Expressway: Stuck in snow, but not helpless

Except for last weekend's minor snowfall, we've been spoiled by a mild winter. Still fresh in my memory, though, is an episode from last year's harsh season that was both a comedy and a testament to kindness.

A day after the storm that buried the metropolitan area on Dec. 26, 2010, I was bored and drove to the Coco Natural Nails salon on very-snowy Broadway in Massapequa.

Afterward, as I left the parking lot, my 2010 Volkswagen CC sedan got stuck in the snow. For 20 minutes, I tried to free my tires with a window scraper, the only tool I had. It was slow going and I occasionally jumped back into the car to warm up. I was so panicked that I never even thought about ruining my new manicure.

A truck stopped and a woman jumped out with a big shovel. She asked if she could help. I accepted and she proceeded to dig and dig, but to no avail.

Another woman pulled up and offered to help.

"This is fantastic!" I said. "Thanks, ladies."

They pushed and pulled the car, threw my rubber mats under the tires for traction, continued shoveling, but the car wouldn't budge.

The second woman asked if she could jump behind the wheel to try to get the car out. She rocked it back and forth without success. I got back behind the wheel, but then noticed the women were staring down Broadway. I thought there must have been an accident.

The second woman began shouting that her car was gone. Her money, cellphone and keys were inside. She wondered aloud if it had been stolen.

I felt horrible. How would I compensate this kind woman who had stopped to help me?

I called 911 and explained what happened. The police arrived and as we stood on Broadway discussing the situation, a third woman came running our way, yelling, "Does anyone own a Honda Civic?"

The second woman said she did but it had disappeared.

The third woman, with a disapproving tone, said the Honda had been left in drive and was slowly moving down Broadway. She said she jumped in and pulled it over.

Impressed by her bravery, I asked the newcomer not to be angry, the Honda owner was trying to help me. I was so relieved. Three women, three kind deeds, all in freezing weather.

The second woman took off toward her car. She looked back as if to say, "Sorry, but I can't help you anymore."

"Go," I said. "Please go get your car."

Mine, of course, was still stuck. Eventually attendants from the gas station next door came over and helped free it. One of the men said the secret is to press the accelerator very slowly so the wheels don't spin out.

The first helpful woman was still by my side. I tried to thank her with a few dollars. She wouldn't take the cash.

"I can't believe there are so many wonderful people in this world," I told her.

"Yes, there absolutely are," she said.

Eva Garavuso lives in Massapequa.