take two hours for the car to charge and Carrie didn’t want me to have to wait but was also happy for some quiet space. She was able to put air in the tire and it seemed to be holding the air, so she felt comfortable driving it back to the hotel once it was charged up.
I had planned to spend Saturday working on my book while Carrie went back for day two of the conference. Instead, I spent two hours at Starbucks while Carrie was at the tire place that didn’t have the right jack plates for the Rivian. And then I spent forty-five minutes with Carrie driving to another tire place that did have the right jack plates. And then we spent another two hours sitting in the waiting area. And then we spent the next three hours driving home.
All in all, it wasn’t the best experience, but it also wasn’t the worst. We were safe, we had support, we had what we needed: the ability and means to stop and buy anti-car-sickness supplies, the ability to see the tire pressure levels, phones to look up the nearest charging station, a nearby gas station with a bathroom, people to listen and help us problem solve, time to wait for the tire to be fixed, the means to buy a new tire, the kind of friendship that is patient and supportive and able to find silver linings.
Carrie was apologetic throughout it all, but I love a good adventure that reminds me to let go of expectations and best laid plans and to enjoy the ride and go with the flow. I loved having quiet time to write. I loved spending quality time with my friend. I loved slowing down. It’s not only okay; it’s important.
And, while I’m probably not buying an electric vehicle yet because I love my minivan and am going to drive it as long as I possibly can, I’m grateful for the experience — AND the epic story I get to tell!
As my time in the Rivian rolled on, I kept saying, “I asked for the full electric vehicle experience!” Being a writer means being on the lookout for stories, and I knew this would be a story to tell. Being a writer also means exploring, and the more and more I practice being open to whatever comes my way, the more adventures I seem to encounter.
Fellow writer, I hope you’re inspired by reading my educational electric vehicle experience. Do you have an electric vehicle story to tell? Or have you ever had a wrench - or a screw - thrown into your plans? I’d love to hear your stories!
I’m so grateful that you’re here and that you’re also exploring what it means to live the life of a writer in and out of the classroom. I love empowering writers, teachers, and students to explore their stories. If you know someone who is reflective, values community, connection, and growth, and likes to write, I’d love if you would share this post with them.
It sure was great to see you! I wish I’d known this backstory in real-time so I could have been more helpful. You’re the best.
Oh, my gosh!!!!