A corporate client near Kendall Square in Cambridge called us urgently this morning because her 2009 Volvo sedan needed a new battery, new tires, and a wheel alignment, and she could not step away from her office to tend to this task. It was an urgent request because this busy grandmother of two had trouble starting the car in the 20 degree cold earlier in the morning and she needed peace of mind when driving up with her family to New Hampshire tomorrow. She told us that she made an appointment for noontime at the Midas car repair shop in North Reading.
After getting off the phone with the client a little after 10AM, we headed over to Cambridge via Memorial Drive. We always love driving along this route. As we made our way through traffic here, we could not help but notice: the view of the Prudential Center and the Hancock Tower in the distance with the beautiful sunlight glistening off the waters of the Charles River was truly a sight to behold. 
Once we reached the client’s office building, the front office staff notified the client. The client graciously walked us to the employee parking facility where her car was parked and even drove us to the front of her building, where we took the car from there. Before returning to her work, the client requested that we also get a car wash after the appointment.
At 11AM, we made our way to Interstate 93 via the Leverett Circle, heading north towards the town of North Reading. A half hour later, we drove the Volvo into the Midas car repair shop on Route 28, early for the appointment but not late.
To replace the client’s car battery, tires and get a four-wheel alignment, we were told the job would take at least three hours. Three hours of intense waiting. We passed some of the time catching up on our writing, making other client calls, and having small talk with the shop owner and another waiting customer. One never knows how long these waits will take. Repair shops can be tight and stuffy places to be in. We ended up waiting more than four hours for the Volvo instead.
When the clock struck 4PM, the car was ready for us and we then drove it to the car wash a few blocks away. There is nothing like the feeling of a well-earned pampering: the client’s car needed a good scrub and as we sat behind the wheel, we savored a moment of calm. Not long after, the client’s car was like new again.
We returned the client’s car back to Cambridge before 5PM, just in time for a grateful client leaving her office for the night. And before we parted ways, she showered us with cupcakes and a generous gratuity. Little did she know that it was our birthday today! We were so thrilled to be able to take care of this client’s needs and we look forward to working with her again.
Images credit: Susan Ho
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